Maria Sharapova chills away Wimbledon blues by the beach

Russian ace, who exited Wimbledon in the semis, spends the last few days on the beach and with her Porsche

"Maria Sharapova — a tennis player or a model? Ha! Confusing, isn't it, for her good looks are no less than that of a model. She cemented this as a verity again after the tennis star flaunted her model-isque figure," reported tmsplug.com yesterday.


A July 11, 2013 image of Maria Sharapova posing with a Porsche at Manhattan Beach, California. Pic/Getty Images 

According to the website, Sharapova (28) relaxed on a beach on Saturday, "to take pleasure from the long break ahead of the Rogers Cup in Toronto (begins August 10)."

Water way to glow
Some of her followers said she is in Montenegro (Europe). A few days ago she posted a picture on Twitter with a caption: "Spent the afternoon working with this red beauty @Porsche." The Russian endured disappointment at Wimbledon, losing to eventual champion Serena Williams in the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, Sharapova revealed the secret to her glowing personality. "As boring as it sounds, water is a big part of my diet. I wake up and drink half a litre every morning, it's just a really fresh, clean way to start the day. I don't even go in for coconut water or anything like that, just plain old water – sometimes with a squeeze of lemon," she told InStyle.co.uk

"It's the best way of keeping me hydrated, especially when I'm travelling. Although, I have the smallest bladder, so it's not always ideal when you're on the go!" Sharapova loves green juices and avoids bread. "I love cold-pressed juices.

When I'm flying, I'll avoid bread or anything with too much protein and will make sure I eat lots of vitamin C infused foods, but there's no real secret to fighting jet lag unfortunately," she said. As a reward for her hard toil at training, Sharapova rewards herself by wearing her favourite perfume. 'I don't wear it when I train, so it always feels like a bit of a treat," she revealed.

#TBT: SERENA VS SHARAPOVA, WIMBLEDON '04

Eleven years ago on the pristine lawns of the All-England Club, a star - one of the biggest stars the WTA would ever see - was born, as Maria Sharapova won Wimbledon.

Published July 09, 2015 12:13

LONDON, England - Eleven years ago on the pristine lawns of the All-England Club, a star - one of the biggest WTA stars - was born. Maria Sharapova, who went into the fortnight as a 17-year-old, No.15-ranked up-and-comer, left as a Grand Slam champion, making headlines around the world.

She did come in on some grass court momentum - she won the lead-up tournament in Birmingham.

And round by round she kept building steam, taking out her first four opponents of the fortnight in straight sets, and after battling past Ai Sugiyama in three sets to reach her first Grand Slam semifinal, she then pulled off a massive surprise in those semis, beating Lindsay Davenport, 2-6, 7-6(5), 6-1.

She did it in dramatic fashion, too - she rallied from a 6-2, 3-1 deficit to make it past the American.

And then another American in the final. She took on Serena Williams, who wasn't just the No.1 seed, but the two-time defending champion too - she had won 20 straight matches at Wimbledon too.

But with nothing to lose and everything to gain, the No.13-seeded Sharapova swung away, storming through the first set, 6-1, and then rallied from 2-4 in the second set to outdo Williams, 6-1, 6-4.

"It's amazing, really," Sharapova would say after winning the first of her five Grand Slam titles.

"I'm absolutely speechless. I never, never in my life expected this to happen so fast. And it's always been my dream to come here and to win, but it was never in my mind that I would do it this year."

At 17 years and 2 months, Sharapova became the third-youngest Wimbledon champion in history after Lottie Dod (15 years and 9 months in 1887) and Martina Hingis (16 years and 9 months in 1997).

The victory propelled Sharapova into the Top 10, from No.15 to No.8. But she didn't want to stop there.

"I thought winning Wimbledon was just my dream. Now, of course, my goal is to be No.1 in the world."

SHARAPOVA: I KNOW MY LEVEL CAN BE THERE

Maria Sharapova gave Serena Williams all kinds of props after their Wimbledon semifinal, but the five-time Grand Slam champion and former No.1 knows she can turn the tide.

Published July 09, 2015 12:15

Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams

LONDON, England - It was competitive, especially the second set, but in the end Serena Williamswas just too good for Maria Sharapova, winning, 6-2, 6-4 - her 17th straight win over her longtime rival.

Sharapova met the press afterwards and gave all kinds of props to the World No.1's level of play.

