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Journalism of Courage
Chinese wildcard Zheng Jie provided an absorbing sub-plot to Williams sister domination on quarter-final day at Wimbledon on Tuesday. Zheng beat Czech Nicole Vaidisova 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 to become the first Chinese player to reach a Grand Slam singles semi-final and the first woman to go so far at Wimbledon after requiring a special invitation from the All England Club.
During an unpredictable tournament riddled with shocks the one constant has been the ruthless efficiency of Venus and Serena Williams and now they look odds on to contest their third Wimbledon final here on Saturday.
Venus, champion here four times and twice runner-up to her younger sister, was engaged longer than expected in beating Thai surprise Tamarine Tanasugarn 6-4, 6-3 before Serena made mincemeat of Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 6-0.
Serena will play Zheng in the semi-finals while Venus must get past fifth seed Elena Dementieva after she survived a mid-match wobble to beat fellow Russian Nadia Petrova 6-1, 6-7, 6-3 and reach Wimbledon’s last four for the first time.
Banana skins
Despite being the highest seed to skip past the banana skins that have caught many of the top players, Dementieva will start as underdog against seventh seed and defending champion Venus.
The American was not at her best against Tamarine but had plenty in reserve when it was required.
Zheng claimed her fourth seed of the championships with a calm and controlled defeat of Vaidisova.
She missed the 2007 season with an ankle injury, turns 25 on women’s finals day but with Serena Williams in a mean mood she is unlikely to be celebrating it on Centre Court.
Late on Monday, Andy Murray ousted No. 8-seeded Richard Gasquet to reach the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time.
The No. 12-seeded Murray rallied after losing the first two sets on Monday to prevail 5-7, 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2, 6-4 on Centre Court.
