Vera Zvonareva and Serena Williams into Wimbledon final

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Vera ZvonarevaSerena Williams at Wimbledon

The final of Wimbledon 2010 will feature first-time Grand Slam finalist Vera Zvonareva and 12-time major singles champion Serena Williams as they overcame their unseeded opponents in the semifinals.

The first to advance was seed No.21 Zvonareva with a 3-6 6-3 6-2 over surprising semifinalist Tsvetana Pironkova, who had defeated the Russian in their only previous meeting. The world No.82 Pironkova, who stunned Venus Williams in the quarterfinals even though she had never been past the second round of a major, started the match well, but Zvonareva managed to hang in and turn it around.

Prior to this year’s event, Zvonareva hadn’t been to the second week of Wimbledon in six years. She will mount back to the Top 10 in the rankings, from her current position No.21.

The other semifinal of the day featured three-time Wimbledon champion and title holder Serena Williams who also played an unseeded opponent, world No.62 Petra Kvitova of the Czech Repubilc. Kvitova built a 4-2 lead in the first set but the absolute favorite Williams worked her way to a tiebreak, won it and then rolled through to her 16th Grand Slam final with a 7-6(5) 6-2 win over Kvitova.

Kvitova, who had never before this Wimbledon won a match on grass, will break into the Top 30 when the rankings are refreshed next Monday. Williams also managed to add a new achievement to her career at this year’s Wimbledon – the American has scored a total of 80 aces, women’s record at Wimbledon.

Williams has a 5-1 head-to-head record against Zvonareva and is definitely favorite to win the final. However, Zvonareva already has a victory over Williams at Wimbledon 2010 – together with compatriot Elena Vesnina she beat defending champions Serena and sister Venus in the women’s doubles quarterfinals. (photos: Stephane Martinache, Daniel Coomber)

3 COMMENTS

  1. I’m thinking Serena will prevail even moreso due to the doubles loss. She will most definitely bring her best to the final. The Wms were so upset about losing the doubles match to the point of refusing to participate in a presser and risking a possible fine (they were hoping to make 2010 a Slam in doubles). One commentator mentioned that Venus had already left and flew home to the U.S.

    I enjoyed both women’s semi final matches. You could just feel and see the will to win on their faces as well as the disappointment of not winning.

  2. I agree-I think Serena will win-I actually wanted Pironkova to come through in her semi-final and was gutted she lost. I also lost some respect for Vera when in the first service game she lost a point and then AFTER told the umpire the ball was dead-she bounced the ball and served it-she should have said something before. I also wished that Pironkova had contested it. I was hoping for either Justine, JJ or Kim to win the title, but Serena’s played a great Wimbledon, so if she wins, it’ll be no doubt because she’s been very solid (serving, receiving, groundstrokes).

  3. I hope Serena wins today please Serena win it for the american fans and for you’re sister for losing and also losing in doubles to Zvonareva learn from your mistakes and take it out on the court and win!
    Go Serena!!!

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