Wimbledon semi-finals live: scores, results from Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek

The last game of the first set was a quite dramatic affair (Alyson Rudd writes). Sabalenka saved set point with a thunderous serve then wrongfooted her opponent on the next point to claw back some control but there is a feistiness to the American that is frustrating the No 1 seed and Sabalenka serves a double fault to give Anisimova the first set. The American looks the calmest person in SW19.

David v Goliath

The first men’s doubles semi-final on No1 Court is a real David v Goliath affair, pitting the world No1 and top seeds, Mate Pavic of Croatia and Marcelo Arévalo of El Salvador, who have six grand-slam titles in men’s doubles between them, against Australian-Dutch pairing Rinky Hijikata and David Pel, who had never played together before this fortnight and weren’t even in the draw initially (James Gheerbrant writes). The underdogs are giving a really good account of themselves but they have an uphill battle now, having lost the first set on a tie-break, 7-2.

Klugman knocked out

It’s all over in the girls’ singles for Hannah Klugman who has lost in straight sets to No6 seed Julieta Pereja (6-4, 6-2).

The Brit looked as if she had broken back at a crucial point in the first set but was unable to hold in the last game to give the American the lead. Pereja controlled from then on, taking 40-0 leads in two of Klugman’s service matches.

But while she did excellently to bring them to deuce, she was beaten in both, ending her title hopes.

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Sabalenka the water girl

Another beautiful Anisimova backhand sealed another service hold for 5-4 (Alyson Rudd writes). Play was halted again for assistance to help reach a spectator and again Sabalenka helps out by providing the cooled water. They will start calling her Aryna Nightingale Sabalenka at this rate.

Who is in the Royal Box?

A sharp cross court backhand shot set up Anisimova with two break points in the fifth game which were squandered. At deuce play was halted to help someone in difficulty in the crowd (it is often the same hot location) and Sabalenka immediately went to the ice box to pick out a bottle of water to give to the ailing spectator. This was greeted with warm applause. Now the players are sat under umbrellas waiting patiently.

Singer Goulding takes her seat in Royal Box SHUTTERSTOCK EDITORIAL

Anisimova holds on

Wow that was close. Aryna Sabalenka has four bites of the cherry (four? That’s insane) and still doesn’t manage to swallow a break point. There was some beautiful tennis in that game, including a deft sliced backhand dropshot by Sabalenka, but Amanda Anisimova does enough to hold the game. This is a match of such high quality.

Sabalenka hands water out as heat takes another victim

A sharp cross court backhand shot set up Anisimova with two break points in the fifth game which were squandered (Alyson Rudd writes). At deuce play was halted to help someone in difficulty in the crowd (it is often the same hot location) and Sabalenka immediately went to the ice box to pick out a bottle of water to give to the ailing spectator. This was greeted with warm applause. Now the players are sat under umbrellas waiting patiently.

Sabalenka v Anisimova is underway

Anisimova holds serve for an opening game in which both players seemed slightly nervous (Alyson Rudd writes). The contest came alive when it was Sabalenka’s turn to serve. She brings so much energy and noise and dramatic gesturing. She was passed very easily at the net once but held. It’s 2-1 to the American who is now looking very composed.

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Klugman drops first set

Hannah Klugman worked tirelessly to level the scores after she was broken early in the first set against Julieta Pareja (Joe Harston writes).

However, two excellent service games from the American has put her back in control of this contest. She takes the first set 6-4.

Hannah Klugman in action

As we get into the business end of the tournament, crowds begin to gather for the juniors who make up much of the day’s play on unreserved courts (Joe Harston writes). It gives them a chance to make a statement in front of a new crowd and gives the spectators a chance to see the stars of tomorrow.

One that will need no introduction to many Wimbledon-goers this year is Hannah Klugman,the girls No2 seed, who was also a wild card qualifier in the ladies’ singles.

She has just broken back against the No6 seed Julieta Pareja to level the first set at 4-4 in the quarter-finals.

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Summer dress season: the SW19 collection

I have a habit of letting people know if they look particularly lovely (Alyson Rudd writes). Why hold back from saying something nice? But I have been quiet this Wimbledon because otherwise I would be saying it every two minutes. My goodness, the array of gorgeous summer dresses. And the strangest part is that there is no repetition.

Not one case of one woman having to avoid walking past another. The main fashion trend here is white Broderie Anglaise but even those are all very different in style. There, that’s about as girlie as I have ever been for The Times. It feels odd.

