After 41 failed attempts Elena Vesnina has finally reached her maiden grand slam semifinal following a comprehensive 6-2, 6-2, win over Dominika Cibulkova.
Playing a player ranked 32 places higher than her, Vesnina experienced little trouble against the Slovakian, who was visibly tired following her three-hour triumph over Agnieszka Radwanska in the fourth round. Firing 22 winners past Cibulkova, a shocked Vesnina now finds herself in the semifinals at SW19 for the first time in her career.
“I am very surprised. It was like a dream came true,” the delighted Russian said.
“I’m always thinking I can do well in the Grand Slams and I had some good wins I was close to be in the quarter-final couple times, but it was never good enough.”
The milestone comes just seven months after she lost in the first round of qualifying at the first major of the year, the Australian Open. Since then, the 29-year-old has been displaying the form which took her agonisingly close to the top-20 in 2013 (ranking high of 21). This year she has posted notable wins over Venus Williams, Simona Halep and Caroline Wozniacki. The reason behind her rapid rise in form on the singles tour this season is down to ‘self-belief’ according to Vesnina.
“I think it was think positive thinking,” she said about the reason behind her Wimbledon success.
“I was not putting any pressure on myself going on the court. I know I’m in the good shape, I’m playing good. But it’s always tough, when you know you in a good shape to build your game from beginning till the end and keep playing the same level.”
Awaiting Vesnina in the next round will be defending champion Serena Williams. The world No.1 produced 11 aces and 29 winners to edge out Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4, 6-4. Williams is now only two wins away from equally Steffi Graf’s record of 22 grand slam titles. The upcoming match will be the first meeting between the two in a grand slam since the 2008 US Open.
“I think she has a really good grass court game and a really good serve.” Williams said about the Russian.
“She’s also very aggressive. She comes to the net. I know her game really, really well. It’s good to play someone’s game that you know.” She later added.
Vesnina has succumbed to the power of Williams on four previous occasions and has never taken a set off of the world no.1. Regardless of the outcome of Thursday’s semifinals, the Lvov-born player has already achieved one of her dreams after ten years trying on the tour. A fairy-tale outcome for the hard-working Vesnina.
