The women's semifinals are set, and it is hardly surprising that Serena Williams, a stalwart presence at this stage of the majors, is among the final four.  That her opponent Elena Vesnina should have gotten this far is stunning.  They will square off on Thursday to determine whether Vesnina's dream run continues or Williams deals her a reality check.

Most people are banking on Williams ending the Russian's Cinderella story.  She is a favorite every time she takes the court, and that is a reputation that she has well earned.  She is the most dominant player in the sport and has won 70 singles titles alone, 21 of which are majors.  Throw in everything she has accomplished in the doubles arena, and it is no wonder that she represents an intimidating challenge for virtually any opponent. 

Now contrast that with Vesnina.  The Russian has only won two singles titles and started this season outside the top 100 before climbing her way back up to No. 50.  Her run to this year's semifinals marks just the third time she has ever reached the second week in singles at a major, with her previous best finish being fourth-round appearances at both Wimbledon and the Australian Open.  To her credit, though, Vesnina once was ranked as high as No. 21, and she has enjoyed quite a bit of success in doubles.  She is currently ranked No. 7 in that arena and has won a couple of majors in women's doubles, as well as making multiple finalist appearances in doubles play.

Utilizing the skill set that has brought her so much joy in doubles is going to be key for the Russian, but that is apt to prove easier said than done.  Williams tends to be the player dictating the terms of the match.  Her serve is the greatest in the history of the women's game, and there are few who hit the ball harder than her from the ground.  She displays extraordinary court coverage and is one of the best at turning defense into offense with a single stroke.  Couple that with her aggressive return style, and there are not too many chinks in the armor where an opponent can go to try and gain the upper hand.

The good news for Vesnina is that she is a very competent baseline player who loves pace and is unlikely to be shaken trading shots with Williams.  She also tends to hit her own groundstrokes hard and flat, which translates well to the grass.  She is better in the forecourt than the American too, so it is imperative she somehow find a way to get up there to keep the top seed off balance and rob her of time.  But there is no doubt Vesnina is going to have to play outside of her comfort zone by going closer to the lines and gambling on both her serve and net approaches if she is to stand a prayer.   

Consistently red-lining one's game takes belief, however, and there are concerns about whether Vesnina has that belief.  Now in the latter stages of her career, she clearly appreciates her tennis more and is perhaps better prepared now than in her younger days.  She has also had some big wins previously, including victories over Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova.  But this Thursday's match is a whole different kettle of fish.  Vesnina has not only never won a match against Williams, but also she has never taken a set from her.  This is her first Grand Slam semifinal, whereas Williams has been here so often.  Defeating the American is hard enough.  Doing so at this stage at this tournament is even harder.

Suffice it to say, it would be a massive upset if Vesnina could somehow shock Williams and the tennis world to reach her first major final here at Wimbledon.  Unless she plays the match of her life and gets some help from Williams, that is a scenario that seems unlikely.  The Russian might make this exciting, but Williams should advance for the chance to win her 22nd major singles title. 

Only four women remain to vie for the Wimbledon crown, and two of them are siblings.  Serena Williams was an obvious tournament favorite, but Venus Williams was not.  In spite of that, she has moved within one round of setting up a potential all-Williams final.  To hold up her end of the bargain, though, she will have to get through Angelique Kerber, a challenge she will not be taking lightly.

On paper, this is the women's semifinal that has the potential to be the more entertaining.  To begin, there is the fascinating saga of Williams, a decorated veteran whom many thought would now be retired.  She is is a former No. 1 and a five-time Wimbledon singles champion with seven major singles titles in total.  But injuries and illness have kept her from enjoying the same level of successful longevity as her sister, and despite a resurgence last season, she has done little of significance in 2016.  That she should find herself in the final four of Wimbledon is a pleasant surprise for her and the sport.

Of course, Kerber knows a thing or two about pleasant surprises.  Four years ago, the German looked like she was ready to stake a claim within the upper echelons of the women's game, but that never quite materialized as she faltered under the weight of increased expectations.  That all started to change in 2015, though.  She returned to her old coach and got fitter, and the results started to come.  No result was bigger than the one she diligently fought for earlier this season in Australia, where she captured her maiden major title.  She has had her ups and down since then, but if she was able to pull off a stunning title run in Melbourne, she could certainly be poised to do so here in London.

Kerber must be prepared to work to advance to her first Wimbledon final, but she is just as likely to make Williams do the same.  These women are phenomenal at tracking down balls and making their opponents hit one extra shot.  And whereas the American is lankier and able to reach a few more balls than the fourth seed, it is Kerber who owns the greater stamina to go the distance.  Williams should be looking to play quick-strike tennis, employing her bigger serve and moving forward whenever possible.  As for Kerber, she has to avoid falling into her old pattern of being defensive.  She benefits from the longer points, but she also needs to use her newfound aggression to take it to the eighth seed.  She is a little more sound than Williams on the forehand wing, and she is better at opening up the court.  If she can get Williams on the run, she has to be willing to step up and pull the trigger.

It is not enough to simply step up and go for their shots, though.  Each has to be willing to step up and seize the moment, and both have reason to feel good about their chances of doing so.  Williams has been here more frequently, and for the first time this tournament, she gets to play with less pressure as the underdog.  This is also Wimbledon, a venue where she has traditionally been able to tap into her vintage best.  She has shown her champion's grit to get to this juncture, often fighting her way to take sets she had no business winning.  But Kerber is unlike any opponent she has faced this tournament.  The fourth seed is not just another fellow top player.  She is a Grand Slam singles champion.  She now knows she has what it takes to go the distance, and equally important, she is aware that she can defeat Williams, given that she leads their rivalry 3-2.  She held her nerve for one major title, so there is no reason she could not do so on Thursday to move within a match of capturing a second.

In total, this one is very hard to call.  Between their respective histories and current form this year, a case could be made for either woman to emerge the victor.  Williams has the tools, the experience, and the stellar record at this event.  But Kerber is playing the best tennis of her career.  She defied the odds already once this season, and doing so a second time is perfectly feasible.  She has played the better of the duo to this point and has yet to lose a set, which means she has more gas in the tank.  Assuming she does not let the magnitude of the moment get to her, Kerber should get through, if only by a hair.