Line-calling system leaves spectators in dark

Amid all the frenzied debate about the accuracy and reliability of Hawk-Eye’s electronic line-calling (ELC) system at Wimbledon, there has been one patently obvious flaw during its use across the tennis tour: the lack of any visual indication after a ball has landed out (Stuart Fraser writes).

Those who have sat watching matches at Wimbledon this fortnight will know the feeling that this correspondent has repeatedly experienced at the biggest tournaments around the world. The awkward two to three seconds in which you are unsure about who has just won the point because it has been difficult to hear the automated audible call, perhaps because of a loud roar from the crowd or the constant din from air-conditioning units attached to roofs. It is only when the scoreboard updates that the confusion is settled.

In the bygone era of human line judges, there was no issue in this regard. Even if it was challenging to pick up the shout of “out” from the mouths of the staff standing to the back or side of the court, confirmation would immediately follow with an outstretched arm to the side. Even balls that narrowly landed in were occasionally followed with a visual signal of both hands hanging downwards in a central position.

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● Read more: Wimbledon line-calling system leaves spectators in dark

All hail the Amazon of Aura, Aryna

I am looking forward to covering the first of today’s semi-finals and making a note to self not to be mesmerised by Aryna Sabalenka (Alyson Rudd writes).

The Belarussian has an aura like no other female competitor here. She is Amazonian, yes, but it is more than that. She strides out like royalty knowing all eyes are upon her, but also knowing this can be an asset in making her opponent feel inferior.

And then instead of the expected aloofness you get all this emotion. She lets us see how she is feeling whether that be frustrated or happy. She lets us in so that before they know it the crowd are falling in love with her.

Sabalenka often intimidates her opponent with her power and presence TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER MARC ASPLAND

Hewett looks the head honch

Alfie Hewett, Britain’s two-times Wimbledon wheelchair champion and former world No 1, has continued his impressive form by easing into the next round with a commanding performance. It was a doddle.

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The 27-year-old from Norwich, who has already amassed more than 30 grand-slam titles in singles and doubles, faced off against China’s emerging talent Ji Zhenxu in the second round of the men’s wheelchair singles.

Hewett put in a dominant showing, securing victory in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1. Ji, still early in his grand-slam journey, struggled to contain Hewett’s aggressive baseline play.

This result keeps Hewett firmly on course for another deep run at Wimbledon, where he’ll look to defend his singles title and add to his already stellar legacy on Centre Court.

Part-time tennis player, full-time mother

There is nothing quite like getting in the zone for the biggest match of you career (possibly outside of the Olympic Games gold-medal match) by trying to keep a toddler entertained. Talk about focus and patience. Belinda Bencic is the wholesome content we needed.

Belinda Bencic before a training session this morning

Giddy Swiatek’s ‘goosebumps’ after breaking new ground

Iga Swiatek was not entirely convinced she should be described as having unfinished business at Wimbledon but the five-times grand-slam champion possessed on court the demeanour of someone ready to finally conquer the grass (Alyson Rudd writes).

“It feels great, I’ve got goosebumps after this win,” Swiatek said of reaching her first Wimbledon semi-final, having skipped about No1 Court in sheer delight. This tournament was the only grand-slam she had not reached the final stages of and there was much talk of her needing to learn to love the surface.

In technical terms this has meant several adjustments in preparation for the championships.

Supermum tamed teenager to seal semi-final spot

The kids are all right but you can’t beat experience (Rick Broadbent writes). Not on what turned out to be an alternative Mother’s Day anyway, with Belinda Bencic making it into the final four 15 months after giving birth to a daughter. Mirra Andreeva’s teenage kicks were hard to beat, but the comeback trailblazer is showing tennis can have supermums too.

No mother has won Wimbledon since Evonne Goolagong 45 years ago, but there have been lots of champions in other fields. Mother of all multitaskers Jessica Ennis-Hill became heptathlon world champion a year after childbirth. The fastest woman in the world, Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, was simultaneously a new mum.

Over in cycling Laura Kenny returned from an ectopic pregnancy to ride in the Paris Olympics last summer. Some scientists claim the physical changes wrought by pregnancy can make women stronger, although the Olympic rower Helen Glover, who sat in the Royal Box on Saturday, explained the flipside when she blamed an iron deficiency, caused by breastfeeding, for a broken rib.

