MARIA SHARAPOVA has shrugged off her tag as the old woman of the Wimbledon semi-finals as she looks to make it back into the grand slam champions’ club.
The 24-year-old won the last of her three slam titles at the Australian Open in 2008 having lifted the Wimbledon trophy in 2004 at the age of only 17.
Were Sharapova to repeat that this year aged 24, and she is the clear favourite to do so, she would be the youngest winner since that momentous victory over Serena Williams seven years ago, but the best of the new generation are snapping at her heels.
In the last four today, the Russian will face 21-year-old Sabine Lisicki, while the other clash pits Victoria Azarenka against Petra Kvitova – both of whom are also 21.
She said: “I think a few years don’t really make that much of a difference.
“I had my success really early in my career, and I don’t regret it for one second.”
