With an ace, Elise Mertens seals the win for Mertens/Hsieh over Aoyama/Shibahara to book a spot in their 1st #Wimbledon final and 1st final as a team. The No.3 seeds take it 64 16 63.
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) July 9, 2021
By advancing to the final, Elise Mertens will return to Doubles No.1 on Monday. pic.twitter.com/ZlBDANTFkZ
Mertens, who'll return to doubles #1 with the result, will be seeking her third slam title (after two w/ Sabalenka) and 3/4 of a Career Slam (having won the '19 US and '21 AO), while Hsieh is going for her third SW19 win (and fourth overall major). Standing in the way will be Hordettes Veronika Kudermetova & Elena Vesnina, who followed up their 4-MP-saved QF vs. Krejcikova/Siniakova with another thriller against Dolehide/Sanders. The Russians trailed 5-2 in the 3rd, but Vesnina put her partner on her back and carried her along with her to her second slam final this summer (RG MX), saving three MP and sweeping the final five games of the match.
.@EVesnina001 & Veronika Kudermetova are through to the Wimbledon doubles final pic.twitter.com/DkqVuyYgei
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) July 9, 2021
Vesnina has now reached Grand Slam doubles finals in three separate decades with five different partners (Azarenka, Zvonareva, Mirza, Makarova, Kudermetova).
— Steven Mills (@StevenMtennis) July 9, 2021
...only one of the MX semis was played today, and it took place on Kveta Peschke's 46th birthday.
46 and thriving ??#Wimbledon | @HSBC_Sport pic.twitter.com/8vya0mD1Bn
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2021
Unfortunately for the Czech, she won't be playing to become the oldest slam title winner since Martina Navratilova (2006 US MX, at 49). Instead, Harriet Dart & Joe Salisbury will try to become just the second all-British duo ('87 Jo Durie/Jeremy Bates) to win the Wimbledon MX in the Open era. The only British women to take the crown have been Ann Haydon Jones (1969), Durie and Heather Watson (2016). Salisbury just won the RG mixed with Desirae Krawczyk, who'll play in the other semifinal tomorrow with another Brit, Neal Skupski vs. Zhang Shuai & John Peers. ...the junior QF saw #1 seeded Andorran Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva move to within a match of playing for her *second* girls slam crown ('20 AO), as she downed British wild card Alicia Dudeney in three sets. She'll face Germany's Nastasja Schunk, who defeated fellow unseeded Italian Matilde Paoletti. #8 Linda Fruhvirtova is the only girl alive in both the singles and doubles semis, and today advanced past #15-seeded German Mara Guth, and will next face unseeded Spaniard Ane Mintegi del Olmo (def. #6 Kristina Dmitruk/BLR). A Fruhvirtova title run would make it back-to-back Czech junior slam champs (Noskova at RG), something which has never before happened despite all the great players in the nation's long and successful tennis history (both Pliskovas *did* win junior majors in same season in 2010, though). In fact, the last Czech to win at SW19 was Kristyna Pliskova eleven years ago. Just one German (Barbara Rittner '91), and no Spanish or Andorran players have won in London. ...in wheelchair play, it was quite a day for Kgothatso "KG" Montjane, who not only became the first South African black player to reach a WC slam singles final, but she'll be playing for *two* titles at this Wimbledon after she and Lucy Shuker upset top seeds Diede de Groot & Aniek Van Koot in the semis today, sweeping the final two games to win a 7-5 3rd set over the Dutch duo after having seen their 5-2 lead slip away. This will be just the second time in eighteen slam WD draws that de Groot won't be playing for the title (and the first since the '17 RG).
ON FIRE!!! ??
— LimSportsZone (@LimSportsZone) July 9, 2021
Wheelchair tennis star @KGmontjane1 is through to the doubles final at @Wimbledon. Montjane and her partner Lucy Shuker upset Dutch top seeds Diede de Groot and Aniek van Koot 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.
