Serena Williams reaches semis; Kate and Will do the wave

LONDON -- The good news is Serena Williams is finishing her matches so quickly that she can get to the other pressing Olympic duties of the day.

As in keeping an eye on gymnastics and swimming, namely her good friend swim star Ryan Lochte, who was to compete against Michael Phelps later on Thursday in the 200-meter individual medley.

The minor issue of an Olympic quarterfinal singles match didn’t get in the way. Williams, fresh off her Wimbledon win last month, dispatched former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, 6-0, 6-3, never facing a break point on her own serve.

In the semifinals, No. 4 Williams will play top-seeded Victoria Azarenka of Belarus. Azarenka, who won this year’s first major, the Australian Open, defeated Angelique Kerber, 6-4, 7-5, of Germany in another quarterfinal. Kerber had crafted the biggest upset on the women’s side on Wednesday, beating Venus Williams in two tiebreakers.

On the men’s side, the semifinal matches have been set. Andy Murray of Great Britain will face Novak Djokovic of Serbia, and Wimbledon champion Roger Federer of Switzerland will meet Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina.

Murray’s victory over No. 11 Nicolas Almagro of Spain, 6-4, 6-1, had a touch of royal glamour as Prince William and his wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, showed up and got into the spirit at the All England Club.

They even did the wave.

The royal wave? Yes, there’s no looking back now at Wimbledon...

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