Simply put, an amazing display by Serena Williams today; she dominated Vesnina both physically and mentally around the court.
Her serving was the closest thing to perfect I’ve ever seen, needing just 28 minutes to race through the first set.
The second set clean sweep was pure class by Williams as she just controlled the entire set, each point, each hit.
Williams will now meet Angelique Kerber in the final.
Final score:
Williams 6 6
Vesnina 2 0
World No.1 Serena Williams will be confident of progressing to the final of Wimbledon when she takes on the unseeded Elena Vesnina. Join The Roar for live scores from 10pm (AEST).
Williams, after losing the French Open final and not playing one match between that and the start of Wimbledon has been in fine form during the Championships, only losing one set across her five matches.
Granted, she hasn’t played the level of opposition that other players have had to, or maybe she wanted to in an attempt to prepare for the pointy end of the tournament, but the class and talent of Williams is generally enough to carry her at the back end of a grand slam.
The set she did lose came in the second round at the hands of Christina McHale, and since then she has been dominant, not even having to play so much as a tiebreaker, while in the third and fourth rounds against Annika Beck and Svetlana Kuznetsova respectively she held to love in the second set.
In the quarter-finals she played Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and was again dominant winning 6-4, 6-4 with a high volume of aces and points won off the first serve. Worryingly though she made a lot of unforced errors, and at this point of a grand slam, even playing the unseeded Vesnina that is not going to cut it.
Vesnina, on the other hand, is ranked 50th in the world on singles has never previously been out of the fourth round in any grand slam after 41 attempts.
She moved through the first three rounds relatively easily, not dropping a set or being forced into a tiebreaker although she did take it to 7-5 plenty of times.
She took on Ekaterina Makarvoa in the fourth round and dropped the first set before going to 9-7 in the final set. Bouncing back in the quarter-finals, though, she caused an upset on Dominika Cibulkova 6-2, 6-2 and now finds herself in the biggest match of her career.
The pair have faced off four times, never on grass and not since 2013 but Williams has never dropped a set.
Prediction
Hard to see Williams losing this one. Vesnina has been playing good Tennis, but the world No.1 is a class above.
Williams in straight sets.
Be sure to join The Roar for live scores of this Wimbledon semi-final from 10pm (AEST) on centre court and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
Preview written by Scott Pryde
P Air
Guest
And Vesnina gets how much for that display?? What a joke.
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Simply put, an amazing display by Serena Williams today. Dominated Vesnina both physically around the court and mentally. Her serving was the closest thing to perfect as I've ever seen. In just 28 minutes Serena has raced through the first serve. Vesnina looked uncomfortable early as Serena dominated around the court and especially with her serving. The second set clean sweep was pure class by Serena as she just controlled the entire set, each point, each hit. Williams serving was absolutely immaculate, hitting ace after ace as she cruised through to yet another Grand Slam final. Serena Williams will now meet either her sister Venus or Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber in the Final. S.Williams: 6.6 E.Vesnina: 2. 0 Thanks for joining me tonight on the Roar, feel free to cross over to V. Williams vs Kerber's live coverage coming up next.http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/07/07/angelique-kerber-vs-venus-williams-wimbledon-live-scores-blog/
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Williams dominates Vesnina around the court, unforced error Vesnina 15-0 Another Williams winner with a lucky volley 30-0 Ace! Williams. 3 match points! Another forehand winner Willaims! Game. Set. Match Williams in just 48 minutes S.Williams: 6.6 E.Vesnina: 2. 0
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Nice strike by Williams, sets up two break points now 15-40 Nice first serve by Vesnina, saves one break point 30-40 Unstoppable by Williams! runs hard and whips out a ri[[ing forehand winner down the line for a third break! Williams will now serve for the match and a spot in the final S.Williams: 6.5 E.Vesnina: 2. 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Hmm this is ugly.
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Williams steams in like a training drill with a forehand winner 0-15 Unforced error Vesnina 0-30 Unforced error Williams 15-30
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Vesnina looks frustrated, Williams races away to 40-0 Serving masterclass by Williams! Game Williams S.Williams: 6.4 E.Vesnina: 2. 0
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Serena works up the court with another lovely backhand winner 30-40 Break point Williams Double Fault Vesnina Game Williams. Another double break for Serena, she can almost smell another Wimbledon Final S.Williams: 6.3 E.Vesnina: 2. 0
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Ace! Vesnina 30-30
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Vesnina's expression says it all, she's been physically and mentally beat by Serena so far today 0-30
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Serena putting on a serving clinic here 40-0 Wonderful forehand winner by Williams. Game Williams S.Williams: 6.2 E.Vesnina: 2. 0
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Error by Vesnina and Williams wins the early break. Game Williams S.Williams: 6.1 E.Vesnina: 2. 0
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Williams attacks the second serve with ease 15-30 Fiery forehand winner by Serena 15-40 with two break points
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Second set is underway, Vesnina to serve Williams wins the first point 0-15 Bit of luck at the net for Vesnina 15-15
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
In just 28 minutes Serena has raced through the first serve. Vesnina looked uncomfortable early as Serena dominated around the court and especially with her serving. S.Williams: 6 E.Vesnina: 2
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Ace! Game. Set. Williams! S.Williams: 6 E.Vesnina: 2
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Williams serving for the first set now Serena has been unstoppably when she hits the first serve 15-0 Lovely backhand winner 30-0 Another strong serve brings up 3 set points
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Vesnina taking it to Serena now, lovely backhand winner 30-0 Unforced error Vesnina 30-15 Ripping first serve 40-15 Good second serve, Vesnina holds S.Williams: 5 E.Vesnina: 2
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Ace! Williams 15-0 Powerful serving brings us to 30-0 Vesnina moving around the court better now 30-15 Ace! Williams 40-15 Ace! again. Game Williams S.Williams: 5 E.Vesnina: 1
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Vesnina serves her way to her first service game, gets on the board and settles S.Williams: 4 E.Vesnina: 1