It's two finals for Montjane at this year's #Wimbledon. #LimSportsZone pic.twitter.com/Wo25TyqmBP
Montjane/Shuker will face four-time Wimbledon champs (2014-17) Yui Kamiji & Jordanne Whiley in the final. Earlier in the day, #1 de Groot defeated Whiley to reach her fourteenth career slam singles final (all in the last 16 majors), and will be seeking her 11th crown. She'll face first-timer Montjane, who outlasted Japan's Momoko Ohtani in her second straight three-setter at this Wimbledon. After her victory, Montjane put her head and arms back as she rolled toward the net, dropping her racket behind her. Three years ago, the now 35-year old Montjane became her the black woman from South Africa to *play* in the Wimbledon WC event, and now she's one victory (albeit a big upset) from winning it. Twice.
Congratulations to @KGmontjane1 on earning her way to her first #Wimbledon singles final in Wheelchair Tennis.
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) July 9, 2021
She is the first South African black woman to reach a Wimbledon singles final.
Kgothatso Montjane has also reached the doubles final as well!
Keep going for it! pic.twitter.com/sR7dnVSC0f
...in the WTA event taking place in Hamburg this week, Dayana Yastremska's comeback event after her contested and abbreviated suspension for a failed doping test has her in the semis as the #1 seed. She'll face Romanian qualifier Gabriela Ruse. Yastremska's last final came in Adelaide in January '20, *very* early on in her short stint with coach Sascha Bajin (hmm, whatever happened to him?), with her last title over two years ago in May '19 in Strasbourg.
Semifinal bound! ?
— wta (@WTA) July 9, 2021
???? @D_Yastremska pulls through a clutch win against Sara Errani, 7-6, 6-4.#HamburgOpen | @hamburgopen pic.twitter.com/FqlEeMae4r
The other final with be an all-German affair, with Jule Nieimeier again flashing skills on the clay. In her second career tour MD this spring she reached the Strasbourg semis as a qualifier, and now she's in her second (in her 4th MD) as a wild card. She'll face Andrea Petkovic (Petko!!), who'll be playing to reach her first tour final since Antwerp in February 2015.
???? Home crowd hero ????
— wta (@WTA) July 9, 2021
German Jule Niemeier continues her impressive run defeating No.3 seed Zidansek.#HamburgOpen | @hamburgopen pic.twitter.com/KcafEOOcMr
Good things come to those who wait...#Wimbledon
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2021
“The dream was to make the second week...I never thought about maybe going into the final."
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2021
The former World No.1 is back where she wants to be.#Wimbledon
#1 Ash Barty/AUS vs. #8 Karolina Pliskova/CZE
*LADIES' DOUBLES FINAL*
(PR) V.Kudermetova/Vesnina (RUS/RUS) vs. #3 Hsieh/Mertens (TPE/BEL)
*MIXED DOUBLES SF*
#7 Krawczyk/N.Skupski (USA/GBR) vs. #17 Sh.Zhang/Peers (CHN/AUS)
Dart/Salisbury (GBR/GBR) def. Peschke/Krawietz (CZE/GER)
*WHEELCHAIR WOMEN'S FINAL*
#1 Diede de Groot/NED vs. KG Montjane/RSA
*WHEELCHAIR WOMEN'S DOUBLES FINAL*
Montjane/Shuker (RSA/GBR) vs. #2 Kamiji/Whiley (JPN/GBR)
*GIRLS SINGLES SF*
#1 Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva/AND vs. Nastasja Schunk/GER
#8 Linda Fruhvirtova/CZE vs. Ane Mintegi del Olmo/ESP
*GIRLS DOUBLES SF*
#1 Dmitruk/Shnaider (BLR/RUS) vs. Brantmeier/Kalieva (USA/USA)
Costoulas/Hietaranta (BEL/FIN) vs. #2 L.Fruhvirtova/P.Kudermetova (CZE/RUS)
...WELL, ACTUALLY... ON DAY 11:
Interviewer: This is your first match since Paris, you missed the complete grass season, why?
