Serena Wiliams continues to redefine our understanding of great serving, striking 24 aces—beating the record she set in her third-round match with Zheng Jie—in a 6-3, 7-6 (6) victory over world No. 2 Victoria Azarenka to move into her seventh Wimbledon final.
Azarenka, one of the game’s best returners, competed with a champion’s mentality and raised her game throughout until the last 20 minutes of the match, which featured some of the finest tennis you are likely to see. But she simply doesn’t have Williams’ weapons; then again, who does?
Two errors in Williams’ first service game saw Azarenka reach 30-30, but Serena simply cracked a forehand winner right past her, then served an ace. It was the closest Azarenka would get to Williams’ serve throughout the first set.
Azarenka managed to hold Williams off for three games before the relentless pressure on her serve began to tell. At 3-3, Williams landed a deep return for an Azarenka error, then stepped inside the court for a backhand winner to earn two break points. Azarenka should have saved the first, having dominated the rally, but she telegraphed her backhand cross-court drop-shot; Williams’ phenomenal foot-speed brought her up to the ball and she put it away. Serving out a set in which she hit eight aces and 13 unreturned serves in six service games, Williams had every reason to be confident.
Azarenka, on the other hand, had every reason to panic, or at least get negative. But she didn’t, clawing back from 15-30 to hold for 1-0, then getting to 0-30 on Williams’ next service game before hitting a forehand lob long. At 1-1, Azarenka double-faulted to open the game, then made one of her very few unforced errors on a short backhand to go down two break points. Williams broke with a fearsome cross-court return winner and celebrated with all the intensity only she can muster.
Up against it, Azarenka realized she had to hit her groundstrokes with more pace and closer to the lines than she usually does. That is what she did, making the most out of her few chances to return Williams’ serve to break back for 3-3. Azarenka saved two break points to go up 4-3, then began to match Williams in quick, emphatic holds, with the American’s accuracy off the ground deserting her under the world No. 2’s sustained pressure.
For 12 points, the momentum in the eventual tiebreak pulsated with serve, before Azarenka made her third poor error of the match, putting a backhand in the net to bring up match point on Williams’ service. The four-time champion needed no second invitation, serving her 24th ace down the T.
It was a magnificent performance from Williams, who continues to evolve into a still greater player before our very eyes: Frightening pace, canny shot-selection, remarkable defense, and above all, supreme serving. 24 aces in 13 service games (including the tiebreaker) is simply impenetrable tennis. Now only Agnieszka Radwanska stands between her and a fifth Wimbledon title.