Women's semi-final day. Normally the most nerve racking day for all players playing at Wimbledon in the semi-final on the biggest stage of the tennis world.
First match- Kvitova vs Azarenka- Azarenka came into this match as clear favourite to win this match as she was the highest ranked player left in the women's draw but that you would hardly of noticed that by how the first set panned out. Kvitova came out firing as she just blew her opponent away in the first set. She was playing aggressive tennis and was hitting angles which only left handed players can do so well. On top of that she was hitting winners all over hitting 13 all together in the first set while Azarenka looked nervous and her ground strokes were played without conviction and before she knew it she was broken twice and won the first set 6-1 in 27 minutes. Kvitova seemed to learn from last years experience where she went out in the semi-final to Serena and seemed to handle the pressure and the expectation better. Azarenka seemed to suffer not being to an Gram Slam semi-final before and this was certainly hampering her performance.
The second set Azarenka started much more positively. She won her first service game to love and was went up 0-30 in the second game. Kvitova for the first time was put under pressure. Even though Kvitova won the last 2 points Azarenka was able to break. With the new wind in her sales she started to play an much more aggressive game her self. She was hitting her own winners from both side and constructing the points much better. Kvitova however was showing her other side to her game which is the more erratic and rushed play. For Kvitova every time she got into an position to get back into the set she would make an unforced error as her nerves would take over. Azarenka was able to stay strong hold on to take the second set 6-3. Now the match going to an final set shoot out for an place in the Wimbledon final.
Both women were nervous but Kvitova was able to hold in her nerves the better as she took an early lead in the set. In-fact she was looking like she might race away with the set going 3-0 up and it looked like Azarenka was going to get an double break but Azarenka was able to hold. The next game was the decisive game as Azarenka had the chance to break back. She had 2 break chances but Kvitova hit 2 big winners to keep her at bay and 2 more good serves were able to hold on. Azarenka did put the pressure on Kvitova by holding her next service game but she was able to rise to the challenge. The pressure got to Kvitova as she played an horrible last game by making 2 unforced errors Kvitova hit an clean forehand winner and the game was finished by the worst possible way by Azarenka double faulting the match. She has got to her first Gram Slam final by winning 6-1, 3-6, 6-2. Kvitova is an women that many pundits tipped to be an future champion and no better place to announce your arrival than winning the most famous Gram Slam of them all Wimbledon.
The second semi-final was played against Sharapova vs Lisicki - Both women having to battle to get to this stage not only throughout the tournament but through many injuries. Sharapova came in being clear favourite but Lisicki doesnt mind being the under dog after already beating Li Na to get to this stage. Lisicki came out the quickest as she raced through her opening service game winning to 15 and then played an thrilling return game able to break the Russian to love. Sharapova seemed stunned and not known what had hit her. It got even better for the German who then converted the break with another love hold. Centre court watched with amazement as this stunning tennis continued in the next game as she went up 30-40 and looked like she might break again and almost put the first set to bed. She had an second serve but she battled hard hit some big ground strokes and just escaped that game. It seemed that was all she needed to get herself going as Sharapova then started to fight back really well. She was finally able to read the Lisicki serve and started to get into rallies with Lisicki and play this match at her pace. She was hitting balls really hard and frequently kept hitting the baseline and the corners and started to unleash her devastating forehand. Soon enough from 3-0 down and nearly and double break she came back like an champion to make it 3-3.
Lisicki knew she had to hold onto her serve to try and stop the Sharapova charge. She had an really battle to win this set. It looked bad for her when Sharapova won an point which was an long rally to make it 30-30 but however Lisicki was able to hold and make this set back in the balance. But the pressure was soon back on as Sharapova hit back with her first love hold. The pressure did become too much for Lisicki as she started to hit double falts and Sharapova was attacking and getting all second serves and anything ball short she was hitting with venom and like an snake was able to attack at the right time to break the Lisicki serve again to serve for the first set, which she did as she stole the first set 6-4.
Lisicki knew only an good start to the second set would give her an chance in this match but that complete opposite happened. She was broken straight away going down 2-0 Every game became an must win service game from then on. She was able to hold her next game but Sharapova quickly held hers and was in for the kill as she looked for an double break. The score was 3-1 and it looked if she broke the match would be over she had 30-40 but Lisicki she was able to battle her way to hold on. Sharapova held her serve once again comfortably and the writing seemed to be on the wall and that was future strengthened by Sharapova able to break the Lisicki serve for an second time and be serving for the final spot in Saturday's final. As Lisicki had nothing to loss she went out swinging her racket and it seemed to pay off as she broke the Sharapova serve to have some hope being 5-3 down. But those nerves came back to haunt her in the next game as her first serves deserted her and she was reluctant to take the ball early and the match was finished with an rally which ended with an drop shot by Lisicki which failed to go over the net and gave the favourite for this competition to win 6-4, 6-3. She will be in her second Wimbledon Final. Last time she was there she was an 17 year old girl and to this date is the youngest women to win at Wimbledon and she will be the youngest since herself if she wins on Saturday. The match will be an 2 PM start on Saturday Local Time (BST).
Tomorrow will be the Men's semi-final. First match will be
Tsonga vs Djokovic and then
Nadal vs Murray.
First match will be played 1 PM (BST local Time) and the second match following the Tsonga Djokovic match on centre court at Wimbledon.
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