Serena Williams reaches the Wimbledon final

WIMBLEDON – It seems that Serena Williams' place in the Wimbledon final was won in advance, but that was not the case.

Not when she was undergoing all four surgeries related to a complicated birth. Not when she was prevented from training because of clots of blood in her lungs. Not when she had a hard time walking up to the driveway.

How can you hoist the equipment if you can not even take the mail?

She has come a long way in the last 10 months, and Thursday has taken a step. closer with a semifinal win of 6-2, 6-4 against Julia Goerges on the frayed grbad of Center Court. Williams had beaten her at the French Open this year before retiring from the fourth round with a injured pectoral muscle, but reaching a Grand Slam semifinal after what she physically went through seemed to surprise her even.

"My guy, that's really great," Williams said. "Hear people say," Oh, she's a favorite. "Like, the last 16 months, I played four tournaments, and was wearing another human half this time."

The Williams on the field for this match seemed well in control. Her service was reliable, and she was moving well enough so that Goerges' basic strategy was not too effective.

"Because she's hitting the ball hard and ends the point so early, you can not make her run Jean King Biller, founder of the WTA, said," It's the only thing I've ever seen. essential. "

Goerges, 13th seeded, could reach Williams' heaviest shots, but was not able to bring them back with constant precision