• Serena powers past Azarenka into Wimbledon final

    Stefan Wermuth / Reuters

    Serena Williams of the U.S. celebrates after defeating Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in their women's semi-final tennis match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, on July 5.

    Glyn Kirk / AFP - Getty Images

    Belarus's Victoria Azarenka plays a forehand shot during her women's singles semi-final defeat to US player Serena Williams on day 10 of the 2012 Wimbledon Championships tennis tournament at the All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 5.

    AP reports -- Serena Williams had an ace up her sleeve on Centre Court, and she used it a Wimbledon-record 24 times.

    The 13-time Grand Slam champion reached her seventh Wimbledon final on Thursday, smacking 24 aces to beat Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 7-6 (6) in the semifinals.

    The final point of the match was, fittingly enough, the record-breaking ace.

    Continue reading.

    Gerry Penny/pool / EPA

    Serena Williams of the US returns to Victoria Azarenka of Belarus during their semi final match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, on July 5.

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  • Julian Finney / Getty Images

    Andy Murray doesn't take Wimbledon competition lying down...or does he?

    Andy Murray of Great Britain falls as he reaches for a shot during his Gentlemen's Singles third-round match against Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus on day six of Wimbledon in London, England, June 30.

    Related story: Serena survives Zheng

  • Expectant fans prepare to cheer on a local hero at Wimbledon

    Dan Kitwood / Getty Images

    Girls relax as they wait in the queue to purchase tickets for day two of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 26, 2012 in London, England.

    Ben Stansall / AFP - Getty Images

    Tennis fans pose for pictures with Andy Murray masks as they queue for tickets.

    Local hero Andy Murray is one of the main attractions for fans at Wimbledon today, with the fourth seed due to come up against Nikolay Davydenko on Centre Court. The Scotsman hired Ivan Lendl as his coach late last year as he attempts to break the stranglehold of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer at the top of the men's game.

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    Andy Rain / EPA

    Spectators arrive at Centre Court at Wimbledon on June 26, 2012.

     

  • On the first day of Wimbledon, a look back at days gone by

    Courtesy English Heritage

    An aerial view of the Wimbledon Championships in 1921, the final incarnation of the tournament at its original location in Worple Road, London. The following year new grounds were opened in Church Road, where the event continues to this day.

    ITV News and msnbc.com's David R. Arnott report

    The world's oldest tennis tournament enters its 136th year Monday as stars like Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams join battle at Wimbledon.

    But when the picture above was taken, back in 1921, the names to look out for were Suzanne Lenglen of France and Bill Tilden of the U.S., both of whom would go on to retain the championship that year.

    The photograph is among more than 15,000 images from one of the earliest and most significant collections of aerial photography of Britain that have been made available online for the first time.

    The photos on the Britain from Above website, launched today, have gone through a painstaking process of conservation and cataloguing. See more of the images at ITV News.

    -- ITV News is NBC News' U.K. partner

    Get full tennis coverage at NBCSports.com

    Read more about the history of Wimbledon

  • Novak Djokovic defeats Rafael Nadal to win his first Wimbledon title

    Carl De Souza / AFP - Getty Images

    Serbian player Novak Djokovic holds the trophy after beating Spanish player Rafael Nadal in the men's single final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All England Tennis Club, in southwest London on July 3. Djokovic won 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3.

    With his victory at Wimbledon, Djokovic will be the new world No. 1. Read more about the match here.

  • Nadal beats Murray in Wimbledon semis

    By Rich Shulman

    It must be tough having the hopes of a nation on your shoulders on a stage as large as Wimbledon. Britain has not had men's finalist since 1938. Today, the best action was in the crowd. Full story.

    Previous Wimbledon Photoblog posts.

    Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP

    Britain's Andy Murray adjusts his hat during his men's semifinal match against Spain's Rafael Nadal at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, Friday, July 1. Murray is attempting to reach the Wimbledon final for first time, which would make him the first British men's finalist since 1938.