"I never found myself in a position to break her today. I didn't get any looks at break points, so that was quite difficult," she said. "Her serve is one of her biggest strengths. That's one of the reasons she's in the position she's in today. She comes up with the goods from that serve when she's down. And obviously when she's ahead, it makes it a lot easier for her. That was definitely the case today."

What about beyond the serve - how did Sharapova feel about Williams in the rallies?

"I think she had better depth than I did on her shots. That certainly makes a big difference," the Russian said. "I think one of the things she does extremely well when she plays is takes herself from a defensive position into an offensive position again. I was not able to do that in today's match."

At the end of it all, though, Williams now leads Sharapova in their head-to-head, 18-2, and it's not Williams' only lopsided head-to-head - a round earlier she improved to 17-3 against Victoria Azarenka.

"I always expect her to play her best tennis against myself and a few other elite players," Sharapova said. "I don't think it's a secret. I think she knows against certain players she needs to bring out her best. The way that she plays Azarenka, myself, maybe a few others, she has to bring it on the line.

"You can't just produce your best tennis, but more. Obviously it hasn't happened for me."

What does she need to do to close the gap?

"A lot more than I'm doing," she said.

But it's not all negative - looking back at the entire fortnight, this was Sharapova's second time making the quarterfinals or better here in the last nine years, going along with the 2011 final, and by virtue of the result she'll now move back up to No.2 on both the WTA Rankings and the Road To Singapore leaderboard, the journey to the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.

"It's never easy to be the one on the losing end of an event, especially at Wimbledon, but to look at things in perspective, to see where I was a few weeks ago, I had no idea what my result would be here.

"But I expect myself to be a champion of these events. It's disappointing to come out a loser because I know my level can be there, and my level can be at the point of holding these championship trophies.

"I know that's what keeps me going forward."

SERENA BEATS SHARAPOVA AT WIMBLEDON

Serena Williams kept her dominance over Maria Sharapova going on Thursday, defeating her longtime rival in straight sets to reach her milestone 25th Grand Slam final.

Published July 09, 2015 12:15

Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova

LONDON, England - Serena Williams kept her dominance over Maria Sharapova going on Thursday, beating her longtime rival in straight sets to reach her milestone 25th Grand Slam final at Wimbledon.

Williams had beaten Sharapova 16 times in a row going in and with her legendary brand of power and accuracy extended that to 17 in a row, rushing out to a 6-2, 5-3 lead and, after Sharapova fought off a match point to hold serve for 6-2, 5-4, Williams calmly stepped up to the line and served it out.

The No.1-seeded Williams finished the No.4-seeded Sharapova off with a flurry of aces, 6-2, 6-4.

Williams finished the match with almost twice as many winners to unforced errors, 29 to 15.

"I'm really excited," the World No.1 told the BBC right after the match. "I was a little nervous out there. The semifinals of Wimbledon - it's been a long time since I've been this far in this tournament!

"I think Maria played really well. She stepped up her game, and I was able to step mine up as well. And it's the semifinals of Wimbledon - you never want to lose, and you want to do the best you can."

She's now into the 25th Grand Slam final of her illustrious career, putting together a 20-4 record in the first 24, winning six Australian Opens, three French Opens, five Wimbledons and six US Opens.

The four losses? Venus Williams twice (US Open in 2001 and Wimbledon in 2008), Sharapova once (Wimbledon in 2004) and Sam Stosur once (US Open in 2011). She's won her last seven major finals.

This one could be a little different, though. Awaiting her in this final is the No.20-seeded Garbiñe Muguruza, who beat No.13-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska in the other semifinal (read more here).

The Spanish WTA Rising Star has a win over Williams, too, a very famous one in fact - she beat her in the second round of the 2014 French Open, 6-2, 6-2, the worst Grand Slam loss of her entire career.

Williams leads Muguruza in the head-to-head, 2-1, including a win since that French Open stunner.

"She's beaten me before, and she's improved too," Williams said. "It's not going to be an easy match."

"It's the best final you can play," Muguruza said. "Serena in the Wimbledon final is the hardest match you can have. If you want to win a Grand Slam, when you dream, you say, 'I want Serena in the final.'

"She's one of the best players in all these years. So it's obviously the best challenge to have."