— The Overrule (@theoverrule) July 8, 2021
Zidansek: No, I played. Against Karolina Pliskova. ?? pic.twitter.com/inWdyT1aNf
...CAN THE VICTORY TWIRL NOW BE CALLED DOING "A VENUS?" (you know, like how all the gymnastics moves are named after Simone Biles)... ON DAY 11:
?? 14-year-old Zaila Avant-garde just won the 2021 Scripps Spelling Bee with the word "murraya" pic.twitter.com/flMgCJY7da
— Brandon Wall (@Walldo) July 9, 2021
Breaking the mold for what a "spelling bee kid" is...
#8thgrader #Middleschooler Zaila Avant-garde, ????. pic.twitter.com/fyjKQI4rME
— Zaila Avant-garde (@Basketballasart) June 1, 2021
...ELSA'S REVENGE... ON DAY 11:
...HEROES DON'T ALWAYS WEAR CAPES (sometimes it's t-shirts and shorts)... ON DAY 11:
...THE SHOT(s) THAT WOULD HAVE A 0% CHANCE OF DEFEATING A ROUTINE IGA DROPPER FOR "SHOT OF THE MONTH"... ON DAY 11:
Lightning reactions ??
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2021
They may not have made it to the ladies' doubles final, but Japan's Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara certainly gave us something to remember...#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/J3X7iBmgNY
...ALIZE IS *STILL* LIFE (and, for a bit, a living still life drawing)... ON DAY 11:
When she was replaced with a LL in Hamburg then this popped up on her Instagram yesterday I kinda figured but didn’t see the it being reported anywhere. pic.twitter.com/urboxknOWg
— Ang (@4AllSurfaces) July 9, 2021
Back on hard courts. Hello @tennispragueopn ??
— Petra Kvitova (@Petra_Kvitova) July 9, 2021
?? ©?TK SPARTA PRAHA, Pavel Lebeda/sport-pics.cz pic.twitter.com/G5M1piocCc
Leaving @wimbledon with a smile on my face and a heart full of memories. The last few weeks have reminded me once again how much I love this sport. Thank you for the support through the highs and lows of my journey. It means the world to me ?? #TeamAngie pic.twitter.com/3aizdUTRpK
— Angelique Kerber (@AngeliqueKerber) July 8, 2021
.@naomiosaka writes for TIME on putting mental health first: "It's O.K. not to be O.K." https://t.co/JrE5bNsREw pic.twitter.com/brlu5Mmrw2
— TIME (@TIME) July 8, 2021
2010 Serena Williams, USA (W)
2011 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (4th)
2012 Maria Sharapova, RUS (4th)
2013 Serena Williams, USA (4th)
2014 Serena Williams, USA (3rd)
2015 Serena Williams, USA (W)
2016 Serena Williams, USA (W)
2017 Angelique Kerber, GER (4th)
2018 Simona Halep, ROU (3rd)
2019 Ash Barty, AUS (4th)
2021 Ash Barty, AUS...in final
*2021 WTA FINALS*
5 - ASH BARTY, AUS (3-1)
3 - Dasha Kasatkina, RUS (2-1)
3 - Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (2-1)
3 - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (2-1)
3 - Garbine Muguruza, ESP (1-2)
2 - Iga Swiatek, POL (2-0)
2 - Sorana Cirstea, ROU (1-1)
2 - Ons Jabeur, TUN (1-1)
2 - Veronika Kudermetova, RUS (1-1)
2 - Elise Mertens, BEL (1-1)
2 - KAROLINA PLISKOVA, CZE (0-1)
2 - Anett Kontaveit, EST (0-1-1)
2 - Belinda Bencic, SUI (0-2)
2 - Viktorija Golubic, SUI (0-2)
*CAREER WTA GRASS TITLES - active*
8 - Serena Williams, USA
6 - Venus Williams, USA
4 - Petra Kvitova, CZE
3 - Angelique Kerber, GER
3 - Karolina Pliskova, CZE
2 - Ash Barty, AUS
2 - Kim Clijsters, BEL
2 - Caroline Garcia, FRA
2 - Simona Halep, ROU
2 - Madison Keys, USA
2 - CoCo Vandeweghe, USA
*WC SLAM SINGLES FINALS - active*
19 - Yui Kamiji, JPN (8-11)
14 - DIEDE DE GROOT, NED (10-3)
13 - Aniek Van Koot, NED (3-10)
6 - Jiske Griffioen, NED (4-2)
1 - Jordanne Whiley, GBR (1-0)
1 - KG MONTJANE, RSA (0-0)
1 - Momoko Ohtani, JPN (0-1)
*WIMBLEDON WHEELCHAIR WINNERS*
[singles]
2016 Jiske Griffioen, NED
2017 Diede de Groot, NED
2018 Diede de Groot, NED
2019 Aniek Van Koot, NED
2021 ?
