Skip to main content

Serena to face Radwanska in Wimbledon final after Azarenka victory

July 5, 2012 -- Updated 1646 GMT (0046 HKT)
Great detail is taken as grounds crews prepare Centre Court for Sunday's historic match between Roger Federer and Andy Murray in the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London. Federer is seeking to tie the record for most men's singles titles at Wimbledon, and Murray is shooting to become the first British male to win his nation's major singles championship in 76 years. See the action as it unfolds here, and visit <a href='http://edition.cnn.com/SPORT/tennis/'>CNN.com/tennis</a> for complete coverage.<br/><br/> Great detail is taken as grounds crews prepare Centre Court for Sunday's historic match between Roger Federer and Andy Murray in the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London. Federer is seeking to tie the record for most men's singles titles at Wimbledon, and Murray is shooting to become the first British male to win his nation's major singles championship in 76 years. See the action as it unfolds here, and visit CNN.com/tennis for complete coverage.

HIDE CAPTION
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
wimbledon 0628 2
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon 6/27 03
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
Wimbledon: The best photos
<<
<
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
>
>>
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Serena Williams will face Agnieszka Radwanska in the Wimbledon singles final
  • Williams beats No. 2 seed Victoria Azarenka from Belarus 6-3 7-6 to book her place
  • Radwanska reaches first ever Grand Slam final by beating Angelique Kerber
  • Polish No. 3 seed triumphs 6-3 6-4 and now faces four-time Wimbledon champion

(CNN) -- The task facing Agnieszka Radwanska in her first Grand Slam final is a daunting one, because in the opposite corner is Serena Williams, who'll be gunning for a 14th major singles titles.

Radwanska, the No. 3 seed from Poland, defeated Angelique Kerber 6-3 6-4 on Centre Court to book her place in a showpiece final for the first time in her fledgling career.

And her opponent will be 30-year-old Williams, who also recorded a straight sets win, disposing of the No. 2 seed Victoria Azarenka 6-3 7-6.

Williams has won four singles crowns at the All England Club, the last of them coming in 2010, and powered past Azarenka, from Belarus, firing down 24 aces and 45 winners.

By reaching her seventh Wimbledon final, she becomes the first 30-year-old to do so since 22-time Grand Slam winner Steffi Graf in 1999.

"I've been working so hard, I really wanted it," she said in a post-match interview.

Keeping Wimbledon's grass green
Goran Ivanisevic: Wimbledon good and bad
Kvitova and Navratilova's Wimbledon

"She was playing well and I got a little tight in the second set. I was looking too far in the future. I was so close, but I can't do that. I was happy to get through that second set tie-break."

Williams will go into Saturday's final the favorite given her experience and her head-to-head record against Radwanska -- she hasn't dropped a set in their two meetings to date

Serena can now boast 85 aces in this year's tournament, second only to German quarterfinalist Philipp Kohlschreiber, who has 98 to his name.

Williams' performance against Azarenka was made all the more impressive by the fact that she played two doubles matches with sister Serena on Wednesday.

Radwanska won on her Grand Slam semifinal debut to become Poland's first major finalist for 75 years.

The 23-year-old and German Kerber are firm friends off the court but Radwanska told reporters she had to put personal feelings aside in pursuit of her Grand Slam goal.

"I'm so happy, it's amazing. I played very good today," Radwanska said. "It's always tough against Angie. We are very good friends but of course on court we were both fighting for the final.

"I think we were both a bit nervous in the beginning, your hand is shaking a bit, but after a couple of games I relaxed.

"This is what I dreamed of since I was a kid. Everyone wants to reach a Grand Slam final. It is the best two weeks of my career."

Kerber, who defeated her friend and fellow German Sabine Lisicki in the quarterfinal, said she had lost to the better player.

"She played very well today. I gave my best, but she was better," Kerber said. "I was maybe one or two steps slower. I think that made the difference.

"My plan was to be aggressive, but she moved very well and didn't make many mistakes, so it was really tough.

"Actually it was a great tournament for me. I'm in the semis here in Wimbledon. Sure, I'm a little bit disappointed, but it's ok."

ADVERTISEMENT
Part of complete coverage on
May 1, 2013 -- Updated 1129 GMT (1929 HKT)
She towers above him, but she can't do without him. Meet the man who has made Maria Sharapova the world's wealthiest female athlete.
April 22, 2013 -- Updated 1511 GMT (2311 HKT)
When Maria Sharapova underwent shoulder surgery five years ago, many thought her tennis career wouldn't last.
April 18, 2013 -- Updated 1258 GMT (2058 HKT)
Nine-year-old Rebecca Suarez stunned onlookers when she was pulled out of the crowd to team up with Del Potro against Nadal.
April 18, 2013 -- Updated 2115 GMT (0515 HKT)
Janko Tipsarevic is of the belief that his fellow professionals aren't doping -- or at least not on a widespread basis.
March 21, 2013 -- Updated 1429 GMT (2229 HKT)
Agnieszka and Urszula Radwanska are hoping to take their relationship to a new level by emulating tennis' most famous female sisters.
March 26, 2013 -- Updated 1324 GMT (2124 HKT)
Open Court meets Poland's world No. 4 Agniezska Radwanska, who's making waves on the women's tennis scene.
March 21, 2013 -- Updated 1402 GMT (2202 HKT)
America's 18-time grand slam champion Chris Evert talks to Open Court about her career and training the next generation of players.
March 21, 2013 -- Updated 1344 GMT (2144 HKT)
CNN's Don Riddell speaks with 11-time grand slam champion Rafael Nadal during one of his comeback tournaments in Mexico.
March 21, 2013 -- Updated 1411 GMT (2211 HKT)
Germany's veteran star Tommy Haas opens up to Pat Cash about being away from family on tour, and his many injuries.
March 11, 2013 -- Updated 1150 GMT (1950 HKT)
End of match
You'd think John Isner and Nicolas Mahut would be sick of the sight of each other, but their friendship has grown since that epic match.
March 4, 2013 -- Updated 1608 GMT (0008 HKT)
Almost a decade after Andy Roddick's sole U.S. Open victory, America is still waiting for its next male grand slam winner. What's gone wrong?
February 21, 2013 -- Updated 1621 GMT (0021 HKT)
Open Court's Pat Cash meets American No. 1 John Isner, who experts claim has the potential to win a grand slam.
February 25, 2013 -- Updated 0917 GMT (1717 HKT)
CNN's Pat Cash looks at who the next U.S. grand slam champion might be.
February 21, 2013 -- Updated 1545 GMT (2345 HKT)
CNN's Patrick Snell looks at how the famous couple is helping groom the next generation of tennis stars.
February 25, 2013 -- Updated 1009 GMT (1809 HKT)
With his sights set on the top, Ryan Harrison is the youngest player to win a professional match in 20 years.
February 21, 2013 -- Updated 1612 GMT (0012 HKT)
He's "Mac the Mouth" both on and off the court -- one of the most controversial and iconic players in tennis history, and he's still talking up a storm.
January 29, 2013 -- Updated 1131 GMT (1931 HKT)
Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have transformed their careers since discovering a diet secret that is battling for mainstream acceptance.
January 28, 2013 -- Updated 1500 GMT (2300 HKT)
Novak Djokovic knew he was going to be a tennis star from an early age when growing up in war-torn Belgrade.
January 17, 2013 -- Updated 1325 GMT (2125 HKT)
Maria Sharapova
Nine women, a bold proposal and a $1 bill. That was what it took for women's tennis to begin a 40-year journey of self-empowerment.
ADVERTISEMENT