Their next opponents will be #5 Shuko Aoyama & Ena Shibahara, the Japanese duo that leads the WTA tour in '21 with four titles, and has gone 7-1 in finals since first teaming in the summer of '19. The pair won Eastbourne prior to this Wimbledon, and their 7-6/7-5 win today over #16 Bouzkova/Hradecka extends their winning streak to eight and puts both women one victory away from an appearance in their maiden career slam finals. Also seeking their maiden major final will be Caroline Dolehide & Storm Sanders, who won out 7-5/6-2 over the #7-seeded Chan sisters. While Bannerette Dolehide has had some slam WD success ('19 US SF, '20 AO QF), Aussie Sanders was a combined 3-18 in her singles/doubles slam career before this current four-victory jaunt.
What a win for Caroline Dolehide & @stormsanders94 who beat the Chan sisters in straight sets after it all looked like the Chans would run off with the win early on. pic.twitter.com/MAzoWxWB9U
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) July 7, 2021
Dolehide/Sanders' semifinal opponents won't be the #1 seeds Krejcikova/Siniakova, though, and instead will be the Russian pair of Veronika Kudermetova & Elena Vesnina. In a super-tight, well-played doubles contest, neither team broke serve in the 1st, with the Czechs taking the set via an 8-6 TB. The first break of the match came with Krejcikova dropping serve to give the Russians the chance to serve out the set at 5-4. They did, forcing a 3rd where, again, Krejcikova faced down a service hole (love/30) at 4-4. Three Siniakova plays at the net, along with a Krejcikova service winner, pulled the duo out of the fire. They appeared set to reach the semis when they held four MP at 7-6 on the Hordettes' serve. But they couldn't convert any of them. A game later, Siniakova DF'd to fall down a fourth BP in the game, then her forehand error into the net gave Vesnina a chance to serve out the win at 8-7. Finally, on their second MP, Kudermetova/Vesnina won 6-7(6)/6-4/9-7.
2017 champion @EVesnina001 is back in the Wimbledon semis. Second slam semi for Kudermetova. pic.twitter.com/Sump56BR2S
— Tennis GIFs ???? (@tennis_gifs) July 7, 2021
The Czechs had been seeking to become just the second duo in the Open era (G.Fernandez/Zverev w/ 4) to pull off the RG/SW19 title double more than once. They previously did it in 2018. (Jana Novotna also did it twice, but with different partners.) Vesnina will be playing in the semis to reach her second slam final this summer, having been in the RG MX final last month. It's been ten years ('11 RG w/ Mirza) since the 34-year old Russian reached a major WD final without the now retired Ekaterina Makarova by her side. In fact, only one of her last twenty-seven tour-level WD finals ('15 Moscow w/ Kasatkina) since May '12 has come with anyone other than Makarova. This result already matches Kudermetova's best slam finish, a U.S. Open semi last year with Anna Blinkova. ...in mixed doubles, the QF field was finally established today after most of yesterdays's scheduled matches were rained out or suspended. Among those going out were Sania Mirza & Rohan Bopanna to Andreja Klepac & Jean-Julien Rojer. Their match had been suspended yesterday, and today the pairs combined for a run of twenty-six straight holds of serve, seven to end the 2nd set and nineteen to begin the 3rd. Naturally, the long-delayed break would decide the match, as Mirza dropped serve and she and Bopanna lost 6-3/3-6/11-9. Still alive with a shot at being a two-time MX champ in '21 is Desirae Krawczyk. The Bannerette won her first slam crown in Paris alongside Joe Salisbury, while she's teaming with a *different* Brit, Neal Skupski, at this Wimbledon. Salisbury is still around in the QF, too, teamed with fellow Brit Harriet Dart. Also still in the mix is 45-year old Kveta Peschke (who'll turn 46 in two days). The Czech & Kevin Krawietz received a walkover into the quarters yesterday from Mattek-Sands/Ram, after having already received a walkover in their only other scheduled match from Kostyuk/Purcell. Not a bad trick if you can pull it off. She *really does* still play tennis, though. I promise. Here's "evidence," a neat little 2019 courtside sketch:
Kveta Peschke is still a wonderful sight on a doubles court. She also appears to know the location of the Fountain of Eternal Youth but isn't telling. pic.twitter.com/rcZeM2DZ1C
— Bobito ?? (@bobito64) July 9, 2019
Peschke's last (and only) slam title came in the Wimbledon WD in 2011. She made her Wimbledon debut twenty-seven years ago in 1994, losing in the 1st Round of doubles (as Kveta Hrdlicková) in a WD draw that included a virtual who's-who of doubles/singles stars, including the likes of Gigi Fernandez/Natasha Zvereva (W), Jana Novotna/Arantxa Sanchez Vicario (RU), Magdalena Maleeva/Conchita Martinez, Mary Joe Fernandez/Zina Garrison, Pam Shriver, Gabriela Sabatini, Helena Sukova and Martina Navratilova.