Serena Williams beats Maria Sharapova to reach Wimbledon final – as it happened

Serena Williams scored a 17th straight victory over her (un)rival, beating Maria Sharapova 6-2, 6-4, to move within one win of a second Serena Slam


The final against Muguruza could be tasty. The young Spaniard stunned Serena in the French Open second round last year. A grand slam final will, of course, be a different proposition, but don’t be surprised if Muguruza pushes Williams. Much will come down to how the 21-year-old handles the pressure of her first major final. Perhaps she could ask Sharapova for a few tips, if Sharapova can even remember her 2004 Wimbledon final win as a 17-year-old over Williams. After 17 straight defeats, it must feel like a lifetime ago. Thanks for reading. Bye!Serena speaks:

When she stepped up my game I was able to step up mine as well. You never want to lose. [Garbine Muguruza] actually beat me before, she made me improve. It’s not going to be an easy match. I think the feeling [of winning] definitely gets better. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in the final here [three years]. It’s really cool.

She then cuts off a question about that second Serena Slam.

At least I made it to the final of four. That’s pretty good.

Williams beats Sharapova 6-2, 6-4 to reach the Wimbledon final!

Williams starts as she means to go on, ace, 15-0. But maybe she’s a bit tight because she double faults with a badly-mistimed second serve. How silly am I? Of course she’s not nervous. Ace, 30-15. Ace, 40-15. Unreturned serve, game, set and match Williams. Williams jumps around the court, waving to all four sides, as she celebrates reaching an eighth Wimbledon final, where she can further enhance her greatness. She’ll be going for a second Serena Slam and the third leg of a possible calendar slam, not to mention a 21st grand slam title and a sixth at Wimbledon. She’s a phenomenon. As for Sharapova, the losing run. Goes. On.

 Serena Williams shakes hands with Maria Sharapova after reaching her first Wimbledon final since 2012. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Reuters

Updated at 5.30pm BST

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2d ago17:04

Second set: *Williams 6-2, 5-4 Sharapova (*denotes next server)

Sharapova’s serve jumps into the body of Williams, who nets. Sharapova lets rip with an inside-out forehand to get to 30-0. Oooof, take that. She virtually battered the life out of the ball there. Williams then finishes the ball off for good with a powerful backhand. 30-15. Another point apiece and it’s 40-30. The pair duke it out from the back of the court, before Williams decides she’s had enough and puts away the backhand winner. Deuce, with Williams, potentially, two points from the final. Now she’s only one point away because Sharapova’s serve creaks under the pressure once again and produces a double fault. Advantage Williams, match point. Williams has the chance to win it, but goes for too much on the cross-court forehand! Deuce. A breathtaking point follows, perhaps the best of the match, some frightening hitting from both players and it’s Sharapova who survives to bring up advantage. Williams, seemingly off-balance, comes up with an unorthodox return winner. Deuce. Advantage Sharapova. Game. Sharapova was staring down the barrel there but survived. Though it may only be for one more game.

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2d ago16:54

Second set: Williams 6-2, 5-3 Sharapova* (*denotes next server)

Sharapova has a bit of a spring in her step after her escape act in the previous game. She’s jumping around on the baseline pretending to return before Williams has even served. And when Williams does Sharapova takes the first point. And the second. 0-30. Williams recovers her poise, 30-all, but she had a bit of an agonising wait on the fourth point to see if her looping forehand was going to drop back into court. It did, for a winner. 40-30, game, as Sharapova’s attempted return off a sizzling serve barely makes the net. Sharapova must hold serve to stay in this semi-final.

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2d ago16:50

Second set: *Williams 6-2, 4-3 Sharapova (*denotes next server)

Jim Hart emails: “I’m surprised nobody has mentioned the great Vitas Gerulaitis quote after finally getting one over on Jimmy Connors: ‘And let that be a lesson to you all. Nobody beats Vitas Gerulaitis 17 times in a row’. Unfortunately, for Sharapova, it looks like a 17th straight defeat is looming. She slumps to 15-40, two break points down. But Williams is feeling generous and throws in two forehand errors. Deuce. A rocket of a return, advantage Williams. If she breaks here she’ll be serving for a place in the final. But this time she sprays an errant backhand into the tramlines. Deuce. Advantage Sharapova. Game Sharapova. The Russian allows herself a little fist pump in celebration, having saved those three break points.

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2d ago16:42

Second set: Williams 6-2, 4-2 Sharapova* (*denotes next server)

Apologies, technical errors. But I can tell you that Williams consolidates the break by holding emphatically to love.

