Serena Williams had an ace up her nonexistent sleeve on Thursday, advancing to the 2012 Wimbledon final with a 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) win over Victoria Azarenka.

The No. 6 seed defeated the No. 2 seed thanks to a Wimbledon-record 24 aces.

From SI.com:

"Actually during the match I thought I didn't serve well," Serena, ever the perfectionist, told reporters. "I thought, Gosh, I got to get more first serves in. I don't think my first‑serve percentage was up there."

"I thought my serve was off, and apparently clearly it wasn't, so... Maybe I should be off a little more," she laughed.

Williams will face No. 3 seed Agnieszka Radwanska in the final on Saturday. Radwanska defeated No. 8 seed Angelique Kerber 6-3, 6-4 to advance to her first Grand Slam final. From the AP:

"I've been working so hard, and I really, I really wanted it," said Williams, a four-time Wimbledon champion who lost in the first round of the French Open. "I got a little tight in the second set. I couldn't relax. I was like, looking too far in the future and she came back. But I'm glad I was able to get through."

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