Williams coasts past Sharapova

LONDON—Her game in high gear, history in the offing, Serena Williams is perfectly content to let everyone else talk about what a victory in the Wimbledon final would mean.

A “Serena Slam” of four consecutive major titles. The third leg of a calendar-year Grand Slam. A 21st major singles trophy, one short of the Open-era record.

For now, the No. 1-seeded Williams is keeping her thoughts to herself, declaring she won’t entertain questions about those topics, even after easily dismissing No. 4 Maria Sharapova 6-2, 6-4 in the semifinals at the All England Club on Thursday to close in on the milestones.

“I don’t want the pressure of that, and I’m not thinking of that. When you talk about it every time, you can’t help but think about it,” Williams said. “It’s been OK just to free my brain from that.”

Whatever works. Clearly, Williams is doing plenty right at the moment. Particularly against Sharapova, whom she’s beaten 17 times in a row.

Williams hit 13 aces, reaching 123 mph. Fewer than half her serves were put in play. She never faced a break point, and was pushed to deuce just once on her serve. She had a 29-9 edge in winners.

“Nothing to do with Sharapova,” said Williams’ coach, Patrick Mouratoglou. “She does this to most of the top 10 players. It’s true. She’s dominating the game for a long time.”

Williams beat her sister Venus in the fourth round and another past No. 1 and multiple major winner, Victoria Azarenka, in the quarterfinals.

On Saturday, with so much at stake, Williams will face No. 20 Garbine Muguruza of Spain, who advanced to her first Grand Slam final by eliminating No. 13 Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

“If you want to win a Grand Slam, when you dream, you say, ‘I want Serena in the final,’” the 21-year-old Muguruza said. “She’s like one of the best players in all these years.”  AP