 Defeat is written into Sharapova’s face. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Serena Williams crushes Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon

Serena Williams continued her dominance of Maria Sharapova with a thorough 6-2, 6-4 win in the Wimbledon semifinals Thursday. Williams now has 17 consecutive wins over Sharapova and 27 straight victories in Grand Slam matches, her last loss coming in Wimbledon’s third round last year. She’s also 38-1 this year.

[Sally Jenkins: It’s Serena and nobody else]

Williams’s pursuit of her second “Serena Slam” — titles in four straight Grand Slam events —  and her first calendar Grand Slam also remained intact in front of a staid Centre Court crowd.

“They’ve seen this play before; they know how it ends,” ESPN’s Chris Fowler said while noting the crowd’s apparent lack of enthusiasm.

Williams will play 20th-seeded Garbine Muguruza, a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 winner over Agnieszka Radwanska, in Saturday’s final. Muguruza, a 21-year-old Spaniard who defeated Williams but lost to Sharapova at the 2014 French Open, will be playing in her first Grand Slam final

2015 Wimbledon Championships

Photos of action from the grasscourt Grand Slam tennis tournament in London.

Williams improved to 18-2 all-time against Sharapova, last losing to her in the final of the 2004 Tour Championships (Sharapova also defeated Williams in that year’s Wimbledon final for the first of her five Grand Slam titles). Thursday’s match was just their third ever at Wimbledon and their first since 2010.

By comparison, Sharapova is 120-39 all-time against the rest of the top 25 in her career.

Williams barely needed to touch the ball as she broke a shaky Sharapova in the match’s first game. Sharapova, whose service toss was an issue throughout the match, hit only 2 of 8 first serves and double-faulted three times. Williams, meanwhile, had two aces in her first service game and then broke Sharapova again in the match’s fifth game on her way to a quick first-set victory.

Sharapova looked more composed in the second set until the fifth game, when Williams used a couple of overpowering returns and another double fault by Sharapova to break. Five games later, she was on to her 25th Grand Slam final.

Wimbledon: Serena Williams beats Maria Sharapova in semi-final

World number one Serena Williams brushed aside fourth seed Maria Sharapova to set up a Wimbledon final against Spain's Garbine Muguruza.

The American, 33, extended her winning run against Sharapova to 17 matches over 11 years with a 6-2 6-4 victory.

Williams could win a sixth Wimbledon and 21st major title on Saturday, when she can also complete a 'Serena Slam' by holding all four Grand Slam titles.

Muguruza, 21, beat Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2 3-6 6-3 in the first semi-final.

The Venezuela-born 20th seed led by a set and a break only for 13th seed Radwanska to respond with six straight games and force a decider.

"I don't have words to explain it," Muguruza told BBC Sport.

"I worked all my life to achieve this moment. I think I was playing really well so I had to stay calm and keep a poker face."

Williams was thrilled to reach her 25th Grand Slam final, saying: "I'm so excited. I got a bit nervous because it was a semi-final and it's a long time since I've been this far."

Dominant Williams makes it 17 in a row

Sharapova had not beaten Williams since 2004, the year of her Wimbledon triumph over the American, and she was unable to prevent a 17th straight defeat.

The Russian knew she had to defend her vulnerable serve better but successive double faults handed over the opening game, to groans around Centre Court.

Lindsay Davenport, 1999 Wimbledon champion
"It's 17 times in a row now and I think Sharapova is a realist and says: 'This is just a bad match-up for me.' She just doesn't possess what she needs to challenge Serena. She was constantly fighting to hold her own serve and couldn't make any inroads on the return game. It all revolves around the serve for Serena and when that's on, I'm not sure anyone can challenge her. It's perfect."

Williams was not in the mood to offer her long-time rival any gifts and almost broke again in game three, Sharapova saving herself with an ace out wide.

A forehand into the corner earned the double break two games later and the set was wrapped up after 33 minutes, with Sharapova unable to profit from the American making just 52% of first serves.

There were signs of the world number four at least gaining a foothold in the early stages of the second set, but Williams upped the pace in game five and Sharapova succumbed on break point with her fifth double fault.

Sharapova was struggling desperately to win points on her second serve and Williams let her off the hook with three missed returns on break points at 3-3, before the Russian saved two match points in game nine.

Williams still had her serve to come, however, and fired down four aces - taking her total to 13 - to complete the entire 79-minute contest without facing a break point.

Don't mention the 'Serena Slam'

Williams has adopted a policy during Wimbledon of not discussing the fact that she is close to holding all four major titles for the second time in her career.

