Zvonareva bullish despite final predictions

Vera Zvonareva may be studying a Masters degree in international economic relations but she won't be number crunching her head-to-heads with Serena Williams or calculating the amount of Grand Slams the American has totted up ahead of their final meeting.

After her match she was informed that Williams is potentially pegged as the biggest favourite to win the title over the last 10 years and perhaps even in history. But the Russian refuses to listen to anyone churning out such statistics. She believes in herself and that is that.

"I don't care about what everyone says," she said. " I'll just have to go out there on the court and try to play my best tennis. I know if I play my best tennis I can beat anyone on the other side of the net. That's what I'm gonna try and do on Saturday. I never look at any odds or comparisons. It's not important to me."

Indeed, who would have predicted that Zvonareva would have fared so well at this Championships? She admits she had a couple of bad losses recently, one at the French Open and then at Eastbourne where she lost in the first round. But even then the Russian felt she was beginning to find form.

"I thought I was playing already much better tennis and I knew I just had to keep working hard. I knew a few things that I have to improve. I was trying to go on the court and try to bring it out of myself. And it wouldn't work that day. But I just knew I had to keep going for my shots and play the way I play."

Now the lady whose best Grand Slam performance in 29 outings was the 2009 Australian Open semi-finals finds herself in the last two with a match up against the defending champion. Zvonareva knows it will be a tough contest. One of the tactics up her sleeve is to stay aggressive and not let Williams dominate. She will also have a chat with her coach for more pointers.

"I know she's a great fighter. When I go on court I will have to expect a very tough match, I will try to fight for every point and I think try to make it difficult for her on every point. Try not to give her any points."

While the Russian appreciates the American's serve is a weapon, which gives her a big advantage on grass, Zvonareva is not fazed. "I think if you can find the timing you can return it. It's very difficult when she's serving well, but there are moments where she may not serve as well. You just have to use those chances...There will be moments where she doesn't make a first serve. I haven't seen anyone make a hundred per cent of first serves. So then you will just have to take your chances then."

For now, however, Zvonareva has one day to get her head around the fact that she is in her first Grand Slam final. "I'm very excited. I think I haven't realised it yet. It's one of my dreams to be out there on the Centre Court and play in the finals of Wimbledon."

And if the adrenalin is still pumping come bedtime the night before and the Russian struggles to nod off, at least she will have a hefty supply of text books to dip in to.