Wimbledon, England (Sports Network) - The women's semifinals, including a
marquee bout between second-seeded Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka
and her fellow former world No. 1 Serena Williams, will be staged Thursday at
The Championships, Wimbledon.
The second-seeded Belarusian star Azarenka will take on the sixth-seeded
American great Williams, while the first semi on Day 10 of the fortnight will
pit third-seeded Pole Agnieszka Radwanska against eighth-seeded German
lefthander Angelique Kerber at the storied All England Club.
Azarenka and Williams will meet for a ninth time, with the American
comfortably leading their lifetime series, 7-1. The 2011 U.S. Open runner-
up Williams beat Azarenka in a Wimbledon quarterfinal in 2009 and topped
her on some blue clay in Madrid earlier this season.
The 22-year-old Azarenka will appear in her second straight Wimbledon and
third career Grand Slam semifinal (1-1).
The 30-year-old four-time Wimbledon champion Williams, seeking a 14th major
singles title this week, is 6-1 in her previous Wimbledon semis.
Meanwhile, Radwanska and Kerber will tangle for a fifth time, as the two women
have split their first four meetings. The German beat the Pole in the second
round at last year's U.S. Open.
The 23-year-old Radwanska, who owns three WTA titles this year and has a
chance to reach No. 1 this week, will appear in her first-ever Grand Slam
semifinal.
The 24-year-old Kerber will appear in her first Wimbledon and second
career Grand Slam semifinal. She reached the final four at last year's U.S.
Open.
Thursday's winners will meet in the lucrative final on Saturday, with the
winner claiming the Venus Rosewater Dish and $1.8 million.
The Sports Network