Williams surprises herself by making title decider

It’s almost as if Serena Williams never left.

Even after more than a year away from the tour, even after a health scare while having a baby little more than 10 months ago, Williams is still capable of dominance.

Especially at Wimbledon, where she’s one victory from an eighth championship.

A relatively routine 6-2, 6-4 semifinal victory over 13th-seeded Julia Goerges of Germany yesterday put Williams into her 10th final at the All England Club and moved her closer to a 24th Grand Slam title, which would equal Margaret Court’s record.

“It’s crazy. I don’t even know how to feel, you know, because literally, I didn’t expect to do this well in my fourth tournament back,” Williams said.

“I just feel like when I don’t have anything to lose, I just can play so free, and that’s kind of what I’m doing.”

After hitting five aces with a serve that reached 191km/h, delivering 16 winners to only seven unforced errors, and covering the court so well with speed and effort against Goerges, Williams will face another German, 11th-seeded Angelique Kerber, later tonight (NZ time).

“Whatever happens, honestly it’s an incredible effort from me,” the 36-year-old Williams said, “and good motivation to keep going for the rest of my career.”

The left-handed Kerber, a former No 1 and two-time major champion, used a seven-game run to beat 12th-seeded Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-3.

Kerber did not dictate much, content to let 2017 French Open champion Ostapenko determine the outcome of nearly every point.

By the end, Ostapenko had far more winners, 30-10, but also far more unforced errors, 36-7.

Williams-Kerber will be a rematch of the 2016 final at Wimbledon. Williams won that for a second consecutive title at the All England Club, then sat out the grass-court tournament last year while pregnant, part of a 16-month gap between majors.

“Seeing her back, it’s great,” said Kerber, who has lost six of eight previous matches against Williams. “I know that she is always pushing you to the limits to play your best tennis. This is the only chance to beat her.”