Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Williams defeats Li and advances to Wimbledon semifinals

Top-seeded Serena Williams faced one of her better opponents today in the Wimbledon quarterfinals. Li Na, whom Williams beat 7-6, 7-6 in a thrilling Australian Open semifinal earlier this year, gave Williams a good fight during the first set, which Williams won 7-5. But--despite breaking Williams when she served for the match at 5-2--Li's serving level dropped in the second set, and Williams was able to attain a 7-5, 6-3 win. Williams hit "only" eleven aces in this match, bringing her Wimbledon total to 73. The defending champion committed only six unforced errors in two sets.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice win for Serena! wished she and Venus would have played mixed doubles too. Serena parntered with JB and Venus with the frenchman GM. Serena I hope will take the title even though MN could not stomach an all Williams final...still so much hate for the William sisters and others of color!

Diane said...

I agree wholeheartedly that there is a great deal of hate toward people of color (and toward women). However, I have seen no evidence that Navratilova's comment--with which I disagree, by the way--is racially motivated.

Anonymous said...

I will respectfully disgree with you about MN. The William sister's are playing doubles tomorrow, guess what court their on? give you a hint: not center or court 1. It's like the All Enland Tennis Club want's them to fail. What they are telling these two Americans, by the way who are at the top of the WTA, we will let you play here but come through the back door!

Diane said...

I've been unhappy from the start with the way the All England Club has treated Venus and Serena. One thing is a coincidence, two things might be bad luck...but the sisters have repeatedly been relegated to lesser courts, and have been given not-so-friendly scheduling, also.

As for Martina, maybe you know something that I don't.

Overhead Spin said...

OMG, I had to go and check because I was about to post that perhaps because of the men's semis the Sisters would not be on the main show courts but then I see that they have actually placed women's doubles on the main show courts and again relegated the Sisters to Court NO.2.

I just do not get this. I am taking the high road on this one and thinking, perhaps both Sisters wanted to play early and get some more rest seeing as Serena has singles semifinal on Thursday. I am going to go with that one. Anything else and I will certainly be pulling out my hair.

Martina got her wish. How you can root against successful players is beyond me. Did she think anyone got tired of seeing her in the Wimbledon final or indeed any other major final year after year after year. No wonder she gets no lover from either Sister.

I remember, I think it was either last year's trophy ceremony or the year before, that during the interview they made mention of those sitting in the Royal Box and the only person that Venus acknowledged was Billie Jean.

Billie Jean has been a mentor and it seems like she is something of an advisor to both women. It is nice to see.

Diane said...

I did think Martina--who appeared in finals with Evert over and over--found a peculiar thing to criticize in sister finals.

I care about tennis more in an international way, but people who care deeply in a national way are going to wonder what hit them when Venus and Serena move on.