With her own sense of history and occasion, unfancied Barbora Strycova is convinced she can shock the tennis world and shatter Serena Williams’ latest quest for a record-equalling 24th grand slam singles crown.
Strycova certainly isn’t the Czech most thought would be standing between Williams and an 11th Wimbledon finals appearance.
But the oldest first-time grand slam semi-finalist in the 50-year open era isn’t without hope or credentials either.
“I don’t have fear. I just will go there and I will try to play my game. Of course, I don’t have such a power like Serena, but I have other weapons. I will try to use them as much as I can,” Strycova said ahead of Thursday’s showdown with the seven-times champion.
“I will enjoy. I have really at this point nothing to lose. I am not really scared to play her.”
Unlike Williams, who captured her first slam at 17, 33-year-old Strycova has taken the long route to the sport’s biggest stage.
Strycova’s major semi-final debut comes 17 years after she beat Maria Sharapova to win the first of two successive Australian Open junior titles.
She ended 2002 as the world’s top-ranked junior in both singles and doubles.
It’s been a tumultuous journey since, with Strycova not so long ago contemplating retirement as the breakthrough she craved never came.
“I was saying I might. I didn’t say I will,” she said.
“I don’t know. Maybe as older I get, I enjoy it more, and that’s why I play good tennis.
“It was always my dream, always to play good at this tournament was my dream. It’s happening at this age right now, it’s incredible.”
It’s been Strycova’s dream since she was a little girl and made her first trip to the All England Club 30 years ago.
“I was two years old when my grandpa took me to the museum. I saw the trophy. I was like, I’m going to play here,” Strycova recalled.
“Right now here, I’m 33, which is incredible. It’s a great story.
“My grandparents were living here for four years. I was coming here very often. London is my favourite city.”
Most thought it if it wasn’t Australia’s world No.1 Ashleigh Barty who would emerge as Williams’ biggest title threat, it would be Strycova’s compatriots Karolina Pliskova, the third seed, or dual Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.
But Strycova always believed.
“I set this goal at the beginning of this year, that Wimbledon will be the target that I want to really play well,” said Strycova, a quarter-finalist in 2014.
“It shows you if I believe it, it’s happening.”
The world No.54 knows the best way to stop Williams is by keeping the rallies short and plans on rushing the net, as usual, on every chance she gets.
“I was doing this since I am very young. I love to play volleys,” Strycova said.
“I was playing at home against the wall, against the house, so I was kind of like playing with it.
“Especially on grass it’s working very well. When I’m confidence, I like to play a lot of balls from the net. It’s my territory there.”
The victor will play either seventh seed Simona Halep or eighth seed Elina Svitolina in Saturday’s final.
WOMEN’S SEMI-FINAL MATCH-UPS ON THURSDAY (PREFIX DENOTES SEEDING)
11-Serena Williams (USA) v Barbora Strycova (CZE)
7-Simona Halep (ROM) v 8-Elina Svitolina (UKR)