LADIES’ SEMI-FINALS day at Wimbledon without a Williams sister is much like a sunny June day in Ireland – it just doesn’t happen that often.

For only the second time since the turn of the century, neither Venus or Serena will grace the final four when action gets underway at SW19 later on this afternoon, leaving Maria Sharapova as the most recognizable face remaining in the draw.

Just 17-years-old when she wowed the centre court crowd to claim her first Grand Slam title, the Russian, now 24, knows better than most not to underestimate the sport’s rising stars.

This year’s remaining contenders – fourth seed Victoria Azarenka, eighth seed Petra Kvitova, and wildcard Sabine Lisicki – have never appeared in a Grand Slam Final but, as Sharapova is quick to point out, the 21-year-old triumverate have accumulated plenty of experience between them over the years.

“In one sense, they’re coming up, because they’re reaching the bigger stages of the grand slams and they’re trying to win their first one as well,” Sharapova told the Press Association ahead of this afternoon’s clash with Lisicki.

But I also feel it’s not the first time I’m seeing them in the draw or seeing them at the tournament. It’s not like they’re 15 or 16 years old.

The first German woman to reach a Grand Slam semi-final since the legendary Steffi Graf, Lisicki has already outshone her current ranking of 62nd in the world. French Open champion Li Na and 2007 finalist Marion Bartoli have already fallen to the youngster as she eclipsed her performance of two years ago which saw her reach the quarter-finals.

“She hits very hard,” Sharapova said. “She has probably one of the hardest serves on the tour, and that’s very beneficial. She’s used that very well on the grass. So that will be challenging.”

The other semi-final between Azarenka and Kvitova, guaranteed to produce a first-time Grand Slam finalist, is first up on centre court at 1pm.