LONDON, (Reuters) – Serena Williams was left all alone trying to crush an unlikely uprising on Wimbledon’s hallowed lawns yesterday as sister Venus and Kim Clijsters suffered shock defeats in the women’s quarter-finals.
By the time defending champion Williams stepped on Centre Court before beating China’s Li Na 7-5 6-3, Venus had been thumped by Bulgaria’s Tsvetana Pironkova and Clijsters, seen as the main obstacle to another Saturday sister act, had crumbled to a three-set defeat against 21st seed Vera Zvonareva.
World number 82 Pironkova, who charmed the Court One crowd during a dazzling 6-2 6-3 defeat of Venus, will face 21st seed Zvonareva in the last four with the prize of a first appearance in a grand slam final tantalisingly close for both.
Serena, now overwhelming favourite to claim a fourth Wimbledon title and a 13th major crown, will direct her considerable firepower at Petra Kvitova in the other semi-final after the unseeded Czech saved five match points to beat Estonian qualifier Kaia Kanepi 4-6 7-6 8-6.
