Serena Williams is two wins away from holding all four grand slam titles – however much she hates thinking about the prospect of repeating her special achievement of 12 years ago – and, with chilling inevitability, it was her friend Victoria Azarenka who served as a stepping stone, albeit a noble one in defeat.
The 33-year-old American, who owns the US, the Australian and the French titles, did it the hard way against an opponent for whom she has respect but no mercy. She won 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 – her 17th victory over the Belarusian in 20 matches – under skies as gloomy as her prospects were until after an hour of the most intense struggle had passed on Centre Court, but the title looks hers to lose.