•After two weeks of gruelling and enthralling action 126 competitors have been sent packing and just two women are left standing
•Four-time champion Serena Williams insists she will not be taking Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska lightly in today's Wimbledon women's final
•Radwanska has surprised many by reaching her first Grand Slam final
•Williams wins first set 6-1 in 36 min and Radwanska wins the 2nd set 7-5•S WILLIAMS 6-1, 5-7 A RADWANSKA


By Jill Reilly


After two weeks of gruelling and enthralling action 126 competitors have been sent packing and just two women are left standing.

Four-times U.S. champion Serena Williams dominated the first set against Agnieszka Radwanska, although the Polish player won the second set as she began to gain confidence and fight back.

Despite being seeded three places higher than Williams at No 3 Radwanska has surprised many by emerging through the top half of the draw to reach her first Grand Slam final.


Trusted purple pants: Serena Williams serves to Agnieszka Radwanska during the women's final match for the Wimbledon Championships


Show of strength: Agnieszka Radwanska plays a shot to Williams - despite being seeded three places higher than Williams at No 3 - she has surprised many by emerging through the top half of the draw to reach her first Grand Slam final


Battle: Play was suspended when it began to rain, but the two players emerged on the court again quickly

Nerves: Despite being an overwhelming favourite for the title, sixth seed Williams said: 'I have to go out there and win. Agnieszka has had a better year than I have. She's been way more consistent than me'

But before the Serena Williams insisted that she would not be taking Radwanska lightly in today's Wimbledon women's final.

Williams is the player every other fears at Wimbledon and there have looked to be few flaws in her game during impressive quarter-final and semi-final victories over Petra Kvitova, the winner last year, and Victoria Azarenka, who will be number one in the world if Radwanska loses.

Maria Sharapova, currently top of the rankings, cannot stay there.


Appreciative audience: Comedian Michael McIntyre, back left, and Miranda Hart, watch the tense match unfold


Checking the weather: Vogue editor Anna Wintour made an appearance on Centre Court for the women's final match


Hollywood watches: Actors Rachel McAdams and Michael Sheen look on from the Royal Box on Centre Court

Support: Oracene Williams (centre), the mother of Serena Williams sits on Centre Court under an umbrella

Adding to the likelihood of a Williams victory is the fact Radwanska has been ill.

Radwanska had a respiratory illness affecting her nose and throat, which forced her to cancel a planned press conference and stay away from the practice courts.

Pointing her finger at the miserable British summer weather, Radwanska said: 'I have been playing a lot of matches here in the rain and cold wind, and I haven't been well for a few days.'

But, despite being an overwhelming favourite for the title, sixth seed Williams said before the match: 'I have to go out there and win.

'Agnieszka has had a better year than I have. She's been way more consistent than me.

'She's done really well, so she's ranked higher than me. She deserves to be.


Delay: Serena Williams and Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland walk off the court as rain delays play


Speedy: Court attendants run to cover Centre Court during a rain break


Testing times: Four-times champion Serena Williams Agnieszka Radwanska walk out on the court before their match

Anticipation: Despite being seeded three places higher than Williams at No 3 Radwanska has surprised many by emerging through the top half of the draw to reach her first Grand Slam final

'I have to go out there and fight for this. This is by no means going to be easy.

Never, ever do I underestimate any opponent. She's out there to try to do her best.

'I really like Aga. She's a great girl.'

Radwanska is the first Polish player for 75 years to have reached a Wimbledon singles final.

Jadwiga Jedrzejowska was the last, in 1937, when she lost to Britain's Dorothy Round.


Training: Andy Murray warms up today with the help of fitness coach Jez Green on the practice court. Yesterday he was victorious against France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga


Determined: Andy Murray trains before his men's final tennis match on Sunday against Roger Federer of Switzerland


Anticipation: Warren Symonds poses with a Scottish flag at the makeshift campsite for fans queuing for a space on to watch the men's final tomorrow at Wimbledon


Dedicated fans: The makeshift campsite for fans queuing for a space on what has been nicknamed 'Murray Mount'

Making history: By powering past France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Murray became the first British man to reach the final in 74 years and these fans are queuing to see the historic match

Krakow-based Radwanska said: 'The most important thing is that I'm feeling good on the court and playing some good tennis, despite not being able to talk much away from the court.

'I will do whatever it takes to make sure I'm ready to play the best I can.'

Williams fired a women's Wimbledon record of 24 aces past Azarenka in their semi-final.

The 30-year-old puts her proficiency down to experience.

'The older I get, the better I serve, and the more I like to hit aces,' Williams said.

'But in my whole career I've hit a lot of aces throughout tournaments.

'I don't know how it got better. I really don't know. It's not like I go home and I work on baskets and baskets of serves. Maybe it's a natural shot for me.'

Meanwhile Murray's surprise victory in the Wimbledon semifinals, after losing at the same stage three years running, has left British royalty, politicians and celebrities scrambling for a spot to watch Sunday's showdown between the Scot and Roger Federer.

By powering past France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to become the first British man to reach the final in 74 years, Murray took Britain's collective mind off the dreary weather and dismal economy and gave the country a new hero - at least for now.

The joy was tempered by surprise that Murray had really pulled it off - and a sense that it would be tempting fate to expect him to beat Federer and become the first British Wimbledon men's champion since Fred Perry in 1936.

Bunny Austin made the final two years later, but lost. Virginia Wade won the women's title in 1977.


source:dailymail