The American, who last completed the feat in 2002-2003, said: "I don't what the pressure of that, and I'm not thinking of that.

"When you talk about it every time, you can't help but think about it. It's been OK just to free my brain from that."

Sharapova falls short of expectations

After another defeat by Williams, Sharapova found it difficult to take much solace from the fact that she had at least reached a 20th Grand Slam semi-final.

Sharapova leaves Centre Court still searching for a second Wimbledon title

"I think for many others, maybe if I was British, a semi-final would be incredible," she said. "I'd be on the front page of the paper, I know that.

"But I expect myself to be a champion of these events, and it's disappointing to come out as a loser because I know my level can be there, and my level can be at the point of holding these championship trophies.

"I know that that's what keeps me going forward."

Muguruza holds her nerve in decider

Muguruza completely dominated for a set and a half, winning more than half of the points on Radwanska's serve and hitting three times as many winners as she built a 6-2 3-1 lead.

It took 55 minutes for Radwanska to earn a break point but, when Muguruza found the net, it heralded a dramatic shift in momentum.

Tracy Austin, two-time US Open champion

"I was almost more impressed that Muguruza lost the lead and then recovered, that's a really good sign of maturity. At 21, I think she's such a major star to come. She's got a beautiful personality and I've loved her reactions when she's won. I think she's going to get a huge fanbase behind her. Over the next 48 hours it's so important for her to relish this situation and try to get ready for the final."

The Pole finally began to move her 6ft opponent around, testing her more vulnerable forehand and drawing her into the net with sliced backhands.

It brought Radwanska a run of six straight games as she levelled at one set all and broke at the start of the decider.

Muguruza, who beat Serena Williams at the French Open last year, stemmed the tide with a couple of winners to break back for 1-1 and a gripping contest unfolded.

Muguruza hopes to become Spain's first female champion since Conchita Martinez in 1994

The Spaniard won a brilliant point with a defensive lob and a crunching backhand winner for a 4-2 lead and survived a tense game when trying to serve out the win.

Radwanska had two break points and was pushing for a third at deuce when, seemingly urged on by those in her player box, the Pole challenged a Muguruza shot that Hawk-Eye showed to have clipped the line.

A relieved Muguruza converted her first match point with a big serve and forehand drive-volley to become Spain's first female finalist since Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario in 1996.

"I knew it was going to be tough," said Muguruza. "I was nervous in second set. She has a lot of experience and I had to fight."

Radwanska rues Hawk-Eye call

Radwanska admitted her decision to challenge at deuce in what proved to be the final game let an increasingly nervous Muguruza off the hook.

"It was a 50/50 call on that ball. I decide to challenge. Wasn't really a good decision," said the Pole.

Asked whether she had done so after shouts from her team at courtside, Radwanska added: "I think I did it because I'm the one to decide if I challenge or not. Nobody can do that for me."

Radwanska looked capable of getting back into the final set when she mistakenly challenged

Wimbledon women's semis: Serena and Sharapova to meet for 20th time

LONDON – On Thursday at Wimbledon 2015, the four remaining women will take Centre Court to play for a spot in the final. First starting at 1 p.m. BT, 8 a.m. ET will be No. 13 Agnieszka Radwanska vs. No. 20 Garbine Muguruza, followed by the 20th meeting between No. 1 Serena Williams and No. 4 Maria Sharapova

No. 1 Serena Williams vs. No. 4 Maria Sharapova (H2H: 17-2)

It's a tale as old as time. Or at least the last 10 years. Sharapova, who will rise to No. 2 after the tournament, has not beaten Serena in over a decade, with her last win coming in the fall of 2004. That was the same year that a 17-year-old Sharapova stunned Serena in straight sets to win her maiden Slam right here on the hallowed grounds of Wimbledon. Since then Serena has exacted her revenge in full, reeling off 16 consecutive wins over the Russian, including three in major finals (four if you include the 6–0, 6–1 win in the 2012 Olympic gold medal match). 

"Definitely no secrets between each other's games," Sharapova said. "But, I mean, look, I haven't played Serena here in 11 years. [Editor's note: They actually played at Wimbledon in 2010.] That would be an incredible moment for me to step out on Centre Court against her again.

Considering that it's been Serena and Maria, along with Venus, who have ruled the women's tour the last decade, the Serena-Sharapova head-to-head is the most shocking and emphatic stat in women's tennis. Serena's performance in their last 16 matches speaks volumes as to her desire to keep her dominance over Sharapova intact. 

