Whatever you do, don’t mention the “S” word around Serena Williams. You and I may whisper it – “slam”, there we said it – but not within earshot of the world No.1. Not this summer.
Not in reference to “Serena” or, worse still, “The Grand”. The “S” word does not exist in her world. In the Williams household, people in a strop do not slam doors, they merely shut them very loudly. Serena jumping for a high volley, then, is going for a shutting-the-door-very-loudly dunk. Wimbledon, for this year only, is a major championship, a grand and venerable tournament, the most prestigious event in the calendar, but it is not a grand s… oops, we almost said it. Twice in the past three days, an intrepid news hound has dared mention the “S” word in the post-match press conference and has been put firmly in his place.
Miss W does not discuss the “S” word any more. End of story. The reason for all this walking on eggshells is that Williams is on course for the Grand Slam (winning all four major titles in the course of one calendar year) and the Serena Slam – if she wins on Saturday, she will hold all four big titles (her current US Open title is from 2014). She has not been beaten at a major championship since she was ousted by Alize Cornet in the third round here last summer.
Azarenka brought the very best out of herself and therefore – and unfortunately for her – from Williams but still could not stop her old rival from thundering into the semi-finals 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.
She, like Williams, is warrior and her heavy hitting from the baseline caught the No.1 cold in the first set. Moving up a gear, Williams went toe to toe with the former Australian Open champion until she found a way to break the Azarenka serve in the second set and from there she was in total control.
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