Serena, Zvonareva survive tough Wimbledon semis

Serena Williams and Vera Zvonareva set up a Wimbledon final clash as they successfully navigated their way past plucky unseeded opponents in the semis on Thursday.

Defending champion Williams, the top seed, was given a scare by Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic, while Zvonareva had to come from a set down to beat Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova.

Williams, the American top seed, survived a tie-break to win 7-6 (7/5), 6-2, while Russian 21st seed Zvonareva won 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the semi-finals on Centre Court.

World number one Williams remains on course for a fourth Wimbledon title, while Zvonareva will be full of fire in Saturday's showpiece after reaching her first Grand Slam final.

It was only the third time since the Grand Slams expanded to 32 seeds that two unseeded players have reached the semi-finals - with all three coming in the last four Slams.

Against Williams, Kvitova showed plenty of fight. However, she ran out of steam in the second set and could not stop the American from edging towards a fourth Wimbledon title.

"It definitely wasn't easy. I worked really hard," Williams said.

"I'm hoping to still peak in the final. I won't know until I play. Hopefully I can serve better than I did and just be more consistent.

"On paper it looks like I should win. But Vera, I've played her several times; she's beaten some good people. Her last two matches she's been down a set, so she's obviously a fighter. She never gives up.

"The biggest thing is for me to stay positive and not put too much pressure on myself."

World number 62 Kvitova broke Williams in the first set, but her challenge ran out of steam in the second.

"I wasn't nervous too much. I just was at the beginning. Serena plays very well. I don't think I played bad," the 20-year-old said.

"It was a very great match for me. It was just close in the first set.

"I believe that next time it will be better for me."

Meanwhile Zvonareva was thrilled to reach the final. She is the third Russian Wimbledon finalist of the Open Era. The last was Maria Sharapova, who won the 2004 title.

The 25-year-old is the second-lowest ranked Wimbledon women's finalist. But she will climb to at least number nine in the world rankings after the tournament.

"I'm very excited. I think I haven't realised it yet that I will be playing in the final," she said.

"It's one of my dreams to be out there, to be on the Centre Court, and play in the finals of Wimbledon."

Injuries have blighted her career, but the Muscovite become a more confident, mature player in the last year and reached the 2009 Australian Open semi-finals.

At Wimbledon she knocked out three seeds en route to the last four, including Jelena Jankovic and Kim Clijsters.

She did not let her head drop after going a set down to Pironkova.

"She started so well and I'm happy with the way I was able to hang in the match and turn it around," she said.

"I was thinking about what I have got to do. I've got to be a little bit quicker, play a little bit more aggressive.

"I knew if I will give her a little bit of a chance she will take it."

Meanwhile Pironkova, 22, was able to reflect on her impressive run.

The world number 82 had never been beyond the second round of a Grand Slam and is the first Bulgarian to have made the Wimbledon semi-finals.

Pironkova had only booked her hotel until after the second round and had to get the Bulgarian embassy's help in finding somewhere to stay.

Her run has been well received back home.

"It was the top news everywhere. This is a great success for my country, for Bulgarian tennis," she said.

"Reaching the semi-finals at Wimbledon, it's like a dream to me.

"I tried my best. But she was playing very aggressive and she was pushing me all the time, and I just couldn't do it."