Serena Survives A Riske Test, Enters Semifinals

Strycova stuns home favourite Konta; Halep and Svitolina complete the line-up

- N. Sudarshan

At the start of the tournament, Serena Williams found herself in a quarter comprising three former No.1s, the present best in the world and three past Wimbledon champions. For someone trying to resurrect an injury-plagued year, it was nasty luck.

Come the semifinals though, she is the last woman standing. Even as a series of upsets sliced open the draw, Serena, unaffected by the carnage around her, has elevated her play with each passing day, raising prospects of a record-breaking 24th Major.

On Centre Court on Tuesday, she survived a searing examination of those credentials, finishing on the right side of a capricious three-setter against fellow American Alison Riske 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.

Meets Strycova

In what will be her 12th Wimbledon semifinal, she will play Barbora Strycova who beat home favourite Johanna Konta 7-6(5), 6-1. Serena, for the record, has lost only one of those, way back in 2000.