USA's Serena Williams in action against Russia's Elena Vesnina at 2016 Wimbledon Championships in London, Britain, July 7, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

WIMBLEDON, England — Serena Williams delivered one of the most emphatic performances of her career Thursday afternoon at Wimbledon to put herself, again, one step from history.

Williams, who would equal Steffi Graf's Open Era record of 22 major singles titles with a win in Saturday's final, booked a spot with a 6-2, 6-0 trouncing of 50th-ranked Elena Vesnina in just 48 minutes.

"It wasn't anything that was super easy; I was very intense the whole time," Williams said. "I ran and I worked hard. I served well, I moved well. The scoreline just reflected me doing what I know I can do."

Williams, who has reached the final at seven of the last eight majors, lost in her two previous finals this year, leaving her stranded tantalizingly close to Graf's mark.