Kerber, first-timers roll into semis

WIMBLEDON, ENGLAND >> 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 No. 1 Court.

Kerber’s reaction? Just a matter-of-fact, straight-faced 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 No. 19 seed Karolina Muchova 6-2, 6-3 on Tuesday.

“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, a 33-year-old lefthander from Germany, will next go up against No. 1 Ash Barty or 75th-ranked Ajla Tomljanovic, who met later Tuesday in the first all-Australian major quarterfinal in 40 years.

Barty won the 2019 French Open, but neither she nor Tomljanovic ever had 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 boasted past experience.

The other semifinal Thursday will be No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka against No. 8 Karolina Pliskova, who both won in straight sets.

Sabalenka collected her tour-leading 34th match win of 2021 by eliminating No. 21 seed Ons Jabeur 6-4, 6-3 at Centre Court, and Pliskova eliminated unseeded Viktorija Golubic 6-2, 6-2 at No. 1 Court.

Pliskova — the 2016 U.S. Open runner-up to Kerber and, like her, formerly ranked No. 1 — claimed 24 of 26 points on her serve in one stretch, hit eight aces and saved the only three break chances she faced.

“I feel like I’m improving with every match . ... Everything today was working quite well,” Pliskova said. “I just feel my game is good the last two weeks, even in the practices.”