Wimbledon 2015: Women’s Singles Semifinals Preview
The women’s singles semifinals of Wimbledon will take place on Thursday as four ladies will battle it out for a chance to compete in one of the most prestigious finals in the sport. A blockbuster showdown between former champions Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova highlight the day’s action, while Garbine Muguruza and Agnieszka Radwanska will be playing in their first Wimbledon semifinal.
(1) Serena Williams vs. (4) Maria Sharapova
Serena against Sharapova has been one of the biggest rivalries on the women’s circuit over the last decade, but the results wouldn’t dictate this being called a rivalry. Serena is 17-2 all-time versus Sharapova and hasn’t lost to the Russian since 2004. In the pair’s second ever meeting, Sharapova did beat Serena to win her first Grand Slam right here at Wimbledon, but has struggled against her since.
“I love playing Maria,” Serena said of the matchup. “I think she brings out the best in me. I think I bring out the best in her.”
There is no doubt that Sharapova brings out the best in Serena, who seems determined not to lose to the player that has dominated the tour alongside her.
The two got to the final this year in different fashions. Sharapova has lost just one set, in her fourth-round match against American Coco Vandeweghe, while Serena faced a couple of match points in her third-round match against Heather Watson and lost the first set against Victoria Azarenka in her last match. Either way, this is the matchup tennis fans have wanted to see.
(13) Agnieszka Radwanska vs. (20) Garbine Muguruza
Unlike the other semifinal matchup, Radwanska and Muguruza aren’t as familiar with each other. The two have played four times in their career, and each has won two of those meetings, with the most recent being a 6-4, 6-2 win by Muguruza in Dubai earlier this year.
Radwanska has been playing excellent tennis in recent weeks following a slump. She reached the final of Eastbourne the week prior to Wimbledon and hasn’t missed a beat at the All-England Club, dropping just one set on her way to the semis.
Muguruza has looked impressive as well, taking out fifth-seeded Caroline Wozniacki, 10th-seeded Angelique Kerber and 15th-seeded Timea Bacsinszky. Despite losing two of her three matches in the grass-court season leading up to Wimbledon, the Spaniard has picked up her game at this tournament, and has learned how to suit her game to the surface.
The matchups get underway Thursday morning at 8:00 a.m. EDT.
