Venus reaches semis
WIMBLEDON, England — Venus Williams played outstanding tennis again today, reaching the semifinals at Wimbledon by beating No. 5 Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3, 6-4.
Williams, a three-time champion at the All England Club, has been dominating on her serve in the last two rounds, and she again did what was needed to earn enough breaks to advance.
Williams had three aces, and 2004 U.S. Open champion Kuznetsova failed to put another 21 serves into play. The American won 76 percent of the points played on her first serve, averaging 175 kph (109 mph).
Her only struggle came when serving for the match. Leading 40-0, Williams lost four straight points and faced a break point. But she fought back and won when Kuznetsova sent a forehand long — the Russian's 24th unforced error.
"At the end I was able to stay tough against a great opponent," Williams said. "I felt so motivated, sure about my game."
Williams started the season with a wrist injury and is not even ranked in the top 30. Seeded only No. 23 at the All England Club, she struggled early in the tournament, needing three sets to beat 59th-ranked Alla Kudryavtseva in the first round and coming within two points of defeat against 71st-ranked Akiko Morigami in the third.
Williams was broken once today, but the five-time Grand Slam champion responded by breaking back against Kuznetsova at love.
On Wednesday, she easily beat 2004 champion Maria Sharapova in a match that started Tuesday but was suspended for the night after only three points were played.
In the semifinals, Williams will face French Open runner-up Ana Ivanovic or Nicole Vaidisova, who played their quarterfinal later today.
Also, No. 2 Rafael Nadal was playing for the fourth straight day, facing Mikhail Youzhny in the fourth round. Top-ranked Roger Federer, the four-time defending champion, was to play No. 20 Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Sharapova was gracious and upbeat in defeat Wednesday, perhaps because she has had a fair amount of experience this year with such drubbings.
Still seeking her first title in 2007, Sharapova lost to Williams 6-1, 6-3 in the fourth round. It was the Russian's earliest exit at the All England Club since she won the tournament at age 17 in 2004.
"It's always special being on Centre Court, knowing I've held that plate before when I was young," said Sharapova, now a sage veteran of 20. "I definitely know I have it in me. I have so many years ahead of me. I'll be back, and I'll be stronger, and I'll win it again."
Serena Williams, who considered pulling out of her quarterfinal match against top-ranked Justine Henin, decided to play and lost 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
Williams played despite a strained left calf and sprained left thumb, both heavily wrapped.
"Definitely not 100 percent," she said. "It was probably at 40 or 50, max."
