2011 Wimbledon: Serena Williams Takes Victory over Maria Kirilenko

Between Serena Williams and Maria Kirilenko, there have been three meetings, each going to the American. Though today's matchup was their first on grass, Kirilenko knew she was up against a player who had been down this road before.

If Serena wins the Big “W,” then she would have won her third consecutive title at the All England Club, going back to 2009. Serena rides in off of some injuries and was away from the game she loves for nearly a year.

It's not as if Kirilenko didn't have a game plan. She tried the slice with moderate success, and she tried to pick up the pace as well. She was successful at creating some winners off her serve. Serena rang in 10 aces to one for Kirilenko.

The Russian may have not been able to put together a combination of shots that would unlock the key to a successful challenge in the first set, as Serena holds the first game of the match with relative ease.

It was in that third game, with Kirilenko serving that Serena broke first. Off of a single break point, Kirilenko netted her two serves, providing Serena her first break point conversion.

In the third game of the first set, Williams held at love.

With game four, we notice Kirilenko was putting in a full effort. With drop shots and service placements, plus shots from the baseline—which surrounds the Russian's game—it was a fastidious hold onto the match.

Kirilenko held for a three to one opening set score, in favor of Williams. With the number of aces hit (10) by Serena this day, she was assuring that her aces was brilliance.

Kirilenko would often even the score after Serena's break point opportunities. With nine winners to Serena's 32, Williams' was astonishing on first serve winning percentage at .82 to .52 for Kirilenko.

It's a good bet to conclude that Serena has been working on her serve during the past year. She showed no weakness where she was less than perfect this day. In the fifth game, Serena hit another ace to hold her steady,

Kirilenko was utilizing her game shot spots to make sure she was being honest with herself and the video cam. She was right fifty percent of the time.

With Serena angling balls off the court on baseline rallies, and pulling her opponent side to side – she is high on the Tennis IQ scale like sister Venus. For some it takes a little more time, but for these two sisters, learning to pick up queue's on strategy comes quickly. Not to mention the experience factor.

Make no mistake about it, Kirilenko arrived at the theatre to take home a victory on Centre Court. She started to anticipate where the ball was going, and gained leverage on her replies.

With the next game won by Serena, the score was 5-2. Serena eased into the match with another break going her way in set two by closing out the first set 6-3.

With the second set, we arrive at similar beginnings, with the score 1-1. In the third game of set number two, Williams breaks Maria again and goes up 2-1.

Williams finishes off the fourth game (3-1) with another ace down the “T.” With Kirilenko serving in game five, Serena presses the gas on the return of serve bringing more heat on the ball than earlier. With so many shots to draw from, how might one think of where her weaknesses are?

Slowly but surely, Serena is leveraging her opportunities to defeat Maria. The 40-0 game Serena wins on Kirilenko's serve brings the set score to 4-2.

Proud and head held high, Kirilenko does not give up her chances to pull the match out.

Maria needs to hold service here to have any chance of breaking back on Serena's serve. She continues to bring games back to deuce from scores of 0-40.

Maria holds onto her serve bringing the set to 5-4. As Serena counts up another ace, and Kirilenko draws the score to 30-30, the match by no means was a walk in the park for Serena.

Maria could not run down the following shot as Serena is successful with another victory over her third round opponent, 6-1, 6-4. The match lasted one hour thirty minutes all told.

The interview after the match focused on Serena's efforts for children in need. Personally visiting a young man at the hospital, she gave moral support to him and his family, in an effort to fullfill a childs wish.