Skip to content

Serena bests Strycova to set up Wimbledon title bout with Halep

Clive Brunskill / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Serena Williams will play in the 11th Wimbledon final of her distinguished career after defeating veteran challenger Barbora Strycova, 6-1, 6-2.

Against Strycova, Williams won 23 of 26 (88.5 percent) points on her first serve and 21 of 41 (51.2 percent) of her receiving points in an all-around effort that lasted just 59 minutes.

Despite being on the wrong end of the rout, Strycova appeared to relish the dying moments of her career-best singles run, marking her winning points with emphatic fist pumps. Though she's previously reached a Slam semifinal five times as a doubles player, Strycova's best individual performance had been making the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2014.

Williams will now face Simona Halep for the title in what will be the 11th meeting between the two former No. 1s. The American currently holds a 9-1 head-to-head edge, including winning the past five meetings.

For Williams, a victory would mark her first major title since becoming a mother in September 2017. Since returning to the court, the 37-year-old has tallied a pair of finals appearances, including a straight-sets loss to Angelique Kerber at Wimbledon last summer, as she continues her quest to tie Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slam women's singles titles.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox