Zheng Jie becomes China's first-ever Grand Slam singles semifinalist and only the third Asian woman – after Japan's Kazuko Sawamatsu and Kimiko Date – to reach the final four of a major; Zheng surpasses the feat of compatriot Li Na, who became China's first-ever Grand Slam quarterfinalist at 2006 Wimbledon, which coincidentally bettered Zheng's record-breaking run to the fourth round at 2004 Roland Garros.
Zheng Jie is the second wildcard to reach the women's singles semifinals of a Grand Slam, following Monica Seles's runner-up finish at the 1995 US Open, shortly after her comeback from the 1993 Hamburg stabbing.
Zheng Jie is the 14th unseeded ladies' singles semifinalist at Wimbledon in the Open Era, but is aiming to become the tournament's first-ever unseeded finalist (and only the 10th at all majors); she is also aiming to become only the fourth woman ranked outside the Top 100 to reach the final four at a major.
Four-time defending champion Venus Williams advances to her seventh Wimbledon singles quarterfinal and 17th major semifinal overall; Venus boasts a 6-0 lifetime record in Wimbledon semifinals, and 12-4 at all majors.
Venus's sister Serena Williams is 3-1 lifetime in Wimbledon semifinals and 10-2 at all Grand Slams; this is Serena's first Wimbledon semifinal since her runner-up finish in 2004.
This is the seventh Grand Slam event in which both Serena Williams and Venus Williams have advanced to the singles semifinals, and the first since 2003 Wimbledon.
Elena Dementieva advances to her first Wimbledon semifinal in her 10th consecutive attempt; a runner-up at Roland Garros and the US Open in 2004, Dementieva will be contesting her fifth major semifinal on Thursday.
Elena Dementieva is only the fourth different Russian woman to reach the Wimbledon semifinals, after Olga Morozova, Anna Kournikova and Maria Sharapova.
While it was the first time that none of the Top 4 seeds reached the quarterfinals, it is also the first time none of the Top 4 seeds have reached the semifinals.
Youngest player remaining: Zheng Jie (CHN) – 24 years, 11 months (turns 25 on July 5)
Oldest player remaining: Venus Williams (USA) – 28 years, 0 months (turned 28 on June 17) (WTA)
