The final eight.
Ons Jabeur’s racquet doubles as a tool with which she is etching history at the Championships. In 2021, the dextrous Tunisian became the first Arab woman to reach a Wimbledon quarter-final and last year became the first to reach a Grand Slam singles final. Coming face-to-face once more with defending champion Elena Rybakina on the 12th, Jabeur seemed determined to get her revenge. With unbending precision, the No.6 seed turned the tables deftly, asserting a 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-1 victory in just under two hours.
Elena Rybakina is more than capable of creating twists in the game, with a height of 6 feet an aggressive service game, and characteristically icy facade. Upon conceding the first set, Jabeur commandeered the second set with renewed vigour. Executing a versatile range of controlled shots, she deftly paved the road to a break point - one she sprinted down to gain the second game, winning five straight games in the deciding set and establishing an unrecoverable lead. The No.6 seed finished with a flourish and approving cheers from the crowd to avenge last year’s final.
Ons Jabeur’s creativity with her game has made her a veritable performer at the All England Club, a fact made prominent as she squares up to face Aryna Sabalenka.
Meanwhile, current Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka barrelled into the semi-finals, claiming a victory against No.25 seed Madison Keys in straight sets (6-2, 6-4).
Fresh off the heels of a victory against Mirra Andreeva in the Round of 16 and an Eastbourne International Title on grass earlier this year, the American entered the game riding a wave of exhilaration. But by breaking Keys’ serve in the first set itself, the Belarusian player took an early advantage. While the second set followed much the same path, it was clear that the No.25 seed stepped up her game, managing to secure a break of her own but fought to keep control. Aryna Sabalenka, currently the Australian open title holder, is due to square off against Ons Jabeur - both powerful players with confident streaks underlining their game dramatically.
Day Two. The final six.
Unseeded Marketa Vondrousova upset Jessica Pegula’s winning streak in a three-set victory (6-4,2-6,6-4). Their first meeting opened rather in the favour of the French Open finalist, breaking Pegula early on and dominating over the next games. However, the No.4 seed found an opening and took it, creating competition worthy of the gasps and cheers it elicited from the crowd. Being the first time the players squared off, the game was unpredictable: Pegula stuck to her reliable defensive game but being tested on her range of shots, while Vondrousova’s more aggressive style of play was brought to the forefront.
The decider opened rather tumultuously for Vondrousova - what with her being 3-1 down - but one rain delay and encouraging phone call later, the Roland Garros finalist broke Pegula twice to seize the match and a position in the semi-finals. Marketa Vondrousova, armed with a wave of confidence and targets trained on the Venus rosewater dish, marches into the next round against Ukrainian Elina Svitolina.
Later in the day, Elina Svitolina - new mother, Roland Garros quarterfinalist, and now Wimbledon semi-finalist - stunned top seed Iga Swiatek on Centre Court in a captivating battle. The Ukrainian entered the semi-finals at Wimbledon for the second time in her career thus far, garnering a 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-2 victory, becoming the third ever wildcard entry to enter the semi-final round at this Grand Slam.
Swiatek, a four-time major singles champion, gained an early advantage on the opening set, but the wild-card entry powered through three consecutive games. The Pole gained an early lead and fought to maintain it during the second set, swinging the momentum of the game in her direction. However, it was perhaps the top seed’s penchant for overzealous shots that created an opening for Svitolina, who barrelled into the decider set with a 4-1 lead and rounded the set off neatly in just over 40 minutes. Elina Svitolina is due to return to Centre Court to play Marketa Vondrousova, a formidable opponent with vast control over the ball.
And then there were four...
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