Serena Williams - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova live updates

WILLIAMS 6-4 6-4 PAVLYUCHENKOVA: GAME, SET, MATCH! Williams jumps on a short ball but Pavlyuchenkova nets a makeable pass. The Russian can’t control a fierce passing shot at the net but Serena gives her hope with another double. A return goes long to bring up match point. Pavlyuchenkova saves the first but Serena gets the job done with yet another ace. Let’s hope there are some smiles in the press conference and post-match interview today. She’s seemed stressed for the entire tournament.

WILLIAMS 6-4 5-4 PAVLYUCHENKOVA: A wayward forehand gives Williams two break points and she does indeed make the breakthrough at the critical time as the Russian nets. She will serve for a place in yet another Wimbledon semi final.

WILLIAMS 6-4 4-4 PAVLYUCHENKOVA: Another lovely crosscourt winner from Pavlyuchenkova in the middle of the game but she nets as Williams holds to 30. Crunch time…

WILLIAMS 6-4 3-4 PAVLYUCHENKOVA: Pavlyuchenkova hitting some sweet balls and goes 30-0 up before Serena crunches a backhand winner. A cry of ‘come on!’ from the Russian as she edges ahead again.

WILLIAMS 6-4 3-3 PAVLYUCHENKOVA: Williams opens with two big aces up the tee, her ninth and tenth of the match and 48th and 49th of the tournament. A double fault follows as Pavlyuchenkova is a bystander in this game. The Russian hits a mid court ball straight back at Serena, who can’t control it, but then nets to hand back the advantage. And Serena holds with an athletic volley.

WILLIAMS 6-4 2-3 PAVLYUCHENKOVA: Pavlyuchenkova competing well. The Russian still causing Serena problems, firing a forehand winner onto the side line to take the game to 15.

WILLIAMS 6-4 2-2 PAVLYUCHENKOVA: Williams in slight trouble at deuce but gees herself up to regain the advantage before throwing in another double. Successive aces follows and that’s the game.

WILLIAMS 6-4 1-2 PAVLYUCHENKOVA: Pavlyuchenkova gets to 40-0 with an ace and big serve that Williams can only net. and she clenches her fist as she holds to love.

WILLIAMS 6-4 1-1 PAVLYUCHENKOVA: Toe to toe hitting from Pavlyuchenkova on the forehand wing. She is unlucky with a net cord that sits up as Williams comes through a hold to 15 that wasn’t easy.

WILLIAMS 6-4 0-1 PAVLYUCHENKOVA: Gutsy stuff from Pavlyuchenkova to go 40-15 up but a crunching Williams forehand and poor execution on the pass sees the American rally to deuce. A rare netted Williams return, looking slightly unbalanced, gives the Russian game point but she then misses with a lob. The Russian successfully overturns an ace that was called wide and Williams hits long as Pavlyuchenkova holds on.

WILLIAMS 5-4 PAVLYUCHENKOVA: Tight stuff from Pavlyuchenkova, Serena nailing returns and out-rallying the Russian to force three break points at the critical stage. A double fault concedes the break to love and that’s surely the end of that.

WILLIAMS 4-4 PAVLYUCHENKOVA: Pavlyuchenkova showing good resolve, a fabulous return in the middle of the game. It’s not enough as Williams follows a double fault with an ace.

WILLIAMS 3-4 PAVLYUCHENKOVA: Pavlyuchenkova returning the Serena groundies with interest, going 40-15 up. She holds with a great serve up the middle that Williams nets.

WILLIAMS 3-3 PAVLYUCHENKOVA: Williams in a mini crisis, going 0-30 down after two unforced errors. A huge forehand winner gets Serena on the board and she slams a smash into the ground, like she wanted to bury it into the core of the planet earth. Two huge serves later and Williams holds.