Williams edges Azarenka to set up dream Wimbledon semi-final with Sharapova

Serena Williams has set up a semi-final with arch-rival Maria Sharapova ©AFP/Getty Images

Top-seed Serena Williams remains on course for a sixth Wimbledon singles title after winning a three-set dual with Victoria Azarenka today to set up a dream semi-final with arch-rival Maria Sharapova.

Williams, who survived a mammoth test against Britain's Heather Watson in the third round before overcoming elder sister Venus in the fourth, battled back from a set down to beat her Belorussian opponent 3-6 6-2 6-3 today in front of 15,000 spectators on Centre Court.

It marked her 26th successive Major win in a run stretching back to last year's Wimbledon as the 33-year-old moves a step closer to holding all four Grand Slam singles titles at the same time.

She could also become the first woman since Steffi Graf in 1988 to win all four in one year.

Fourth seeded Sharapova, who overcame another American over three sets today in Coco Vandeweghe, will present a tougher challenge, although Williams will be the heavy favourite to gain a 17th successive victory over the Russian.

Williams goes on to face Russian fourth seed Maria Sharapova in the semi-finals on Thursday.

Spain's 20th seed Garbine Muguruza will play Poland's 2012 finalist Agnieszka Radwańska in the other semi-final.

Novak Djokovic completed his comeback win over Kevin Anderson to book his place in the men's quarter-finals ©Getty Images

On the men's side of the draw, defending champion Novak Djokovic reached the quarter-finals after completing a customarily gutsy comeback from two sets down to beat South African opponent Kevin Anderson.

The Serb had levelled at two sets all when play was postponed due to bad light yesterday, before he finished the job by taking the deciding set, 7-5 today.

He will now play US Open champion Marin Čilić in tomorrow's last eight match, while French Open winner Stanislas Wawrinka will be up against France's Richard Gasquet,

Vasek Pospisil of Canada will be up against Britain's home hope Andy Murray, while seven-time champion Roger Federer will face Gilles Simon of France.

In the men's doubles, meanwhile, there was a shock today as the United States' world number one pairing Bob and Mike Bryan lost over four sets to India's Rohan Bopanna and Romania's Florin Mergea.