Serena in Wimbledon final, on verge of tying all-time Grand Slam record

2:15 PMThe greatest tennis player of our era is on a roll again, and she’s not letting any obstacles get in her way.

When many people thought she didn’t have much in the tank, Serena Williams, arguably the greatest tennis player to pick up a racket, is going back to a Grand Slam final for the first time since her 2018 US Open defeat last September.

Williams defeated Barbora Strýcová in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2, Thursday morning on Centre Court at Wimbledon and on Saturday will make her 11th appearance in the Wimbledon singles final. Coming into the match, there were concerns about Williams’ health, as she had rolled her ankle in her quarterfinal match against Alison Riske. But Williams did not allow Strýcová to gain any momentum whatsoever throughout Thursday’s semifinal.

Not only did Williams have injury concerns before the semifinals, but she also had some health problems leading up to the tournament. It was reported that Williams withdrew from the Miami Open because of a left knee injury in March, and she pulled out of the Italian Open two months later.

Williams endured health concerns last season as well. During her tremendous 2018 run, people didn’t know how Williams would play after giving birth to her daughter, Alexis. Although she didn’t win any Grand Slam tournaments in 2018, she was able to reach the finals at Wimbledon and the US Open, where she lost to Angelique Kerber and Naomi Osaka, respectively.

So Saturday, Williams will have the chance to make history again, in her quest for her eighth Wimbledon title and 24th Grand Slam title, which would equal the record for most Grand Slam singles titles in women’s tennis history. She will face a familiar opponent in Simona Halep, who has played in four Grand Slam singles finals and won the 2018 French Open.

And if playing for the Wimbledon women’s singles title wasn’t enough, Williams had also been playing mixed doubles with Andy Murray, but the pair lost in the round of 16 on Wednesday.