#1 Ash Barty/AUS vs. #25 Angelique Kerber/GER
#8 Karolina Pliskova/CZE vs. #2 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR
*WOMEN'S DOUBLES SF*
(PR) V.Kudermetova/Vesnina (RUS/RUS) vs. Dolehide/Sanders (USA/AUS)
#3 Hsieh/Mertens (TPE/BEL) vs. #5 Aoyama/Shibahara (JPN/JPN)
*MIXED DOUBLES QF*
#14 Klepac/Rojer (SLO/NED) vs. #7 Krawczyk/N.Skupski (USA/GBR)
#4 Melichar/Roger-Vasselin (USA/FRA) vs. #17 Sh.Zhang/Peers (CHN/AUS)
(WC) Broady/Chardy (GBR/FRA) vs. Dart/Salisbury (GBR/GBR)
Peschke/Krawietz (CZE/GER) vs. #2 Dabrowski/Pavic (CAN/CRO)
*WHEELCHAIR WOMEN'S QF*
#1 Diede de Groot/NED vs. Lucy Shuker/GBR
Aniek Van Koot/NED vs. Jordanne Whiley/GBR
KG Montjane/RSA vs. Anjelica Bernal/COL
Momoko Ohtani/JPN vs. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
*WHEELCHAIR WOMEN'S DOUBLES*
#1 de Groot/Van Koot (NED/NED) vs. Montjane/Shuker (RSA/GBR)
Bernal/Ohtani (COL/JPN) vs. #2 Kamiji/Whiley (JPN/GBR)
...A LIGHT STEP INTO REALITY... ON DAY 9:
It's not a crime against humanity to say that a young tennis player had difficulty handling the pressure of her first time on the big stage (or, really, *any* stage as a pro athlete), which is exactly what happened (as she herself acknowledged) regarding Emma Raducanu's retirement from her Round of 16 match. It's not a crime against humanity for such a thing to happen, either. It's happened before, and to players with far more "experience" than she, and will again no matter how many rules are changed, schedules altered or however many people pop up to sound off in the guise of being self-appointed "protectors" who are really only seeking to counterproductively "shelter" individuals from ever having to feel even a hint of anxiety at any moment in their lives. Ever. It's a fact of life, competitive or otherwise, that such mental and emotional pressures -- real or imagined -- are something that an individual, athlete or no, must strive to learn to better deal with and, hopefully, fully conquer one day in order to be their best self. It's called maturation, or at least some small subset of it. To deny any of the above would seem to be a case of not only (intentionally or not) "shaming" individuals for their feelings of doubt, desperation and/or panic, not to mention living in something of an "alternate reality" where the sun always shines, no one ever feels bad or Heavens to Betsy, is ever allowed to believe that they ever "failed" or "lost" in any chosen endeavor. But, then again, I hear there's a lot of that going on these days, from both ends of whatever belief spectrum is in play.
‘Experience caught up with me,’ says Raducanu after #Wimbledon withdrawal. By @lucy_campbell_ https://t.co/IeapYI8L9g
— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) July 7, 2021
Venus...
"Once you've made it, that's not the end."
— Olympics (@Olympics) June 23, 2021
Tennis legend @Venuseswilliams answers questions from fans on mental resilience. @elevenbyvenus #CoachVenus #OlympicDay #StrongerTogether
...RINGO WILL HAVE THE LAST LAUGH... ON DAY 9:
Happy Birthday Ringo Starr! (@ringostarrmusic)
— Terry O'Neill CBE (@Terry_ONeill) July 7, 2021
Photographed outside 10 Downing Street, London, circa 1965. pic.twitter.com/vFRl1m3p52
...HMMM, I WONDER WHO'LL WIN... ON DAY 9:
...A SMALL THING, BUT NOT REALLY... ON DAY 9:
One would think that listing the Order of Play on the official tournament website during a slam would be a routine task, but this year's Roland Garros proved otherwise. During that event, the initial Order of Play page was never changed throughout each day, providing no quick update on completed matches that would give someone visiting the page an idea about where things stood on the day, or where to look for live matches.
