Wimbledon 2021: Ashleigh Barty beats Ajla Tomljanovic to reach semi-finals for first time
- Published
Highlights: Barty into semi-finals with dominant performance against Tomljanovic
Wimbledon 2021 on the BBC |
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Venue: All England Club Dates: 28 June-11 July |
Coverage: Live across BBC TV, radio and online with extensive coverage on BBC iPlayer, Red Button, Connected TVs and mobile app. Full details here |
World number one Ashleigh Barty crushed fellow Australian Ajla Tomljanovic to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals for the first time.
Barty, 25, won 6-1 6-3 and will play Angelique Kerber in the last four.
Kerber, the 2018 Wimbledon champion, progressed after a convincing 6-2 6-3 win over Karolina Muchova.
Aryna Sabalenka will take on Karolina Pliskova in Thursday's other semi-final after wins over Ons Jabeur and Viktorija Golubic respectively.
It means that at the last four Grand Slams, including Wimbledon, the 16 semi-final places have been taken by 16 different players.
Barty, the 2019 French Open champion, was no match for compatriot Tomljanovic, cruising through the opening set as she won six games in a row, three of which were to love.
But Tomljanovic appeared stronger in the second set, breaking Barty in the opening game, although she did not hit her second winner until the sixth game when she seemed set to launch a fightback.
She broke Barty again in the seventh but Barty soon stormed home, taking victory on her second match point with an ace - her fifth of the match.
"Ajla is an incredible competitor, she was always going to bring out the very best in me," said Barty.
"This is a dream come true, genuinely. I know you hear that a lot as athletes, but this is my dream and I'm extremely grateful for this opportunity."
Barty will meet Kerber for the fifth time in their semi-final, after the German's dominant win over Czech Muchova.
"It's the ultimate test," said Barty. "Angie has obviously had success here before.
"I love that match-up. I love playing Angie. she knows her way around this court and I hope I can play well."
Kerber, the only previous winner left in the women's draw, wrapped up the first set with ease and had the composure to see off the Muchova's spirited effort in the second.
It marked her 10th consecutive win on grass, having won the Bad Homburg Open in June.
"I'm really looking forward to playing against Ash," said Kerber. "We have never played on grass court. She's played so great the last few months, years.
"I know that I have to play my best tennis, and she will push me to that, to give everything out there."
Sabalenka and Pliskova to meet for third time
Highlights: 'Super-powered Sabalenka' beats Jabeur to reach semi-finals
Sabalenka reached her maiden Grand Slam semi-final with a 6-4 6-3 win over Tunisia's Jabeur - the first Arab woman to reach the last eight at the All England Club.
Before Tuesday's match, both Sabalenka and Jabeur had won a Tour-leading 33 matches in 2021, and little could separate them in the early exchanges.
Jabeur - who defeated Grand Slam champions Venus Williams, Garbine Muguruza and Iga Swiatek on her march to the last eight - held break point in a five-minute opening game, but could not take her chance, and Sabalenka held with a pacy serve down the middle that her opponent could not return in.
The next eight games went with serve, the big-hitting Sabalenka notching a 122mph effort, before she started to assert her dominance in the 10th.
She squandered four break and set points, before capitalising on the fifth when Jabeur netted.
Jabeur looked to be cruising to a break in the opening game of the second set but allowed Sabalenka to hold after three break points, the next two games then going against the serve.
Sabalenka crucially broke Jabeur in the eighth, before saving a break point and clinching the win on her first match point with a backhand down the line.
"I'm really happy with this win. It's always a tough match against Ons," Sabalenka said.
"She's such a great player, an amazing person.
"I'm happy it looks like everything is working for me. It's really tricky, shots on the grass - it's sometimes hard to do anything with the ball.
"It fits my game and I'm really enjoying my time on the court."
Highlights: Pliskova beats Golubic to become first Wimbledon 2021 semi-finalist
She will face eighth seed Pliskova, who reached the Wimbledon last four for the first time with a 6-2 6-2 victory over Switzerland's Golubic.
The Czech's consistent serve and dominance from the baseline was the difference, and she has yet to drop a set in the tournament.
Pliskova's progress to the last four at Wimbledon has signalled a revival of fortunes following a difficult year.
The 29-year-old was knocked out of the French Open in the second round, her defence of the Eastbourne International lasted only one match and she then slipped out of the top 10 for the first time in five years.
"I am super happy to be through," Pliskova said.
"I feel my game is quite good the last two weeks in practices and matches. We had some good preparation and hopefully we can continue.
"I am going to enjoy this moment because it has never happened for me."