[doubles]
2009 Korie Homan/Esther Vergeer, NED/NED
2010 Esther Vergeer/Sharon Walraven, NED/NED
2011 Esther Vergeer/Sharon Walraven, NED/NED
2012 Jiske Griffioen/Aniek van Koot, NED/NED
2013 Jiske Griffioen/Aniek van Koot, NED/NED
2014 Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR
2015 Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR
2016 Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR
2017 Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR
2018 Diede de Groot/Yui Kamiji, NED/JPN
2019 Diede de Groot/Aniek Van Koot, NED/NED
2021 ?
*RECENT WC SINGLES SLAM FINALS*
[2017]
AO: Yui Kamiji/JPN def. Jiske Griffioen/NED
RG: Yui Kamiji/JPN def. Sabine Ellerbrock/GER
WI: Diede de Groot/NED def. Sabine Ellerbrock/GER
US: Yui Kamiji/JPN def. Diede de Groot/NED
[2018]
AO: Diede de Groot/NED def. Yui Kamiji/JPN
RG: Yui Kamiji/JPN def. Diede de Groot/NED
WI: Diede de Groot/NED def. Aniek van Koot/NED
US: Diede de Groot/NED def. Yui Kamiji/JPN
[2019]
AO: Diede de Groot/NED def. Yui Kamiji/JPN
RG: Diede de Groot/NED def. Yui Kamiji/JPN
WI: Aniek Van Koot/NED def. Diede de Groot/NED
US: Diede de Groot/NED def. Yui Kamiji/JPN
[2020]
AO: Yui Kamiji/JPN def. Aniek Van Koot/NED
US: Diede de Groot/NED def. Yui Kamiji/JPN
RG: Yui Kamiji/JPN def. Momoko Ohtani/JPN
[2021]
AO: Diede de Groot/NED def. Yui Kamiji/JPN
RG: Diede de Groot/NED def. Yui Kamiji/JPN
WI: de Groot/NED vs. Montjane/RSA
*2021 WEEKS AT DOUBLES #1*
1/4: Hsieh Su-wei, TPE
1/11: Hsieh Su-wei, TPE
1/18: Hsieh Su-wei, TPE
1/25: Hsieh Su-wei, TPE
2/1: Hsieh Su-wei, TPE
2/8: Hsieh Su-wei, TPE
2/15: Hsieh Su-wei, TPE
2/22: Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
3/1: Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
3/8: Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
3/15: Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
3/22: Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
3/29: Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
4/5: Hsieh Su-wei, TPE
4/12: Hsieh Su-wei, TPE
4/19: Hsieh Su-wei, TPE
4/26: Hsieh Su-wei, TPE
5/3: Hsieh Su-wei, TPE
5/10: Elise Mertens, BEL
5/17: Kristina Mladenovic, FRA
5/24: Kristina Mladenovic, FRA
5/31: Kristina Mladenovic, FRA
6/7: Kristina Mladenovic, FRA
6/14: Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
6/21: Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
6/28: Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
7/5: Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
7/12: Elise Mertens, BEL
*WIMBLEDON "Ms. OPPORTUNITY" WINNERS*
2004 Maria Sharapova, RUS
2005 Venus Williams, USA
2006 Severine Bremond, FRA
2007 Marion Bartoli, FRA
2008 Zheng Jie, CHN
2009 Elena Dementieva, RUS
2010 Tsvetana Pironkova, BUL
2011 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2012 Aga Radwanska, POL
2013 Kirsten Flipkens, BEL
2014 Lucie Safarova, CZE
2015 Garbine Muguruza, ESP
2016 Elena Vesnina, RUS