On the other hand, the Wimbledon site does just that, allowing one to be up-to-date and not lost in a wilderness of matches played, unplayed, in-progress or never to hope to see the light of day.
One would think this would be an obvious feature during such a large event. But apparently not.
...KAROLINA, STILL ABLE TO DELIVER SHADE ON THE SLY... ON DAY 9:
Just say it, Karolinapic.twitter.com/dhM0GNC7xD https://t.co/EStFAl6TRq
— jay?? (@Badboijayjay07) July 7, 2021
..."INTRODUCING THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE ESPN TEAM FOR THE 2021 U.S. TENNIS OPEN"... ON DAY 9:
When a @espn @SportsCenter anchor has no idea who @ChrissieEvert is. Excuse me... She’s a LEGEND! And like even your co-worker. ??????? #espn #generationgap #wimbledon #tennis #tennislegend #manicmonday pic.twitter.com/6ubk2KCxF1
— Tennis Girl °o° - GoIrish ?? (@TennisChik) July 5, 2021
...TOLD YA SO... ON DAY 9:
The winner is... @iga_swiatek ???
— wta (@WTA) July 7, 2021
Iga secured the top spot with this shot ?? https://t.co/HemiEoGJuX
Presented by @Cambridge_FX pic.twitter.com/SzSuBKTmIx
as if playing because they love the game isn’t enough, they must seal their legacy to the satisfaction of random people https://t.co/nb7UYomhFn
— Jamie Hampton (@Jamie_Hampton) July 7, 2021
Agree. It's like, people lament how awful it will be when (so-and-so) retires, and then at the same time they're like, (holding open door) "Here you go, don't let the door hit you on the way out." (And then they try to shove them through.)
2010 Serena Williams, USA
2011 Petra Kvitova, CZE*
2012 Serena Williams, USA
2013 Marion Bartoli, FRA*
2014 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2015 Serena Williams, USA
2016 Serena Williams, USA
2017 Garbine Muguruza, ESP
2018 Angelique Kerber, GER
2019 Simona Halep, ROU
2021 ?
--
* - first-time slam champ
*RECENT WOMEN'S SLAM WINNERS*
2018 AO: Caroline Wozniacki, DEN*
2018 RG: Simona Halep, ROU*
2018 WI: Angelique Kerber, GER
2018 US: Naomi Osaka, JPN*
2019 AO: Naomi Osaka, JPN
2019 RG: Ash Barty, AUS*
2019 WI: Simona Halep, ROU (2)
2019 US: Bianca Andreescu, CAN*
2020 AO: Sofia Kenin, USA*
2020 US: Naomi Osaka, JPN
2020 RG: Iga Swiatek, POL*
2021 AO: Naomi Osaka, JPN (4)
2021 RG: Barbora Krejcikova, CZE*
2021 WI: ?
--
* - first-time slam champ
*WIMBLEDON SEMIFINALS - last 5 years*
2016 - #1 S.Williams d. Vesnina, #4 Kerber d. #8 V.Williams
2017 - #10 V.Williams d. #6 Konta, #14 Muguruza d. Rybarikova
2018 - #11 Kerber d. #12 Ostapenko, #25 S.Williams d. #13 Goerges
2019 - #7 Halep d. #8 Svitolina, #11 S.Williams d. Strycova
2021...#1 Barty vs. #25 Kerber; #8 Ka.Pliskova vs. #2 Sabalenka
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./Miss OPPORTUNITY: xx
IT "Teen Brit": Emma Raducanu/GBR
COMEBACK PLAYER: Angelique Kerber/GER
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: Kerber (2 con. slam First Seed Out; won 3:19 2r vs. Sorribes Tormo); V.Kudermetova/Vesnina (QF-4 MP vs. #1 Krejcikova/Siniakova)
DOUBLES STAR: xx
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Karolina Pliskova/CZE
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: xx
SPIRIT OF JANA (NOVOTNA) HONOREES: xx
RAD REMEMBRANCE DAY malevolent activity notes...
