London 2012: Serena Williams beats Victoria Azarenka and storms to final

Serena Williams playing Victoria Azarenka during semi-finals match during the London 2012 Olympic Games. PHOTO/Stefan Wermuth/Reuters

Serena Williams has clinched at least a silver and earned a berth in the Olympic final, beating No. 1-seeded Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 6-2.

On Saturday, Williams will face first-time Olympian Maria Sharapova, who beat Russian teammate Maria Kirilenko in the semifinals, 6-2, 6-3.

Williams has lost only 16 games through five rounds and has won 12 consecutive matches this summer at the All England Club, including her fifth Wimbledon title a month ago.

She teamed with sister Venus to win the gold medal in doubles in 2000 and 2008. They had a chance to clinch at least a silver in a semifinal match scheduled later Friday.

Williams has won 14 Grand Slam singles championships, the most of any active woman.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press