Desperate to keep tennis's most famous trophy in the family, Venus Williams insists age is merely a number as she closes in on a sixth Wimbledon crown a month after her 37th birthday.
The American superstar advanced to her 10th semi-final on London's hallowed grass courts with a record-equalling 86th victory at the All England Club on Tuesday.
The oldest player left in the draw snapped the 11-match winning streak of the youngest, 20-year-old French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, with a 6-3 7-5 victory on Tuesday.
In matching her sister Serena's win tally at the spiritual home of tennis, Williams set up a last-four showdown on Thursday with Britain's big hope Johanna Konta.
Already the oldest semi-finalist since Martina Navratilova in 1994, Williams is now bidding to become the oldest champion in the open era.
"I don't think about the definition of age," she said.
"It's beautiful to be at all ages, really. That's my experience so far."
The veteran slammed eight aces past Ostapenko - the Latvian who was born the month Williams debuted at Wimbledon in 1997.
The American says she still feels young enough go one step further than her loss to Serena in the Australian Open final and capture her first major since 2008.
"I feel quite capable, to be honest, and powerful," the 10th seed said.
"So whatever age that is, as long as I feel like that, then I know that I can contend for titles every time."
With Serena pregnant and unable to defend her crown, Venus has been left on her own to attempt to land sport's most successful siblings an astonishing 13th title in 17 years.
Their inspirational father and coach Richard has also had to miss this year's championships.
"They're definitely here with me, for sure," Venus said.
"Even if it's not physically. That is one thing I do know. They're fighting right alongside me."
Former finalist Garbine Muguruza will clash with unherald Slovak Magdalena Rybarikova in the other semi.
Muguruza powered past Russian seventh seed Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3 6-4, while Rybarikova returned from a three-hour rain stoppage to complete a watershed 6-3 6-3 win over the Pat Cash-coached American Coco Vandeweghe.
A first-round loser in eight of her previous nine Wimbledon appearances, the world No.87 is the lowest-ranked semi-finalist since 2008.
Runner-up to Serena Williams in 2015, Muguruza is preparing for her first grand slam semi since reigning at Roland Garros last year.
Her straight-sets victory over Kuznetsova came a day after the 23-year-old removed world No.1 Angelique Kerber from the draw.
Kerber's loss loosened the German's grip on the world No.1 ranking and left Simona Halep in pole position to secure top spot.
But the Romanian's gut-wrenching 6-7 (2-7) 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 loss to Konta instead leaves Czech Karolina Pliskova celebrating her career-first climb to the summit.
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