Wimbledon Day 8

Today was women's day at Wimbledon as the sexes now seperate for the rest of the tournament as the Women's play today, Thursday and Saturday and the men Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Centre Court- The first match of centre court was an real battle as the inspired Lisicki beat the battling Bartoli. Both women came out really nervous as they both started an bit slow. They traded early breaks and it wasnt till the 3rd game of the set where both women started to settle down and produce quality tennis. After getting through the early parts of the first set the tennis really did go up an notch as both women were finding there angles. The decisive moment of the set happened on the 7th game Lisicki won an break after winning an long service game. The game went on for over 7 minutes and at times it was more like an exhibition match but an back hand winner got the 4-3 lead. She then backed it up with an love service hold. Even though Bartoli won her next game Lisicki held her nerve to take the first set 6-4.

The second set seemed to go like the first being tight for the first half of the set and Lisicki seemed to get the crucial break and got it to 5-4 serving where Liskicki played an very nervous game. She was up 40-15 and advantage up but every time she was an point away her serve deserted her with no first serves and very poor second serves and when she did get into an rally she made unforced errors. Because of her tightening up Bartoli saw this as an opportunity to get back and coming back many times in this Wimbledon championship from the brink and beating Serena Williams the day before she was able to use that experience and tough it out and break back and force the match into an tie break. Lisicki did take an early lead as she looked to win the match still in straight sets but the big turning point came when Lisicki hit an backhand lob which would have make the score 5-5. Lisicki missed and then Bartoli was able to hit an big serve to take the second set 7-4 on tie-break.

The problem for Bartoli was all her efforts in the previous rounds had taken a lot out of her. She had played 2 matches over 3 hours and had to win from 1 set down many times and beating Serena the day before and coming back in this match to make it 1 set all took everything out of her mentally and physically as the third set was an one way traffic. It was obvious that she was tired as she was trying to take any opportunity to sit down and was a lot on her knees at the end of the second and during the third and not surprisingly feel quite easily losing the match 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 6-1. But Bartoli has nothing to be ashamed of having an great last 2 months getting to the semis of the French winning Edgbaston (Wimbledon Warm Up) and having an amazing run to the quarters of Wimbledon beating the defending champion along the way. Lisicki would play the winner of match number 2 on centre court between Sharapova and Cibulkova.

The first match was an really entertaining for the first 2 sets but this match was anything but as Sharapova blew Cibulkova off the court. Sharapova was in super form as she demolished her opponent. Cibulkova did hold the first game of the set but thats as good as it got for her as Sharapova powered through the rest of the set without dropping another game. She was hitting winners from both sides of the racket she was swatting everything which came short at her and was even showing some of her touch player at the net which she normally struggles on. She raced through the first set in 27 minutes winning it 6-1.

The second was an bit more competitive. They both traded early breaks Cibulkova played an big service game to try and hold her serve to convert the break she won back. The game was the most competitive game as it went on for near 9 minutes having 3 game points and 5 break points and it was the Russian who got the break through hitting another couple of big forehand winners to take the break. After that Cibulkova just had to answer she wasnt getting into the Sharapova and she could not hold onto her at all. Sharapova will be an little disappointed in making an few unforced errors but that's apart from that an floor-less performance. Apart from that one game where she broke where she got it on the second attempt Cibulkova had only 2 other break point chances in the whole match. Apart from that one game she played poorly Sharapova only other poor game was the very last game where she was 0-30 down and 30-40 but forehand winner and 2 big serves ensured a match against Lisicki winner her match 6-1, 6-1 in exactly 1 hour.

Court 1- After an long rain delay the first match on court one was Kvitova vs Pironkova. These 2 women both made the semi-finals of Wimbledon last year and were aiming to do the same this year. It was Kvitova who started off the better. She amazed the court 1 crowd with 3 forehand winners as she broke the Pironkova serve to love. She backed it up with an hold to 15 as she stormed into an 3-0 lead. Even though Pironkova did get into the match Kvitova didnt loss her serve. The impressive serving continued in the second set as she looked good on her serve. The difference was Pironkova was able to up her game and her level and was able to live with Kvitova pace and was hitting her own winners. She was also getting into the Kvitova but she wasnt able to break through and it the second went to another tie-break. Kvitova looked in control of the tie break as in the change over was 4-2 up but Pironkova hitting an winner and an couple of errors brought Pironkova back into the tie break. She was from then 6-5 up where then Kvitova made another forehand mistake to hand the set to Pironkova. Kvitova seemed more determined to make sure she wasn't going to be dumped out and she knew there is an third set because of her errors and she cut out the errors and when she was in trouble she served her way out of it when she was 3-1 she held and game that Pironkova might have won and in the 7th game she got that decisive double break and she was able to serve out winning it perfectly on an ace winning 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2.

The final quarter final between Azarenka the 4th seed and Paszek unseeded did start on court 1 but had to be moved to centre court as both women were not happy with the damp condition of court 1. They had played one game which Paszek won when they moved down to centre. When it did finally start Azarenka seemed to settle in very quickly as she won the first 4 games as she raced to an 5-1. Paszek did rally back breaking the Azarenka serve once and held her serve. Her next service game was able to get it to 30 all but Azarenka was able to hold and the chance was gone for Paszek. In the rallies she had she wasnt brave enough to go for an big shot rather waited for an mistake and Azarenka took the first set 6-3. Now an packed centre court which was virtually full for this extra match on centre hoped for an classic second set but it never came as Azarenka dominated from start to finish and at 25 minutes past 9 beat the lowest ranked player 6-3, 6-1. This was an case of the highest rank player overpowering the lower ranked player but an great Wimbledon for Paszek and no shame in losing to Azarenka.

Semi Final Line Up Women's

Lisicki vs Sharapova
Azarenka vs Kvitova

Matches to be played on Thursday afternoon both on centre court.