Kerber triumphs to set up semifinal match with Barty
WIMBLEDON, ENGLAND >> When Angelique Kerber grabbed the opening set of her Wimbledon quarterfinal Tuesday, the full-capacity crowd saluted the accomplishment with cheers that bounced off the closed roof at No. 1 Court.
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-tothe-turf agility and quick reflexes to beat No. 19 seed Karolina Muchova 6-2, 6-3.
“I remember how I played here,” said Kerber, a 33-year-old left-hander from Germany, who did let loose by shaking her fists when her victory ended. “I know how to play on (a) grass court.”
Next, No. 25 seed Kerber takes on No. 1 Ash Barty, who eliminated 75thranked Ajla Tomljanovic 6-1, 6-3 in the first all-Australian major quarterfinal in 40 years.
“It’s the ultimate test,” Barty said, looking ahead to Thursday’s matchup. “Angie’s obviously had success here before.”
Barty won the 2019 French Open, but she had never been to the quarterfinals at the All England Club. Indeed, this was the first time in the Open era, which began in 1968, that the tournament had six first-time women’s quarterfinalists.
Only Kerber and Muchova, who also lost at this stage in 2019, boasted past experience.
The other semifinal is No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka against No. 8 Karolina Pliskova.
Sabalenka collected her tour-leading 34th match win of 2021 by defeating
No. 21 seed Ons Jabeur 6-4, 6-3, and Pliskova topped unseeded Viktorija Golubic 6-2, 6-2.
This was the first day of 100% capacity in the two main stadiums after COVID-19 restrictions placed a 50% cap on attendance when the fortnight began. With rain falling much of the afternoon, the singles matches were played at Centre Court and No. 1 Court with the roofs shut and spectators allowed to be maskless — the All England Club says the arena’s ventilation systems allow them to be considered outdoor venues.
Pliskova — the 2016 U.S. Open runner-up to Kerber
— claimed 24 of 26 points on her serve in one stretch, hit eight aces and saved the only three break chances she faced.
“Everything today was working quite well,” said Pliskova, who averaged 106.5 mph on her first serves, 20.5 mph faster than Golubic.
Pliskova has been broken only three times through fivematchessofarandhas not dropped a set.
She also hasn’t played anyone ranked better than 47th yet.
Now comes a test. Jabeur’s game is full of novelty and nuance, with drop shots and all manner of angles and spin.
Sabalenka? She is all about power and big cuts at the ball, and even with that constantly aggressive style, she managed to accumulate more winners, 27, than unforced errors, 20.
“She played,” Tunisia’s Jabeur said, “the match of her life.”
Sabalenka, a 23-year-old from Belarus, hadn’t been
past the fourth round at any major previously.
But she agreed hers was a “great performance.”
“I still have this opportunity to win a Slam,” Sabalenka said. “I will do everything I can to reach my goal.”
In the day’s lone men’s match, No. 14 seed Hubert Hurkacz came back to edge No. 2 Daniil Medvedev 2-6, 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the resumption of a fourthrounder contest suspended Monday night.
Hurkacz’s first Grand Slam quarterfinal will come against 20-time major champion Roger Federer on Wednesday.
Kerber was certainly the best known and most accomplished of the women left in the draw as Tuesday began.
And now she’s into her eighth Grand Slam semifinal, with half coming at Wimbledon. The most recent came three years ago, when she upset Serena Williams for the championship.