Kerber and Serena in final

36-year-old Venus Williams, herself a five-time Wimbledon winner, had been turning back the clock at the all-England Club, but she ran out of steam against the 28-year old Kerber, the number 2 player in the world.

It was a nervous start for both in the late women's semifinal on Thursday, with both Kerber and Williams dropping their serves to open the match. Kerber would break Venus four straight times in the first set on route to a 6-4 victory.

Venus hung tough in the second the set, but looked leaden-footed and was erratic with her forehand, her biggest weapon in her prime. Kerber was also not at her best but put the American away with a cross-court winner after 72 minutes. The final score was 6-4, 6-4.

"It's just amazing to beat Venus in a tough match," Kerber said afterward. "I'm happy with mygame and reaching my first final here. "I was trying to go for every shot and was moving very well."

But to take the title on Saturday, Kerber will need to beat Serena Williams, who was in imperious form. The American dispatched Russia's Elena Vesnina, ranked number 50 in the world, in only 48 and a half minutes. It was the quickest semifinal in Wimbledon history.

Williams blitzed Vesnina 6-2 in the first set and followed that up with a 6-0 bagel against her outgunned opponent. The women's number one blasted 11 aces and 28 winners while committing only seven unforced errors.

After the match, Williams left no doubt that she was anything but satisfied with qualifying for her third Grand Slam final of the year.

"I mean, I think for anyone else in this whole planet it would be a wonderful accomplishment," Serena said. "For me, it's about, obviously, holding the trophy and winning, which would make it a better accomplishment for me. For me, it's not enough. But I think that's what makes me different. That's what makes me Serena."

The 34-year-old is trying to equal Steffi Graf's record of 22 titles in tennis' majors. But she'll be wary of her opponent in the Wimbledon final. In January, Kerber pulled off an inspired upset over Williams to win the Australian Open.

Their rematch should be one for tennis fans to savor.