For Serena Williams, a 10th Wimbledon singles final and her first since becoming a mother.
While the latter detail has provided a fascinating back story to her fortnight’s campaign it has proved far from any impediment to her doing what has made her a superstar.
Barely 10 months on from giving birth she is back in the final after a 6-2, 6-4 defeat of Germany’s Julia Goerges that took only 70 minutes.
Serena Williams celebrates after sealing her passing into the women’s final at Wimbledon
Williams of the USA shakes hands with Julia Goerges of Germany at the net after their match
Williams shows her excitement after making the Wimbledon final for a 10th time in her career
She now meets Angelique Kerber in a repeat of the 2016 final after her comfortable victory over Jelena Ostapenko.
Even at 36, this has been a seamless return for the great American, going for her 24th Grand Slam singles title.
‘It’s crazy, l didn’t expect to do this well in my fourth tournament back. I can play so free and that’s kind of what I’m doing,’ she said afterwards.
‘This wasn’t inevitable for me, I had a tough delivery (birth) and had multiple surgeries, I couldn’t walk to my mailbox so it’s not normal to be in a Wimbledon final.’
Of her next opponent she said: ‘She is clearly a very good grass court player, whatever happens it’s an incredible effort from me and good motivation to keep going for the rest of my career.’
Williams shows power as she performs a serve in front of a packed Centre Court on Thursday
Goerges succumbed to defeat in 70 minutes and was often seen with dejected expressions
Goerges, the No 13 seed, was actually the American’s first top fifty opponent of the fortnight, and a player who looked slightly overwhelmed when they met at the recent French Open.
But the 29-year-old from north of Hamburg came in having hit the most aces at Wimbledon and was clearly confident after her unexpectedly strong showing here.
Unfortunately she met an opponent who has got stronger through the tournament in the manner of a champion, and was prepared to step up her level when faced with more of a challenge.
In her first service game she moved to 40-0 but was then facing a break point as Williams’s returns locked into the baseline, constantly pushing her back.
Williams, who gave birth just 10 months ago, plays a ferocious backhand on her way to a win
After holding for 2-2 she was not to win another game in the first set as the American began to make a nonsense of her 25th seeding, which some players considered overgenerous when it was announced in the week before the tournament.
Williams’s groundstrokes were so penetrating that Goerges could never get on the front foot, and the second set was a very similar story, close at the start and then Williams pulling away from 2-2.
There was a late revival from the German, who took advantage of an edgy attempt to serve the match out, but she was then broken immediately to love.
It was utterly comprehensive in the end, but she now faces another German who will at least have the capacity to chase down her drives and throw a lefthander’s into the mix.
The bad news for Kerber is that the seven times champion has conserved plenty of energy in getting this far.
Williams plays a forehand on another sunny afternoon in SW19 on women’s semi-final day