Serena fights off Azarenka, targets Sharapova

Maria Sharapova of Russia celebrates after winning her match against Coco Vandeweghe of the U.S.A. at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, July 7, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

Blocking her path to a first Wimbledon final since 2012 is Maria Sharapova after the Russian fought off feisty American CoCo Vandeweghe -- the only unseeded player in a quarter-final lineup few would have predicted at the start.

Sharapova won 6-3 6-7(3) 6-2 to set up another crack at Williams who she has lost to 16 times in a row since 2004 -- the year she beat the American to win her only Wimbledon title.

"I haven't played Serena here in 11 years," fourth seed Sharapova, who famously beat Williams to the title in 2004 as a 17-year-old, told reporters.

"That will be an incredible moment for me to step out on Centre Court against her again."