Women's semis on tap for Thursday at the Big W

Jul 4, 2012 - 5:42 PM Wimbledon, England (Sports Network) - The women's semifinals, including a marquee bout between second-seeded Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka and her fellow former world No. 1 Serena Williams, will be staged Thursday at The Championships, Wimbledon.

The second-seeded Belarusian star Azarenka will take on the sixth-seeded American great Williams, while the first semi on Day 10 of the fortnight will pit third-seeded Pole Agnieszka Radwanska against eighth-seeded German lefthander Angelique Kerber at the storied All England Club.

Azarenka and Williams will meet for a ninth time, with the American comfortably leading their lifetime series, 7-1. The 2011 U.S. Open runner- up Williams beat Azarenka in a Wimbledon quarterfinal in 2009 and topped her on some blue clay in Madrid earlier this season.

The 22-year-old Azarenka will appear in her second straight Wimbledon and third career Grand Slam semifinal (1-1).

The 30-year-old four-time Wimbledon champion Williams, seeking a 14th major singles title this week, is 6-1 in her previous Wimbledon semis.

Meanwhile, Radwanska and Kerber will tangle for a fifth time, as the two women have split their first four meetings. The German beat the Pole in the second round at last year's U.S. Open.

The 23-year-old Radwanska, who owns three WTA titles this year and has a chance to reach No. 1 this week, will appear in her first-ever Grand Slam semifinal.

The 24-year-old Kerber will appear in her first Wimbledon and second career Grand Slam semifinal. She reached the final four at last year's U.S. Open.

Thursday's winners will meet in the lucrative final on Saturday, with the winner claiming the Venus Rosewater Dish and $1.8 million.