Make that 17 in a row! Serena sails into Wimbledon final as she extends winning streak over Sharapova that dates back to 2004

Serena Williams through to Wimbledon 2015 final after beating Maria Sharapova in straight sets on Centre Court

•     Serena Williams beat Maria Sharapova 6-2, 6-4 in just over an hour

•     Williams' win was her 17th victory in a row against Sharapova

• The world No 1 will face Garbine Muguruza in Saturday afternoon's final

The coach and lover of Serena Williams sounded a little cruel when he pointed out that this couldn’t be considered a rivalry if it was always the same player winning. Williams was far crueller in proving Patrick Mouratoglou so conclusively right.

What must go through Maria Sharapova’s mind when she stands across a net from the muscular old queen of women’s tennis? One can only conclude it is sheer panic having watched Williams win her 17th straight match against the Russian, battering her 6-2, 6-4 and taking her overall record to 18-2. The Sharapova wait for a win is 11 years and counting.

How the younger woman must hate that, this 28-year-old of intensity and professionalism who is repeatedly made to look so flaky. How the older pro must love it, considering she relishes beating no-one in quite the way she relishes beating Sharapova.

Serena Williams lets out a cry of delight during her semi-final win over Maria Sharapova on Thursday

Williams proved too strong for Sharapova as she won in straight sets 6-2, 6-4 on Centre Court

The world No 1 will face Garbine Muguruza as she looks to win her third Grand Slam of the season

 For Sharapova her miserable record against Williams continues - with her losing streak now at 17 matches
 
It was on this same Centre Court that Williams took the 2012 Olympic gold medal, beating Sharapova 6-0, 6-1. That is a brutal as these matches got. But it is telling that in only three of her many defeats against Williams has Sharapova even won a set. She simply crumbles.

 WILLIAMS' WINNING STREAK 
 
Serena Williams hasn’t lost to Maria Sharapova since November 2004, having triumphed in each of their last 17 meetings.

The world No 1 has lost to the Russian only twice in 20 encounters following Thursday's victory.

Here is how Williams has won her previous 16 matches with Sharapova:

2015: Australian Open 6-3 7-6 (7-5)

2014: Miami 6-4 6-3

2014: Brisbane 6-2 7-6 (9-7)

2013: French Open 6-4 6-4

2013: Madrid 6-1 6-4

2013: Miami 4-6 6-3 6-0

2013: Doha 6-3 6-2

2012: WTA Champs', Istanbul 6-4 6-3

2012: Olympics 6-0 6-1

2012: Madrid 6-1 6-3

2011: Stanford 6-1 6-3

2010: Wimbledon 7-6 (11-9) 6-4

2008: Charleston 7-5 4-6 6-1

2007: Miami 6-1 6-1

2007: Australian Open 6-1 6-2

2005: Australian Open 2-6 7-5 8-6

 On Thursday, it boiled down to a tale of two servers - Williams was up to the task of delivering hard and accurate balls and Sharapova was not. She double faulted to give away the first game of the match and Williams closed the show about 75 minutes later with three aces and a service winner.

In all, Sharapova took only 13 points off the Williams delivery and created not a single break point. Williams created nine, took three and is now one step from completing the Serena Slam. Only Garbine Muguruza stands in her way now after the Spaniard overcame Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2 3-6 6-3 in the earlier semi-final. Williams though is a remarkable athlete, one who relishes these kinds of battles between minds against Sharapova.

This one was never in doubt as they went head-to-head on Centre Court.

The 33-minute first set was particularly brutal, a demonstration if any where needed of what Williams can do to Sharapova’s mind. The Russian was shaky, unsure and frequently unable to consistently throw a ball in the air and hit it. Her toss, to quote Andy Murray’s former coach Brad Gilbert, was ‘all over the place.'

The rest of the motion was no less shaky. The very first game of the match was lost with back-to-back double faults. Sharapova walked to the chair with her head down; Williams held the stare.

A second break for 4-1 all but wrapped up the set. At its close, Sharapova had hit only four winners and nine unforced errors.

Sharapova mops the sweat off her brow during a tough afternoon against her formidable opponent

They were watched on by members of England women's World Cup team - back from finishing third in Canada

 From the women's game to the men's as former England captain David Beckham was also in attendance

But as compliant as she was – or, perhaps, intimidated – Williams was excellent. Victoria Azarenka highlighted after her quarter-final defeat that the 33-year-old is still more than capable of serving elite players off the court. Here, she hit seven aces in that first set and conceded only six points off her deliveries.

When it was done, 6-2 as it happens, Williams briefly clenched a fist. She didn’t need to be at her growling, scowling, posturing best.

It wasn’t until the third game of the second set that Sharapova, at 15-0 up, hit a beautiful drop shot from the back of the court to show some of her touch. She called on herself to ‘come on’ at the end of the game, but it would take more than some routine cajoling to turn this match. Replacing Williams’s racket with a ping pong bat might have at least made it more level.

But even then, Sharapova would have to serve. And that is something she never quite perfected on Thursday. A double fault at 2-2 gave Williams a break and with her own serve, far more assured that it is, the advantage was never going to be conceded. When Williams fell 0-30 behind at 4-3 up, she responded with a service winner and a big forehand. The game was hers moments later.

And the match, closed with four devastating serves and a stare. She is close to making history; Sharapova must be ready to blow.

 Sharapova (right) congratulates Williams at the end of the match as the Russian exits at the semi-finals stage