Wimbledon ladies’ semis: Serena Williams renews Sharapova rivalry

Serena Williams, Coral’s odds-on 4/9 favourite to be Wimbledon ladies’ singles champion for the sixth time, defends her outstanding head-to-head record against Russian rival Maria Sharapova in this year’s semi-finals.

The winner of that mega match-up between two of the WTA Tour’s most popular pros will play either Spanish surprise package Garbine Muguruza or 2012 runner-up Agnieszka Radwanska.

Serena Williams v Maria Sharapova
Sharapova famously slayed Serena in the 2004 final at SW19, but since recording another win against her that year has been thwarted on every occasion. This explains her status as 7/2 match outsider.

Williams may be a strong odds-on 1/5 favourite to reach yet another Wimbledon final, but she has not had it all her own way en route to the last four. She dropped sets to Heather Watson and Victoria Azarenka, an opponent she had always dominated in straight sets before their quarter-final fixture.

More serene progress followed for Sharapova until she found herself a set down against Serena’s fellow American and unseeded over-achiever Coco Vandeweghe in the last eight.

Although four of their five Grand Slam meetings in the last decade have been decided without going the distance, recent matches suggest this could be a three-set classic. Serena is 11/4 to win 2-1, while Sharapova is 13/2 to record that scoreline.

Garbine Muguruza v Agnieszka Radwanska
The head-to-head record between Venezuelan-born Muguruza and 7/1 tournament chance Radwanska reads two victories apiece, so that suggests there’s little to choose between them.

Magnificent Muguruza is in uncharted territory at a Grand Slam here, but is a narrow odds-on 4/5 favourite to reach her maiden final. The rising Spanish star has already beaten Polish player Radwanska twice this season.

It is a close call, though. Radwanska knows the business end of major tournaments, which explains why she’s even-money to end Muguruza’s run.

One of Radwanska’s wins against this foe came at a Grand Slam, last year’s Australian Open, and a repeat of that straight sets is a 9/4 chance.

Muguruza has knocked out two higher ranked seeds than Radwanska in Angelique Kerber and Caroline Wozniacki during her sensational run, though, and it’s 7/4 she earns victory again without dropping a set.

Coral betting tip: Back a classic encounter between Serena and Sharapova, with Williams winning in three sets at awesome odds of 11/4.