The full-capacity crowd celebrated Angelique Kerber’s victory Tuesday night by cheering from the No. 1 Court. 1 Court.
Kerber’s reaction to the incident? Kerber’s reaction? There were no shouts, leaps, or fist pumping. This isn’t something she did in the past, unlike the other women who reached the semifinals at All England Club. It’s not at all. It’s just been a while.
Kerber, who is the proud owner of three Grand Slam titles including Wimbledon 2018, moved into the final four at grass-court majors by using her quick reflexes and knee-to-the turf agility to defeat No. 19 seed Karolina Manyova 6-2, 3-1.
Kerber, a German left-hander aged 33, said, “I remember how we played here.” She did, however, let loose and shake her fists after her win. “I can play on (a) grasscourt.”
Next is No. 25 seed Kerber faces No. 1 Ash Barty defeated 75th-ranked Ajla Toljanovic 6-1 and 6-3 in the first ever all-Australian major quarterfinal.
Barty stated, “It’s a test,” as he looked ahead to Thursday’s matchup. “Angie has clearly had success here before.”
Barty won 2019 French Open. However, she had never reached the quarterfinals at All England Club. In fact, it was the first time since 1968 that six women were quarterfinalists in the Open era.
Kerber and Muchova both lost on this stage in 2019.
The No. Aryna Sabalenka, 2nd seed, will face No. 8 Karolina Pliskova
Sabalenka won her 34th tour-leading match of 2021, defeating No. 21 seed Ons Jabeur won 6-4,6-3 and Pliskova beat unseeded Viktorija Gorlubic 6-2.
After COVID-19 restrictions, which placed a 50% limit on attendance at the start of the fortnight, this was the first day with 100% capacity in both main stadiums. Rain fell for much of the afternoon so singles matches were played at No. 1 Court was played with the roofs closed and spectators allowed in their masks — the All England Club claims that the arena’s ventilation systems permit them to be used as outdoor venues.
Pliskova, the 2016 U.S. Open runner up to Kerber, claimed 24 of 26 points on her service in one stretch. She hit eight aces and saved three break opportunities.
Pliskova said that “everything was working quite well today”, and she averaged 106.5 mph from her first serves, 20.5 more than Golubic.
Pliskova has won only three of her five matches thus far, and she has never lost a set.
She hasn’t yet played anyone ranked higher than 47th.
This is the moment to pass.
Jabeur’s game has a lot of novelty and nuance. It features drop shots, as well as all sorts of angles and spin.
Sabalenka? Sabalenka is all about power, big shots at the ball and that aggressive style allowed her to win more wins, 27 compared to 20 unforced errors.
Tunisia’s Jabeur stated that “She played,” which was “the match her whole life.”
Sabalenka, a 23 year-old Belarusian woman, had never made it past the fourth round in any major before.
She agreed that hers was a “great show.”
Sabalenka stated, “I still have the chance to win a Slam.” “I will do all I can to achieve my goal.”
No. 14-seed Hubert Hurkacz won to edge No. 2 Daniil Medvedev, 2-6, 7-6(2), 3-6,6-3, 6-3 in the reprise of a fourth-rounder competition suspended Monday night.
Hurkacz will face Roger Federer, a 20-time major champion, in the first Grand Slam quarterfinal.
Kerber was undoubtedly the most well-known and accomplished of all the women who were left in the draw when Tuesday began.
Now she is in her eighth Grand Slam semifinal. Half of it was at Wimbledon. She defeated Serena Williams in the final three years ago for the title.
Kerber’s current winning streak has been extended to 10 matches. Kerber also won a title at a grass court tuneup in Germany last month. Kerber’s first round exits on the Australian Open hard courts in February, and French Open red clay in May seem so long ago.
Kerber said, “I never stopped believing in myself (and how) I can play,” like Pliskova, a former No. 1.
Muchova was bothered by Kerber’s game in the fourth round, just like Coco Gauff (17 years old) was by Kerber’s shot selection. The shots were steered quickly and low to the ground.
She has good angles. Muchova draped a towel on her head during changeovers and said that it was a great match. “So, definitely, it didn’t help.”
Kerber managed to compile 15 winners. However, that was sufficient because Muchova had only two forehand winners. This is compared to 33 unforced errors or forced errors that were made by the stroke.
Muchova seemed to be giving herself the chance to turn things around, breaking to lead 2-1 at the end of the second set. Kerber, a steady, if not extraordinary, broke back when Muchova sent a long forehand to end a 13-stroke exchange.
It was pretty much as it was.
