Serena Williams takes 48 minutes to beat Russia's Vesnina

Six-time champion Serena Williams breezed into her ninth Wimbledon final, and a potential match-up with sister Venus, by demolishing unseeded Russian Elena Vesnina in just 48 minutes yesterday.

The 34-year-old American, who is bidding for an Open Era record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam title, cantered to a 6-2, 6-0 win over her 50th-ranked opponent.

She will meet Germany’s Angelique Kerber who beat Venus Williams in the other semi-final yesterday.

Serena, playing in her 32nd Grand Slam semi-final, blasted last-four debutant Vesnina off the sun-kissed Centre Court in front of Prince William’s wife Kate watching from up in the Royal Box.

The American fired 11 aces, 28 winners and committed just seven unforced errors, breaking serve five times to reach her 28th Grand Slam final.

Vesnina won just three points off the Williams serve in the first set and none in the second.

“I’m very happy. I was really focused today. We’ve had tough matches before and I knew she could bring it to me on this surface,” said Williams, who has now defeated the Russian five times in five meetings.

Despite the painfully one-sided semi-final Williams, into her third Grand Slam final of the year, insisted it had been a tough workout.

“It’s never easy out there, every point you have to fight for,” she said.

“I can’t believe I’m in the final this year. I’m 0-2 this year so I’m determined to win one. I want Venus to win, but Kerber would be another good match.”

Serena triumphed in 2002, 2003 and 2009 while Venus came out on top in 2008.

yesterday’s contest saw Serena race to a 4-0 lead in the first set before 29-year-old Vesnina got on the board.

But the set was over in 28 minutes courtesy of Williams’s seventh ace. The second set was wrapped up in just 20 minutes with breaks in the first, third and fifth games.

Saturday’s final will give Serena a chance to win a first major of the season after losing to Kerber in the final in Melbourne and Garbine Muguruza in Paris.

Meanwhile, former Wimbledon winner Marion Bartoli said yesterday she fears for her life after picking up a mystery virus which has caused dramatic weight loss.

The 2013 champion from France, who has shocked fans with her skeletal appearance, was barred from playing in an invitational event at Wimbledon this week after doctors expressed fears over her health.

Bartoli, 31, told a British daytime television show that the virus is so rare that medical experts have no name for it.

Insisting that she is not anorexic, Bartoli said she can only eat organic salad leaves and cucumbers without skins.

She added that she needs gloves when she uses her mobile phone as the virus has caused severe electro-sensitivity.

Bartoli also claims that she has to wash with mineral water rather than tap water.

“I fear for my life. I worry that one day my heart will stop,” the 31-year-old told ITV’s ‘This Morn

ing’ programme. “This is not life. I am just surviving.”

— AFP