Venus into Wimbledon semis, Kerber next

Five-time champion Venus Williams has advanced to her first Wimbledon semifinal in seven years after continuing her extraordinary tennis renaissance.

The former world No.1 ended Yaroslava Shvedova’s run on Tuesday with a 7-6(5) 6-2 quarterfinal triumph over the unseeded Kazakh.

The oldest player to reach the last four at the All England Club since Martina Navratilova in 1994, Williams will play Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber on Thursday for a place in Saturday’s title match.

Champion in 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2008, the 36-year-old could yet square off with younger sister Serena for a fifth time in the final, with the world No.1 continuing her title defence later on Tuesday against Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Kerber, meanwhile, is eyeing a second Grand Slam title in six months after becoming the first woman through to the semifinals.

The big-hitting German left-hander denied Romanian fifth seed Simona Halep 7-5 7-6(2) in a rollercoaster match that featured 13 breaks in 24 service games.

“We both played a really good match on a really high level. We’re both great returners so it was really hard,” Kerber said after prevailing after 90 minutes neat on Tuesday.

“I’m really happy that I won this because it was so close. I won the last point and that’s what counts.”

At 29, Kerber – also a semifinalist in 2012 – believes she is playing the finest grasscourt tennis of her career.

She is the only woman not to have dropped a set yet in five matches this campaign.

“I’m trying to focus on my game, being aggressive and moving well,” Kerber said.

“I’ve had a great year so far with the Australian Open title and I’m feeling so good.”

Continuing her quest for a for a seventh Wimbledon crown – and record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam crown – Serena Williams qualified for her 12th quarterfinal at the All England Club with a 7-5 6-0 fourth-round win over Svetlana Kuznestova.

The other quarter-final in the top half of the draw features in-form 19th seed Dominika Cibulkova, chasing her 10th straight grasscourt win, against unseeded Russian Elina Vesnina.