    Carl De Souza / AFP - Getty Images

    Fans wear masks featuring Spanish player Rafael Nadal (R) and British player Andy Murray (L) during the men's single semi final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All England Tennis Club, in southwest London on July 1.

    Oli Scarff / Getty Images

    Tennis spectators watch Andy Murray's semi final match against Rafael Nadal of Spain on Day Eleven of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 1, in London, England. Murray is attempting to reach the Wimbledon final for first time, which would make him the first British men's finalist since 1938.

    Leon Neal / AFP - Getty Images

    Fans of British player Andy Murray watch on a big screen the semi final between Murray and Spanish player Rafael Nadal at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All England Tennis Club, in southwest London on July 1.

    Oli Scarff / Getty Images

    Tennis spectators watch Andy Murray's semi final match against Rafael Nadal of Spain on Day Eleven of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 1 in London, England.

  • Eddie Keogh / Reuters

    Maria Sharapova of Russia celebrates after defeating Sabine Lisicki of Germany in their semi-final match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London on Thursday, June 30.

    Sharapova survives slow start, reaches final

    The AP reports:

    WIMBLEDON, England - It was all about the serves at Wimbledon on Thursday, and it was Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova who survived the ups and downs on Centre Court to reach the final.

    The fifth-seeded Sharapova, who won the first of her three Grand Slam titles at the All England Club in 2004, overcame 13 double-faults to beat Sabine Lisicki 6-4, 6-3. Kvitova reached her first major final by hitting nine aces in a 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 win over Victoria Azarenka. Continue reading.

  • Pretty skies and a court full of cameras at Wimbledon

    Julian Finney / Getty Images

    A view over the courts on the tenth day of Wimbledon at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 30 in London, England.

    Glyn Kirk / AFP - Getty Images

    British player Andy Murray looks towards the media during a practice session at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London on June 30.

    By Phaedra Singelis, NBC News

     Full coverage of Wimbledon on NBC Sports.

     

  • Sharapova storms into Wimbledon semis

    By Rich Shulman

    Can Maria Sharapova win another Wimbledon title? Her performance today would certainly indicate that.

    Previous Wimbledon PhotoBlog posts.

    Kerim Okten / EPA

    Maria Sharapova of Russia celebrates her victory over Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia in their quarter final match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, June 28.

    Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP

    Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic returns a backhand shot to Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova during their match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, June 28.

    Julian Finney / Getty Images

    A tennis fan attends Day Eight of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 28, in London, England.

  • Clive Brunskill / Getty Images

    Billie Jean King, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Chairman of the All England Lawn Tennis Club Philip Brook participate in the wave during the fourth round match between Rafael Nadal of Spain and Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina on Day Seven of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 27 in London, England.)

    Wave rolls through royal box at Wimbledon

    By Rich Shulman

    I guess when you're the heir to the throne, you're too cool to do the wave. Come to think of it, I've never seen the queen do the wave.

    Previous Wimbledon PhotoBlog posts.

  • Day of upsets: Two-time defending champ Serena, Venus, No. 1 Wozniacki ousted

    Toby Melville / Reuters

    Serena Williams of the U.S. reacts during her match against Marion Bartoli of France at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London on Monday, June 27.

    Michael Regan / Getty Images

    Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia celebrates match point after winning her fourth round match against Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark on Day Seven of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on Monday.

    Suzanne Plunkett / Reuters

    Andy Murray of Britain celebrates defeating Richard Gasquet of France at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London on Monday.

    Clive Brunskill / Getty Images

    Serena Williams of the US prepares to serve during her fourth round match against Marion Bartoli of France on Day Seven of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on Monday.

    Alastair Grant / AP

    Russia's Maria Sharapova serves to China's Peng Shuai during their match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon on Monday.

    Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP

    Britain's Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive at center court prior to the start of play at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon on Monday.

    Suzanne Plunkett / Reuters

    Venus Williams of the US reacts during her match against Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London on Monday.

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