Wimbledon 2013: Ladies semifinals preview

“Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great” – Machiavelli.

The Wimbledon story for the past 9 days has been a tale of unwavering willpower, sheer determination and everlasting hope. The so-called underdogs have risen to find their moments in the sunshine and have slain the heavily favoured past champions.

As we arrive on the semifinals day, we look at a classic quartet of audacious women, three of whom nobody had bet on when the Championships began. Four women who have never etched their names on a Grand Slam trophy will be chasing an impossible dream, and this is an unprecedented event in the Open Era. Which two of these fighters will inch closer to that surreal moment?

Sabine Lisicki (23) v Agnieszka Radwanska (4) (Head-to-head: They are tied at 1-1)

Sabine Lisicki

Sabine Lisicki is the fearless girl with a Midas touch on grass. Her Wimbledon resume has a scintillating 18-4 record and is in stark contrast with her record at other Slams which stands at a pale 16-15. But what surely stands out is the fact that the 23-year-old German has remarkably obliterated every reigning French Open champion she has come across since 2009 and that also includes snapping the 34-match winning streak of the mighty Serena Williams.

Few days back nobody was willing to look past the formidable American but arriving on the ladies semifinals day, a German dream seems realistic for many now, including Sabine’s illustrious compatriot Steffi Graf. Twice this Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy protégé has reached the quarters, and this is now her second time in the semis.

Even though her year has so far looked mediocre, Lisicki has had a fresh approach coming into her most favourite tournament after joining forces with Kim Clijsters‘s former coach Wim Fissette. The results are evident – the ever-smiling exuberant girl is oozing of confidence and moving better than ever.

But will that be enough to guarantee her a place in her first ever major final? She locks horns with a woman who is the highest ranked player left in the draw. She has been far more consistent all year having won 2 titles and has reached the last two major quarters.

Besides, the Polish No. 1 Agnieszka Radwanska has another advantage working in her favour – she has the experience of being in a Slam final, having already tasted it at last year’s summit clash at this very revered Slam. She has yet more incentive. If the Pole goes on to clinch the Venus Rosewater Dish, she will be the first woman to capture the junior and the senior Slam since Amelie Mauresmo’s triumphs in 1996 and 2006 respectively.

Agnieszka Radwanska

The Krakow resident has quietly carried on with her versatile style and brought it to the top echelons of the game now. If Lisicki has power, she has court craft; if the German tries to bewilder her with low returns she can answer them back with her trademark squatting shot.

She has the finesse, the speed and the resistance to stay with Lisicki in the rallies. But in her quarter-final match against Li Na she appeared to have injured her leg. And she also might appear to get weary as she has already spent three hours more in the middle than her opponent.

Plus, if Lisicki serves as consistently as she has been doing for most of the tournament, Aga’s beguiling brand of tennis might not be enough to defuse it.

Prediction: Lisicki wins in three sets.