French Open champion Serena Williams took a huge step towards a second Grand Slam title this season and the third of her career when she defeated Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova 6-3, 6-2 in the Wimbledon quarter-finals this evening.
Williams, the second seed and a semi-finalist in 2000 when she was beaten by sister Venus, now takes on French ninth seed Amelie Mauresmo, who put out third seed Jennifer Capriati 6-3, 6-2 for a place in the final.
On a day where afternoon rain meant that the match started four hours later than scheduled and played in three sessions because of the showers, it was the 20-year-old American who proved to have too many weapons for the up-and-coming Hantuchova taking the first set 6-3 after 36 minutes.
She gained the only break in the eighth game and then fought off two breakpoints on her next service game to win the opener during which she sent down seven aces.
It was the first meeting between the two women, but that made no difference to Williams who has now featured in the semi-finals of the last three Grand Slams she has entered.
She grabbed an early break in the second set and was leading 3-1, 30-0 after 55 minutes when the rain came down to give Hantuchova some respite.
When the pair reappeared almost an hour later, it was business as usual as Williams grabbed another break to lead 4-1 before wrapping up the encounter after 68 minutes on her second match point when the Slovakian girl netted a backhand.
"I have been working really hard on my serve and I have served well in the last two rounds," said Serena who pulled out notes from her bag and read them during the changeovers.
"They are just reminders about things that I should be doing. I saw Venus do it before, so I decided to copy it."
Meanwhile, Richard Krajicek, the 1996 champion, booked his place in the quarter-finals with a 7-6 (7/2), 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/1), 6-7 (5/7), 6-4 win over Australian wild-card Mark Philippoussis.
The Dutchman won in four hours and six minutes in a match held over from yesterday and now faces Belgium's Xavier Malisse for a place in the semi-finals.