ble by pinch-hitter Josh Willingham to tie it at 7

LONDON -- Instead of the ninth all-Williams final at a Grand Slam tournament, there will be a rematch of another sort to determine the title at Wimbledon.And so as Serena Williams again stands one victory from her record-tying 22nd major title, she will need to beat a woman who already stopped her once this year in that pursuit, Angelique Kerber.After Williams needed all of 48 minutes to overwhelm Elena Vesnina 6-2, 6-0 at the All England Club, older sister Venus failed to join in the family fun, losing to Kerber 6-4, 6-4 in Thursdays second semifinal.Since winning her sixth Wimbledon trophy a year ago to raise her career count at Grand Slam events to 21, Serena has come quite close to pulling even with Steffi Graf at 22 -- the most in the Open era, which began in 1968 (Margaret Courts all-time mark is 24). But the American was surprisingly beaten by Roberta Vinci in the U.S. Open semifinals last September, then by Kerber in the Australian Open final in January, and by Garbine Muguruza in the French Open final last month.Reaching the final at each of a years first three major tournaments might sound good to other players.Not to this one.For anyone else in this whole planet, it would be a wonderful accomplishment, Serena said. For me, its about, obviously, holding the trophy and winning, which would make it a better accomplishment for me. For me, its not enough. But I think thats what makes me different. Thats what makes me Serena.Yes, she is one of a kind.When a reporter asked what she makes of it when others talk about her as one of historys greatest female athletes, this was the reply: I prefer the word, one of the greatest `athletes of all time.Hard to argue.And the case will be even stronger if she can do what she couldnt in Melbourne: solve Kerbers left-handed game.I know, Kerber said, she will go out and try everything to beat me right now.That Australian Open victory gave Kerber her first Grand Slam title in her first Grand Slam final.She insisted Thursday shes more relaxed and more confident on court thanks to that big moment.Didnt necessarily look that way at the outset against Venus, who at 36 was the oldest major semifinalist since Martina Navratilova was 37 at the All England Club in 1994.Venus is a five-time Wimbledon champion but hadnt been to the semifinals since she was the runner-up to Serena seven years ago.Steps away from making it to the end, Venus said. Thats the position I want to be in, is playing in the semifinals, playing for a space in the final.But against Kerber, Venus was broken the first four times she served.She never recovered.A very shaky match from her. She was fighting hard, but she was frustrated. I could tell, said Venus coach, David Witt. Her concentration was up-and-down. The focus was up-and-down. That made her game up-and-down.Perhaps the accumulated court time during this fortnight simply took a toll on Venus, who revealed in 2011 that she had Sjongrens syndrome, which can cause fatigue and joint pain.She was a half-step slow to some balls, was breathing heavily after longer points, and wound up with 21 unforced errors, 10 more than Kerber.I was trying to (move) her, as well, the fourth-seeded Kerber said. That was the plan.After a running cross-court forehand winner capped the 19-stroke exchange that ended her victory, Kerber tossed aside her racket and dropped to her knees at the baseline.That match managed to be more competitive than what transpired earlier, which more closely resembled a training session for the No. 1-ranked Serena -- except she probably gets more of a workout when she practices.I couldnt do anything today, Vesnina said.Serenas serve was in fine form, reaching 123 mph and producing 11 aces against the 50th-ranked Vesnina, who was making her major semifinal debut. Serena won 28 of 31 points she served, including the last 17.An almost perfect match, said Serenas coach, Patrick Mouratoglou.Serena had Vesnina looking defeated after all of 12 points. Thats when, after sprinting for a forehand that landed in the net, the Russian leaned over, sighed and slumped her shoulders.There would be plenty more of that sort of body language from Vesnina, a two-time Wimbledon runner-up in doubles who later Thursday went out in the quarterfinals of that event and lost to Serena a second time.The Williams-Williams pairing beat Vesnina and Ekaterina Makarova 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-2.That means Venus still has a chance to leave Wimbledon with a trophy, just like her sister.---Freelance writer Sandra Harwitt contributed.---Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrichSalomon Shoes Sale Clearance . PETERSBURG, Fla. Salomon Shoes Sale Online . He just needed to be his best twisting, turning acrobatic self. "I didnt need to be anybody else, I just needed to be myself and be aggressive," said Burks, who scored a career-high 34 points to spark the Utah Jazz to a 118-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. http://www.salomonsaleuk.com/ . -- Most satisfying to Russ Smith about No. Salomon Outlet Store Uk . 10 Texas A&Ms offence dominated as usual against SMU. Salomon Shoes Sale Uk . The 15th-ranked Canadian men lost the opening two games of their European tour: 19-15 to No. 17 Georgia and 21-20 to No.MINNEAPOLIS -- David Lough hit three doubles, then launched a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning that led the Kansas City Royals over the Minnesota Twins 9-8 Sunday. Lough hit his second homer of the season, sending a solo drive off Jared Burton (1-5) into the right-field seats for an 8-7 lead. Eric Hosmer added a solo homer in the ninth for the Royals. Johnny Giavotella had three hits. Aaron Crow (5-3) pitched 1 2-3 scoreless innings. Greg Holland got his 17th save in 19 chances despite giving up a home run to Trevor Plouffe in the ninth. Minnesota, which trailed 5-1 after four innings, got a two-run homer from Justin Morneau and an RBI double by pinch-hitter Josh Willingham to tie it at 7 in the seventh. Ervin Santana allowed three earned runs and five hits in six innings for Kansas City. He has gone at least six innings in each of his 16 starts this season, the longest active streak in majors. It has been a strong June for the right-hander. In six starts, he has a 1.99 ERA, limiting opponents to 27 hits and two home runs in 40 2-3 innings. The Royals led 5-4 when Lough, the Royals eighth-place hitter, doubled in the sixth off reliever Ryan Presslly and took third as Giavotella blooped a double to left-centre between three fielders.ddddddddddddAlex Gordon was walked to intentionally load the bases before Alcides Escobar hit a two-run single. Kevin Correia, the Twins most consistent starter, gave up five earned runs in five innings. The Royals scored three times in the fourth. Lough hit an RBI double off the right-field wall and Giavotella had an RBI single for a 5-1 lead. Giavotella was recalled Saturday from Triple-A Omaha when the Royals designated outfielder Jeff Francoeur for assignment. Clete Thomas homered in the Minnesota fifth. NOTES: Morneau is hitting .354 with 11 doubles, three home runs and 24 RBIs in his last 25 home games. ... Billy Butler was 2 for 4, and is hitting .486 (17 for 35) against Twins this year. ... Scott Diamond (5-7, 5.40) is scheduled to start Monday for Minnesota when the New York Yankees arrive for a four-game series. New York is scheduled to counter with Andy Pettitte (5-6, 4.22). ... Luis Mendoza (2-4, 4.16) is set to start for Kansas City on Tuesday when it opens a six-game homestand against Cleveland. Corey Kluber (6-5, 4.16) is to start for the Indians. ' ' '