(July 6, 2021) Three first-time semifinalists and a former champion have made the Ladies’ final four at Wimbledon on Tuesday.
No. 25 seed and 2018 champion Angelique Kerber made the semifinals at the All-England Club by stopping 19th seed Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic 6-2. 6-3. The 33-year-old southpaw from Germany is looking to add another major to her three major total – in addition to a Wimbledon crown, she’s won the U.S. Open and Australian Open trophies.
“I remember how I played here,” said Kerber after the match. “I know how to play on (a) grass court.”
“Of course, it’s a good feeling already to have the [Wimbledon] trophy at home and to win it here,” Kerber said. “I think it’s more about this tournament for me, because when I was a kid I really looked forward to playing this tournament good, and playing my best tennis here.”
Kerber will face current No. 1 Ash Barty of Australia. Barty defeated countrywoman, unseeded Ajla Tomljanovic 6-1, 6-3 in the first all-Australian major quarterfinal in 40 years. This will be Barty’s first- ever Wimbledon semifinal. Before this year, her best result at Wimbledon was reaching the fourth round.
“It’s the ultimate test,” Barty said, “Angie’s obviously had success here before.”
“Against Ash, I know that I have to play my best tennis,” Kerber said. “She has a lot of confidence right now.”
“I know that I have to play my own game. I have to just think how to play, be aggressive, and try to take the match more in my hands and go for it. Even if I miss a few shots, I have to stay there and try to push her.”
The other women’s semifinal will pit No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus against No. 8 Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic.
Sabalenka powered past Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur, the 21st seed, 6-4, 6-3. Sabalenka leads the women’s tour with match wins for this year with 34.
“I just enjoy everything on this surface,”Sabalenka said to media.
“It’s actually tough to play on the grass, but I really enjoy every second on the court. It’s about everything: about serving, about returning, about moving, about everything actually.”
Former U.S. Open finalist, 8th seeded Karolina Pliskova reached her first Wimbledon final four with a dominant 6-2, 6-2 win over unseeded Viktorija Golubic Swiss in her quarterfinal. Pliskova lost the 2016 U.S. Open final to Kerber.
Sabalenka collected her tour-leading 34th match win of 2021 by defeating No. 21 seed Ons Jabeur 6-4, 6-3, and Pliskova topped unseeded Viktorija Golubic 6-2, 6-2.
“Everything today was working quite well,” said Pliskova, who has now reached the semifinals of all four majors.
As for her match-up against Sabalenka, who recently beat her at the Eastbourne tournament, Pliskova said: “It’s going to be big match because she goes for big, big shots, big game, big serve.”
In a match suspended in the fourth set due to rain, 14th seed Hubert Hurkacz of Poland beat second seed Daniil Medvedev won 2-6, 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 to reach the men’s quarterfinals versus his childhood idol No. 6 seed Roger Federer.
“Daniil is an unbelievable player,” Hurkacz said in an on-court interview. “We battled so hard on No. 2 Court. So to win is incredible. “I knew I needed to get off to a strong start today and I think I did a pretty good job.”
British teenager Emma Raducanu who retired from Monday’s match said in a statement on her social media that it was due to due to dizziness.
