Serena Williams sweeps into final

It's no good expecting fairytales at the sharp end of elite sport. David's task against Goliath was a pushover by comparison with that facing Petra Kvitova in the semi-final on the Centre Court. Her opponent Serena Williams is the world number one, a three-time Wimbledon champion, and a 12-time Grand Slam champion. By contrast Kvitova, who had never previously won any match on grass before this Wimbledon fortnight, came into this Wimbledon as the world number 62.

She was bidding to become the lowest ranked finalist in SW19 since rankings were introduced in 1975. Not a single unseeded woman has ever reached the final here, and this year will not change that. Commendably Kvitova was no pushover, and her standard of play in the first set showed she relished the biggest stage in the global theatre of tennis. But Williams it is who goes through to meet Vera Zvonareva in the final, winning 7-6 (7-5) 6-2.

These two had met once before, earlier this year in the second round of the Australian Open where Williams permitted 20-year-old Kvitova just three games. It rapidly became clear this was to be no repeat. Far from being overawed by the occasion, Kvitova rose to it. Serena was having trouble dealing with the spin from left-handed Kvitova's serve, and indeed any left-hander is an unusual sight on the women's tour.

Encouragingly the Czech took 28-year-old Williams to break point at the first opportunity, although when Kvitova's own serve came Williams forced the error for a break point of her own. Not to worry. It passed safely. Kvitova was trying to be aggressive, and she delivered a love game for 2-2, before conjuring up two more successive break points in the next. The second showed great touch with a fabulous backhand volley, and the break was hers. No doubt her illustrious fellow Czechs Jan Kodes and Hana Mandlikova, watching in the stands, were suitably impressed.

Kvitova had her nervy moments, and throughout the set won more points behind her second serve than her first. She was doing great work at the net, and had a point for 5-3. But she had no option other than to go for her shots, with the result that Williams was able to level it for 4-4. Kvitova declined to crumble and took it into the tiebreak. Initially Serena motored away to a 4-0 advantage. But although Kvitova got it back to 4-3, the Williams serve was at its most fearsome. Kvitova fended off two set points, but the defending champion served it out. The first set had required just under one hour of her time, which was a great deal more than many had anticipated for the entire match.

The second set, perhaps unsurprisingly, was less of a tussle. Williams grabbed hold of it early and never let go. At 2-2 Kvitova surrendered an unforced error for break point and could not stay in the rally for 2-3. In her next service game the Czech double-faulted to give Williams the chance for the double break. That was when the two women played a truly extraordinary rally - the point of the entire women's tournament to date - with both women retrieving the ball time and again in ways which seemed impossible. Splendidly, Kvitova won that point. But Williams forced another chance, and Kvitova double faulted to make it 2-5. Serena allowed two match points to escape her before converting the third courtesy of the netcord, to win through to the sixth Wimbledon final of her career, and her third in succession. She marked the occasion by greeting victory with a smile for the first time this fortnight.

By making this semi-final Kvitova's ranking will jump to around 30, and she deserves praise for making a match of today's encounter. She will have learned volumes from this. But Serena Williams has not surrendered a set yet this Wimbledon. Vera Zvonareva will need to be at her very best in Saturday's final, and even then it may still not be enough by some distance.