Kerber, Ostapenko to meet in Wimbledon semifinals

Angelique Kerber and Jelena Ostapenko will go head-to-head for a place in the Wimbledon final after both came through in tight two-set victories on Tuesday.

Almost simultaneously, Kerber sealed a 6-3 7-5 win over 14th seed Daria Kasatkina on Centre Court while Ostapenko out-hit Dominika Cibulkova 7-5 6-4 on No.1 Court.

Kerber, the Australian and US Open champion of 2016, required seven match points to subdue the determined young Russian, who delighted the crowd with her artistry and athleticism before finally going down in 90 minutes.

The pair played out some extraordinary rallies in the final game – including one 25-stroke exchange that many have unofficially declared the point of the tournament – yet it was Kerber who was too steady and experienced when it truly mattered.

Seven match points. A 25 shot rally. Hawk-Eye drama.

The best game of #Wimbledon so far? pic.twitter.com/d0jXhLZ2ag

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 10, 2018

“I think the whole match was really good,” Kerber said.

“I think we both play on a really high level, starting from the first point. I think the last game shows how good we played both and how she was fighting until the end.

“I think she is tricky opponent. That’s why she is also so good. She played so many good matches in the last few months. She (reached the final at) Indian Wells, also beat top players. I was expecting a match like this.

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“I think for me it was important to playing aggressive, trying to taking the challenge how she was playing, as well, trying to moving good, bringing a lot of balls back, trying also to accept how good she is playing.

“I’m happy that I won it at the end in two sets.”

Although the Ostapenko-Cibulkova match was similarly close on the scoreboard, the rallies weren’t as evenly contested. For this match was decided almost entirely on the young Latvian’s racquet.

Not often you see Dominika Cibulkova completely at the mercy of her opponent's shots, but that was the case against Jelena Ostapenko today. Ostapenko with 32 winners, and she wins 75 64 to make her 1st #Wimbledon semi.

— Steve Tignor (@SteveTignor) July 10, 2018

Ostapenko, last year’s Roland Garros champion, belted 33 winners to six in the one-hour, 22-minute contest in a result that sends her through to her first Wimbledon semifinal.

The 12th seed said she’s been released of pressure since her French Open title defence came to an end in the first round last month.

And she’s been playing with obvious freedom, having not dropped a set this fortnight. It was especially notable in the 11th game of the first set, when Ostapenko clocked three clean winners – including her seventh return winner of the set – to break the Slovak at love.

A relatively good front runner, Ostapenko continued swinging throughout the quicker second set, and closed it out, appropriately, with another winner.

“I knew I had to play aggressive because if not otherwise she had all the opportunities to go for winners. I was just trying to go for the shots when I had to,” Ostapenko said.

“I think it’s maybe one of a couple of times that I feel really, like, I don’t feel any pressure. I’m just going out there and enjoying it. Probably because at the French Open a couple weeks ago I had so much pressure. It’s now all gone. I’m just enjoying the moment.

“You play on a big court, in a great place, on grass, which is one of my favourite surfaces. It’s just so much fun.”

Into the semi-finals without dropping a set…

Is a second Grand Slam title on the horizon for @JelenaOstapenk8???#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/UJ0nCMd6do

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 10, 2018

Kerber may prove a tougher proposition for Ostapenko to hit through. But the 21-year-old knows what’s expected of her if she’s to defeat the more experienced German and advance to the final of the tournament where she won the girls’ title back in 2014.

“Of course, she’s great player. It’s going to be a battle. It’s going to be a tough match,” Ostapenko said.

“But I’m going to prepare well for it, going to be probably long rallies. I have to be very confident, aggressive, and consistent.”

Kerber is wary of her young foe.

But after the backward step of 2017 following her breakthrough year in 2016, she’s learned to keep her focus firmly on herself.

“I think there are no favorite any more (for the title). We are in the semis right now. I’m not looking left or right. I’m not looking about the others. I’m really taking care about my game, about my matches, about how I play on court,” she said.

“This is all I care actually, to be honest.”