Serena Williams to take on Barbora Strycova for place in eleventh Wimbledon final

July 10, 2019

Tennis News, Tennis Players, Wimbledon, WTA Tennis Players

Serena Williams to take on Barbora Strycova for place in eleventh Wimbledon final

Serena Williams will continue her 2019 Wimbledon campaign as she faces off with surprise semi finalist Barbora Strycova.

The pair have met on three occasions, all coming in the Grand Slam competitions. Williams leads her Czech opponent 3-0 having never lost a set to her. They have faced once at Wimbledon already, coming back in 2012 when eventual champion Williams knocked Strycova out in the first round 6-0 6-4.

Playing in her twelfth Wimbledon semi-final, Williams has only ever lost one back in 2000 against her sister Venus 6-2 7-6.

The 37 year old from Michigan has won the title seven times, tied with Stefanie Graf behind Martina Navratilova on her record nine titles. As well as taking sole ownership of second on this list, the 23 year time Grand Slam winner is also bidding to win a Grand Slam after becoming a mum. The only other three women to do this are Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong and Kim Clijsters.

On route to the final, Williams has been forced to battle. A straight sets victory over qualifier Gatto-Monticone was followed by a win from a set behind to another qualifier in Juvan. The American looked comfortable getting past Goerges and Suarez-Navarro next, but again battled to a three set victory against a resilient compatriot in Alison Riske.

Competing in her 53rd Grand Slam, Barbora Strycova has made her first ever semi final at the age of 33. Now having won 21 Wimbledon matches, she had originally hinted at an early retirement after 2019. Playing at SW19 for the 16th time, Strycova had only ever made one Wimbledon quarter final before this year, when she lost to two time champion Petra Kvitova. Bettering that result this year, Strycova finds herself one win from a dream Grand Slam final.

The woman from Plzen recorded simple straight sets victories in her first three matches against Tsurenko, Siegemund and fourth seed Kiki Bertens. She then fought from a set down to defeat 21st seed Elise Mertens before her impressive 7-6 6-1 victory against Jo Konta Monday.

The winner will reach the final where they will face either 7th seed Simona Halep or 8th seed Elina Svitolina who are competing in the other semi final.