Hello and welcome to LIVE updates of the 2019 Wimbledon ladies' semi final between 23-time Grand Slam champion, Serena Williams and the unseeded Czech hopeful, Barbora Strycova. Williams - a seven-time champion here - was runner-up to Angie Kerber last year.

GAME, SET AND MATCH! - S.WILLIAMS 6-1 6-2 STRYCOVA. Serena marches into her 11th Wimbledon final with a demolition of the unseeded Czech. She hits back from 15-30 down to serve it out in just 59 minutes.

The American will now meet No.7 seed, Simona Halep in Saturday's final as she bids for her 24th Grand Slam title.

BREAK! - S.WILLIAMS 6-1 5-2 STRYCOVA. Barbora spins her racket in agitation as another drop shot flops into the net. It tees up two more break points. Serena doesn't take the first but is gifted the game on the second. The Czech screams in horror as she guides a simple volley at the net well wide.

Serena will now serve for a place in the final.

S.WILLIAMS 6-1 4-2 STRYCOVA. Serena consolidates with little fuss. It's a hold to love and Strycova's big day is turning into a bit of a nightmare.

Not so much a turning point. More of an inevitable outcome that was looming large.

BREAK! - S.WILLIAMS 6-1 3-2 STRYCOVA. It feels like Strycova is down to Plan J now. None of her attempts to mix it up and change tact are paying off though. She double faults at 30-30 to cough up a break point and Serena watches her implode with another wasteful drop attempt into the net.

It's looking like both ladies semi finals are going to finish all-too quickly. Williams is in total control.

S.WILLIAMS 6-1 2-2 STRYCOVA. Barbora struggling to make any impact on the Serena serve. The former world number one hammers down a huge serve to conclude after Strycova had chalked up a cheeky point with a forehand up the line.

S.WILLIAMS 6-1 1-2 STRYCOVA. It's a big shout of 'Come on!' and a fist pump to her box from Strycova as she digs out a hold to 30. The Czech hits a forehand winner and a quite brilliant angled backhand from wide on her left to nudge the board in her favour once more early in Set 2.

S.WILLIAMS 6-1 1-1 STRYCOVA. The 23-time Grand Slam champion easily pulls level with her fourth ace of the contest after Strycova had offered a brief riposte to the waves of Serena dominance with a crisp backhand winner down the line.

S.WILLIAMS 6-1 0-1 STRYCOVA. That's some much-needed respite for the world number 54. She lands her first ace and avoids a nervy moment at 40-15 when Serena misses a gilt-edged opportunity at the net.

Yep.

SET! - S.WILLIAMS 6-1 STRYCOVA. Some slice defence works a treat for Strycova as she snatches triple break point when an approach clips the net, dances along the tape and eventually bobbles over.

Serena shakes her head in irritation and quickly sets about saving all three. Barbora squeals in dismay as the third goes begging and it's music to the American's ears. A ridiculous angle on a wrong-footing volley earns her set point and she duly converts with an ace.

Just 27 minutes in and Serena has one foot in the final.

BREAK! - S.WILLIAMS 5-1 STRYCOVA. Serena screams in delight as she corks a backhand winner on the stretch up the line. It sets up two break points and it's all too much for Strycova, who drags wildly wide to cough up the double break.

S.WILLIAMS 4-1 STRYCOVA. It's full throttle stuff from the seven-time champion. She ruthlessly consolidates with a pair of aces contributing to a quick-fire love hold. The No.11 seed is looking imperious at this point.

BREAK! - S.WILLIAMS 3-1 STRYCOVA.

'Arghhh!'

Serena is a tad disappointed with herself as she drills a make-able return long at 30-30. It only serves to inspire her as she keeps peppering the sensational Strycova defences to make deuce. The Czech then misses another dropshot and well might she kneel in dismay. Serena keeps on firing and rifles a crosscourt pass beyond the underdog to make the breakthrough.

The power, calmness and exquisite angle on the American's shots are just too good right now.

S.WILLIAMS 2-1 STRYCOVA. The world number 54 returns and defends with grit and determination but then sees a sneaky dropshot from the baseline fall just short. Serena seizes the initiative again and clinches the game with a clinical crosscourt winner.

The early signs are good for a decent contest here. But that was the case in the first few games of Halep-Svitolina, and look what happened there...

S.WILLIAMS 1-1 STRYCOVA. That'll feel good. No real sign of nerves from the Czech as Serena thumps a return long to hand her a comfortable hold to 15.

S.WILLIAMS 1-0 STRYCOVA. Barbora jumps in frustration after hooking a backhand return off a second serve into the net at 30-30. She knows it was a chance to make a super-charged start, and is soon rueing it even more as Serena keeps cool on the overheads that follow to get on the board.

Serena will serve first.

HEAD-TO-HEAD: This will be their fourth meeting with Serena winning the previous three. The American triumphed in straight sets at the Australian Open in 2012 and 2017. She also ran out a 6-2 6-4 victor in round one of Wimbledon 2012. Indeed, Strycova has never won a set against the 23-time Slam champion.