"I love playing Maria," Serena said. "I think she brings out the best in me. I think I bring out the best in her. I thought we had a wonderful final in Australia. It was very entertaining. She played really well. For me, I don't feel like I have any pressure going into this match."

There's that word: Pressure. With her combined record against the remaining three women in the tournament at 27-3, she is the favorite to win the title. Since comingwithin two points of losing to Heather Watson in the third round, Serena has elevated her game with every match. There was the calm clinic she put on to defeat Venus in straight sets in the fourth round. Then came her best performance of the tournament, a 3–6, 6–2, 6–3 win over Victoria Azarenka in the quarterfinals. As the possibility of winning her fourth consecutive major begins to crystallize, Serena has gone out of her way to deflect the pressure and expectations. Just try mentioning the "Serena Slam" or "Calendar Slam" around her. She'll cut you right off.

But when you hear Serena explain her reasoning it's hard to argue with her logic: "I have nothing to lose. If I win, it's great. If I lose, I did pretty well. It's just totally different for me. I don't have anything to prove. I won all the Grand Slams, multiple times. Now it's just I'm here just to enjoy it. I think it's actually making me play better, which is crazy."​After she beat Azarenka, Serena was asked about the prospect of playing Sharapova in the semifinals. The two played a high-quality final earlier in the year at the Australian Open, which Serena won 6–3, 7–6 (5). Despite her dominant record over Sharapova and all the milestones on the line at Wimbledon, she stuck to her guns: She said she had nothing to lose. The comment sounded absurd at the time. You have a chance at history here! To become the first woman to hold all four major titles twice, win Slam No. 21 and keep the Calendar Grand Slam alive for the U.S. Open, where you could catch Steffi Graf's Open Era record of 22 major singles titles! 

Against Sharapova on grass, Serena's game amplifies. Her serve is bigger, her flat strokes cut through the court more, her returns even more devastating. Sharapova will need a near-perfect serving day to protect against her second serve, which is vulnerable to attack. But if Serena is on her game this is a tough task for Sharapova. Just ask Azarenka. After now forcing Serena to three sets in their last three matches, Azarenka was asked whether she had any tips to offer to Sharapova.

Said Azarenka: "If I had one, I would have used it today, trust me."

No. 13 Agnieszka Radwanska vs. No. 20 Garbine Muguruza (H2H: 2-2)

Radwanska and Muguruza are the two surprise semifinalists, both coming out of the bottom bracket that was vacated early by defending champion Petra Kvitova. The reasons they were overlooked differ. Radwanska, a finalist here in 2012, is a grass court menace. She's now made the semifinals or better at Wimbledon three of the last four years. But her form had been terrible all season. She slipped out of the Top 10 for the first time since 2011 in May. Her high-profile pre-season coaching hire of Martina Navratilova was a failure, as the two split in April. She came into the grass season making just two quarterfinals all year. 

But after a confidence-boosting run to the semifinals of Nottingham and the final of Eastbourne, Radwanska rediscovered her game, full of creativity and guile, to make a run. She has not had to face a top 20 player through five matches, but got through a tricky three-set win over No. 21 Madison Keys in the quarterfinals.

While Radwanska arrived to Wimbledon relieved to be playing on her best surface, 22-year-old Muguruza was the opposite. Grass wasn't supposed to be her thing, she thought. "I think the first tournament [I ever played on grass] was Birmingham," the affable Spaniard said. "I said, I'm never coming back here. I was like, I cannot play on grass. I didn't play in Spain never. So was very different. I couldn't run. The bounce of the ball was weird."

Muguruza had just one main draw win at Wimbledon before this year. Now, playing in just her third Wimbledon main draw, she's into her first Slam semifinal. She's as surprised as anyone. "I'm very happy to be to semifinals because I lost two times quarterfinals," Muguruza said, referring to her two quarterfinal runs at the French Open. "I'm surprised that my first semifinals is on grass. But I think I'm playing really good. I think the surface helps me."

For an unaccomplished grass court player, Muguruza's run here has been beyond impressive. The big-hitting Spaniard said the key to translating her game to grass has been getting low and staying low through the ball. She's done that well this year to beat No. 5 Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets, No. 10 Angelique Kerber in three sets and No. 15 Timea Bacsinszky in two sets.  

