Serena Williams blows past Maria Sharapova in Wimbledon semifinals

Eighteenth time's the charm?

Serena Williams defeated longtime rival Maria Sharapova 6-2, 6-4 in the Wimbledon semifinals on Thursday, The Washington Post reports.

The win marked the 17th consecutive match in which Williams has held off Sharapova. Williams is on a roll this season, with a 38-1 record thus far and her hopes for a "Serena Slam" (titles in four straight Grand Slam events) very much intact. The tennis star faces 20th-seeded Garbine Muguruza — who defeated Williams at the 2014 French Open — in Saturday's final.

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