WIMBLEDON, England – More than once during the past fortnight, Serena Williams has won an important point at Wimbledon and then returned to the baseline, her clenched fist leading the way.

The ferocity of the gesture is understandable, given the obstacles she has beaten back in the past couple of years.

A succession of health issues led to a long layoff that forced Williams to mount a career comeback, and she’ll try to cap it today when she plays Agnieszka Radwanska, the first Polish player to reach a Grand Slam final since 1939.