8 Jul 2016

Kerber gatecrashes Williams sisters Wimbledon party

6:48 am on 8 July 2016

The Wimbledon women's singles final won't be a Williams family affair after Germany's Angelique Kerber overpowered Venus in straight sets to setup a title match with world number one Serena.

The fourth seed will be aiming to become the first German woman since Steffi Graf 20 years ago to lift the Wimbledon singles crown and to confound Serena's efforts to equal Graf's professional era record of 22 grand slam singles titles for the second time this year.

Germany's Angelique Gerber

Germany's Angelique Gerber Photo: Photosport

Kerber had the upper hand in the baseline exchanges against eighth-seeded Venus throughout a topsy-turvy first set in which there were seven breaks of serve, moving the increasingly weary looking 36 year old American opponent from side to side on court, in her 6-4, 6-4 win.

Kerber beat Serena in the Australian Open final in January to lift her first grand slam title.

Serena had little trouble getting past Russain Elena Vesnina needing just 48 minutes to win 6-2, 6-0.

Vesnina lasted three minutes longer than countrywoman Dinara Safina did against Venus Williams in the previous shortest modern era women's semi-final in 2009.

Serena Williams is one win away from playing her sister Venus in the final at Wimbledon for the fifth time.

Women's world tennis number one Serena Williams. Photo: Photosport

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