Muguruza has won the last two matches she's played against Radwanska, both coming on hard courts this year.

Wimbledon: Maria Sharapova aims to end Serena Williams streak

Wimbledon 2015
Dates: Until Sunday 12 July Play: Centre Court 13:00 BST
BBC coverage: TV, radio and online with up to 15 live streams. Read More:TV and radio schedules.

Maria Sharapova needs to end her 16-match losing streak against Serena Williams if she is to reach the women's singles final at Wimbledon.

The Russian, 28, was victorious over Williams in the final at SW19 in 2004, but aside from one other victory that year, she has not managed to beat the world number one since.

In fact, Sharapova has taken just one set off Williams in the last seven years and in their last meeting on grass, at the London 2012 Olympics,she managed to win just a solitary game.

Despite her dismal record, the five-time Grand Slam champion is confident that she can win to reach what would be a first Wimbledon final since 2011.

"I think it's always a new match," the world number four said.

"I haven't had great success against her. I would love to change that around. That's how I look at it.

"There are definitely no secrets between each other's games, but it will be an incredible moment for me to step out on Centre Court against her again.

"There's no easy road to victory. You're going to have your bumps. That's the way I see it."

Centre Court order of play - day 10
Garbine Muguruza (Spa) [20] v Agnieszka Radwanska (Pol) [13]
Maria Sharapova (Rus) [4] v Serena Williams (US) [1]
Thursday's full order of play

Sharapova came though a tough quarter-final against powerful American Coco Vandeweghe.

She now faces another in Williams, who battled back from a set down to Victoria Azarenka, to reach the last four at Wimbledon for a ninth time.

Chasing a 21st Grand Slam, which would put her just one behind Steffi Graf's all-time Open era record, Williams has lost just one match so far in 2015.

Their most recent meeting...
...came in the final of the Australian Open in January, when Williams won in straight sets for her 19th Grand Slam title.

However, her route to the semis here at SW19 has been far from easy, with an epic tussle with Britain's Heather Watson followed by an emotional match with her sister Venus in the fourth round and then a high class quarter-final against Azarenka.

Just like in her match with Watson, Williams found herself a set down to the Belarusian but upped her game superbly and struck 46 winners, including 17 aces.

"It's been up and down, up and down but somehow I'm still alive: I don't know how," said Williams.

"For me, I don't feel like I have any pressure going into this match.

"It's just totally different for me. I don't have anything to prove. I've won all the Grand Slams, multiple times. Now I'm here just to enjoy it.

"It's actually making me play better, which is crazy.

"I love playing Maria. I think she brings out the best in me,"

Marion Bartoli, 2013 Wimbledon champion on Williams v Sharapova

Serena Williams hasn't lost against Maria Sharapova for over 10 years. On every single surface - be it grass, clay or hard or in every match situation - be it for Grand Slam finals or Olympic medals, she beats her. She is going to walk into the court knowing exactly what she has to do. I can't see her entering any semi-final with more confidence than she will have for this one. It's fair to say they aren't the best friends in the world, but at the end of the day they are both professionals and they both want to win.

Unbeaten in 26 matches at Slams, she is now just two games away from completing a 'Serena Slam' for a second time.

All talk of that, and what would be a first calendar Grand Slam since Graf in 1988, is off limits to Williams and reporters have been jokingly rebuked for asking her.

"No, I told you guys don't mention it, no slam!" she said after her win over Azarenka.

Muguruza v Radwanska

The other semi-final will be contested by 20th seed Garbine Muguruza and 2012 finalist Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland.

Muguruza is the first Spaniard to reach the semi-final stage at Wimbledon since Arantxa Sanchez Vicario achieved the feat in 1997.

"I'm surprised that my first semi-final is on grass," said 21-year-old. "But I think I'm playing really well. I think the surface helps me."

Radwanska was beaten by Williams in three sets in the final three years ago, although she was hampered by a respiratory illness.

She has also reached three other Grand Slam semi-finals, including Wimbledon in 2013, which she thinks will give her an edge against her opponent, who has never gone as far at a major before.

"Experience is always very important, especially in a Grand Slam. But we'll see," she said.

"Sometimes when you are there for the first time, you also have nothing to lose."

They both have two wins apiece from their previous four encounters - but Muguruza has won both matches in 2015.

Weather forecast

After Wednesday's intermittent showers, the sun returns to SW19 and a lovely day is forecast.

Temperatures should hover around the 20C mark for much of the afternoon.