Wimbledon: #1 seeds avoid Tuesday scares
July 7, 2015
Belarusian Victoria Azarenka clearly had the upper hand in the first set of her quarterfinal match against Serena Williams, but that's pretty much where it ended. The 33-year-old American star glided in the latter sets to what quickly turned into a routine 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory.
"It was fun out there," an effervescent Williams said afterwards. "There were a lot of smiles."
It was the 10th time Williams has met Azarenka in Grand Slam play. Serena has won all ten of those matches. With 20 Grand Slam titles under her belt, Williams is two shy of reaching the German legend Steffi Graf.
In the semifinals, Williams will meet Russia's Maria Sharapova, who defeated American Coco Vandeweghe 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-2 on Tuesday.
Joining Sharapova and Williams in the final four will be 20th seed Garbine Muguruza, whose 7-5, 6-3 victory over Swiss Timea Bacsinszky makes her the first Spanish woman to reach the Wimbledon semis since Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario in 1997.
She will take on Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska, the 2012 runner-up, who defeated Madison Keys of the United States 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-3.
A flustered Djokovic
In men's action, world number one Novak Djokovic secured a 25th consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal place on Tuesday after beating Kevin Anderson 6-7(6), 6-7(6), 6-1 6-4 7-5.
The South African's two-set lead was whittled down by Djokovic on Monday evening before bad lighting forced the match to carry over until the next day.
After a small delay caused by adverse weather at the All England Club, Anderson went for the win immediately, firing two aces and holding his serve to lead. Down 5-4, Djokovic responded in typically efficient fashion. He saved two break points in the fourth game and went on to serve for the match at 40-30.
"I was two sets down, to come back and win in five gives me great satisfaction and confidence for the next challenge," said Djokovic. "I think he served exceptionally well. This was one of the most difficult matches I have played at Wimbledon and maybe in my career.
In the quarterfinals, Djokovic faces US Open champion Marin Cilic, whilst fourth-seed Stanislas Wawrinka meets Frenchman Richard Gasquet.
Meanwhile, Roger Federer will take on Giles Simon in his quarterfinal as he looks to win his record eighth Wimbledon championship.
Federer could set up a semifinal bout with former Wimbledon winner Andy Murray who faces the unseeded Canadian Vasek Pospisil.
glb/rd (AFP, AP)