On a sun soaked Centre Court, play was started off today by Grand Slam Champion Madison Keys and fifth seed Diana Shnaider. Keys struggled to get going throughout the first set, with her serve - usually one of her biggest assets - letting her down. Shnaider took advantage of this and got the double break to take the set 6-2. As the match progressed and Keys found her feet, and most importantly her serve, it was hard for Shnaider to keep her out. The Australian Open Champion won both the second and third sets with just the one break in each, finishing the match 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. Keys’ strong serving game and lethal forehand meant that one break was all she needed to see both sets out. It should be said though that Shnaider looks like a player with a big future ahead of her, at only 21 she’s already a very strong player and a fierce competitor.

The second quarter-final was between German qualifier Tatjana Maria and former Wimbledon Champion Elena Rybakina. The German hadn’t dropped a set so far in this tournament and today was no different. Maria showed real dominance in her service games, winning the first set 6-4, then managing another break of serve in the second set, but this was recovered by Rybakina. Maria remained focused though and saw the set out to a tiebreak which she clinched 7-4, defeating the grass court champion in straight sets. This has been some week for Maria who has caused more than one upset with wins over Leylah Fernandez, 6^th seed Karolina Muchova, and now 4^th seed Elena Rybakina. She’s more than earnt her semi-final place, and she’ll be up against Madison Keys.

The anticipation had really been building for this next match as home favourite Emma Raducanu was facing top seed Qinwen Zheng. From the get go, Zheng showed the strength of her serving and powerful groundstrokes, and had Raducanu battling through her service games. The Brit eventually conceded the break, giving Zheng a 4-2 lead. Despite facing two break points, Zheng was able to hold her serve and wrap up the first set with a second break, taking it 6-2. There was a brief timeout before the beginning of the second set so Raducanu could receive medical attention, and this seemed to do her wonders. Back on court and ready to go, Raducanu made just the start she (and the home crowd) would have wanted in the first set, getting the early break in the first game. With a comfortable hold and then another break of serve, the Brit found herself 3-0 ahead. Zheng, though, really is a quality player and she showed that out in the Andy Murray Arena this afternoon. The top seed came back from two breaks down to take the second set and seal victory 6-2, 6-4.

The fourth quarter-final began shortly before 7pm, as the heat started to finally ease off following a blistering day in West London. This one saw a face-off between two Americans - Emma Navarro and Amanda Anisimova. Anisimova came out on top 6-3 in the first set, and she then grabbed an early break in the second. Navarro replied straight away with a break of serve, only to immediately go a break down again. Remaining strong in her service games, Anisimova positioned herself to serve for the match at 5-3 up, and she finished it off in style with a wonderful forehand passing Navarro at the net and booking Anisimova’s place in the semi-finals against Qinwen Zheng.


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