2017 Magdalena Rybarikova, SVK
2018 Julia Goerges, GER
2019 Simona Halep, ROU and Alison Riske, USA
2021 Aryna Sabalenka, BLR and KG Montjane, RSA (WC)
One day little one.. keep trying.. pic.twitter.com/3yt5lf3mRW
— Wholesome Page ?? (@wholesomepage) July 9, 2021
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #25 Angelique Kerber/GER
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): #25 Angelique Kerber/GER
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): xx
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q3 - Lesley Pattinama Kerhkove/NED def. Jule Niemeier/GER 6-4/2-6/9-7 (saved 2 MP)
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 2nd Rd. - #25 Angelique Kerber/GER def. Sara Sorribes Tormo/ESP 7-5/5-7/6-4 (3:19; wins on MP #2 1:20 after first MP)
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): 3rd Rd. - #21 Ons Jabeur/TUN def. #11 Garbine Muguruza/ESP 5-7/6-3/6-2 (first Arab woman to reach Wimbledon QF)
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.-WC): xx
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: Aryna Sabalenka/BLR (def. Niculescu - first official match at AELTC in 715 days)
FIRST SEED OUT: #10 Petra Kvitova/CZE (1st Rd.-Stephens)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove/NED, Maria Camila Osorio Serrano/COL, Emma Raducanu/GBR
UPSET QUEENS: Czech Republic
REVELATION LADIES: South America
NATION OF POOR SOULS: Canada - 0-2 1st Rd. (#5 Andreescu, Fernandez), while Bouchard (injured) DNP
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Maria Camila Osorio Serrano/COL (3rd Rd.) (LL 2r: Ahn)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Emma Raducanu/GBR, Liudmila Samsonova/RUS (both 4th Rd.)
PROTECTED RANKING WINS: Andrea Petkovic/GER, CoCo Vandeweghe/USA, Elena Vesnina/RUS (all 2nd Rd.)
LAST BRIT STANDING: Emma Raducanu (4th Rd.)
Ms. OPPORTUNITY: Aryna Sabalenka/BLR and KG Montjane/RSA (WC)
IT "Teen Brit": Emma Raducanu/GBR
COMEBACK PLAYER: Angelique Kerber/GER ...Nominee: Vesnina
CRASH & BURN: #6 Serena Williams, USA & #10 Petra Kvitova, CZE (both 1st Rd;. won 6 of last 11 Wimbledon; Williams ret. for second career 1r slam exit)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF LONDON (early-round): Kristie Ahn/USA (already a lucky loser, also saved MP vs. Watson/GBR in 1st Rd.)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF LONDON (mid/late-round): Nominees: V.Kudermetova/Vesnina (QF-4 MP vs. #1 Krejcikova/Siniakova; SF-down 5-2 in 3rd vs. Dolehide/Sanders, saved 3 MP)
DOUBLES STAR: xx
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Karolina Pliskova/CZE ...Nominee: Vesnina
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: Nominees: Mintegi del Olmo/ESP, Schunk/GER
SPIRIT OF JANA (NOVOTNA) HONOREES: Nominee: Ka.Pliskova (Czech wins maiden slam title at 29?)
RAD REMEMBRANCE DAY malevolent activity notes...
