Kerber, first timers into Wimbledon semi-finals

When Angelique Kerber grabbed the opening set of her Wimbledon quarterfinal, the full-capacity crowd saluted the accomplishment with cheers that bounced off the closed roof at Court Number One.

Kerber's reaction? Just a matter-of-fact, straightfaced stroll to the sideline. No shouts or leaps or fist pumps. Unlike the other women headed to the semifinals at the All England Club, this is not new to her. Not at all. It's just that it's been a while. The owner of three Grand Slam titles, including at Wimbledon in 2018, Kerber moved back into the final four at the grass-court major by using her knee-to-the-turf agility and quick reflexes to beat 19th seed Karolina Muchova 6-2, 6-3.

"I really enjoy every moment here," Kerber told the packed house on the first day of 100% capacity in the two main stadiums after after Covid-19 restrictions placed a 50% cap on attendance when the fortnight began. "I'm so, so happy to be here again in the semis. That means a lot to me."

Kerber, left-hander from Germany, will next go up against world number one Ash Barty, who beat Ajla Tomljanovic 6-1, 6-3 in the first all-Australian major QF in 40 years.

Tomljanovic, who battled past British wildcard Emma Raducanu the night before to reach her first Grand Slam quarter-final, was now here to be seen a one-sided first set. But the 28-year-old did make more of a match of it in the second, breaking the Barty serve twice. Barty always had another level though and ended Tomljanovic's resistance in little over an hour.

Barty won the 2019 French Open, but she had never been to the quarterfinals at the All England Club.