Scintillating Serena

Williams had not lost a set going into yesterday’s clash against Wozniacki, and the American looked in supreme form again, humiliating the former world 
No 1 in the first set before wrapping up a 6-0 6-3 win.

The American, twice an Olympic doubles champion with her sister Venus, will be guaranteed her first Olympic medal in the singles if she beats top seed Azarenka today.

Azarenka had to battle much harder to book her place in the last four as she edged past seventh seed Angelique Kerber from Germany on Court One.

Both players struggled to hold serve throughout – there were 10 breaks during the match – as the Belarus player registered a 6-4 7-5 win.

Wimbledon bade farewell to a crowd favourite as Kim Clijsters lost her quarter-final 6-2 7-5 to third seed Maria Sharapova.

The Belgian will retire for the second time after the US Open, which begins later this month.

Clijsters pegged Sharapova back in the second set but she could not force a decider on Centre Court and the Russian victor will face her countrywoman Maria Kirilenko, who pulled off an impressive 7-6 (7/3) 6-3 victory over sixth seed Petra Kvitova.