● Read more: Supermum Bencic tames teenager Andreeva to seal semi-final spot

Sublime Sinner strolled into semi-final

A question mark hung over Wimbledon ahead of the men’s quarter-finals (Alyson Rudd writes). Would Jannik Sinner be fit to play? It turned out not only was he able to compete but that he did not even contemplate pulling out following the injury to his right elbow sustained in his victory on Monday over Grigor Dimitrov.

“I always try to put myself in the position at least to go out there and try,” the No1 seed said. “I had quite good feelings in the warm-up today. I felt also yesterday (Tuesday) that mentally I have to get ready. I put into my mind that I’m going to play today. So the concerns were not that big if I would play or not.”

Given the strapping that protected his arm, there were still worries out on No1 Court that the Italian might be hampered, underpowered or distracted. Nothing could have been further from the truth. His straight-sets victory over Ben Shelton, the young American, was supremely elegant and efficient. At times Sinner looked as if he was gliding an inch above the surface of the court. When he attacked he did so with a glint in his eye.

Hewett bringing the heat on scorching day

Good morning from a scorching Wimbledon where the scenes are much more like the first few days (Joe Harston writes). Spectators are armed with umbrellas again but not because of the rain anymore.

As I walked down Wimbledon Park Road this morning the sun hat sellers stationed in driveways looked to be making a killing — or at least the first one or two did but then it appeared to become quite a saturated market.

No3 Court is filling up nicely as wheelchair singles and doubles champion Alfie Hewett goes a set up (6-1) although one or two groups opted to take shade outside the show courts on the change of set.

Djokovic: Fall was nasty. I hope I’m pain-free for Sinner match

Face down on the grass which for two decades he has graced, paced, even tasted, Novak Djokovic lay still for a good five seconds (James Gheerbrant writes). Not many things defeat him on Centre Court, but the impossible physics of trying to move in two different directions simultaneously had done it. The crowd gasped, then went silent, then stood and craned to get a better look. The chair umpire, Eva Asderaki-Moore, came over to check on him, and so too did Flavio Cobolli, whose scorching forehand had just saved a match point. The great champion had gone down on the crease behind the baseline which, over the last three hours, over the last 20 years, his scurrying soles have worn bald.

What was he thinking in that moment? About all the stretches and strains that he has put his body through over half a lifetime? About the nearness of the day when he decides that he has had enough of this? Probably not. Probably just how to win the next two points, which he duly did, thus setting up a semi-final for the ages against Jannik Sinner.

● Read more: Novak Djokovic: Fall was nasty. I hope I’m pain-free for Sinner match

Day ten rewind

With a little while until the main action on the showcourts gets underway, let’s recap what went down in SW19 yesterday as well as looking forward to what may unfold today.

Order of play at Wimbledon today

Centre Court (starting at 1.30pm)

● Women’s singles semi-final: Aryna Sabalenka [1] vs Amanda Anisimova [13]

● Women’s singles semi-final: Belinda Bencic vs Iga Świątek [8]

● Mixed doubles final: Sem Verbeek / Kateřina Siniaková vs Joe Salisbury / Luisa Stefani

No1 Court (starting at 1pm)

● Gentlemen’s doubles semi-final: Marcelo Arévalo / Mate Pavić [1] vs Rinky Hijikata / David Pel

● Gentlemen’s doubles semi-final: Marcel Granollers / Horacio Zeballos [4] vs Julian Cash / Lloyd Glasspool [5]

● Wheelchair doubles semi-final: Alfie Hewett / Gordon Reid [1] vs Daniel Caverzaschi / Tokito Oda

No2 Court (starting at 11am)

Gentlemen’s invitation doubles round robin:

● Tommy Haas / Feliciano López vs Robert Lindstedt / Horia Tecău

● Marcos Baghdatis / Xavier Malisse vs Jérémy Chardy / Bruno Soares

Ladies’ invitation doubles round robin:

● Dominika Cibulková / Barbora Strýcová vs Kirsten Flipkens / Andrea Petkovic

● Naomi Broady / Vania King vs Tatiana Golovin / Laura Robson

● Agnieszka Radwańska / Magdaléna Rybáriková vs Daniela Hantuchová / CoCo Vandeweghe

No3 Court (starting at 11am)

● Gentlemen’s wheelchair singles second round: Ji Zhenxu vs Alfie Hewett [2]

●Ladies’ wheelchair singles second Round: Li Xiaohui vs Diede de Groot [3]

Welcome to Wimbledon day 11

Things are getting pretty serious around here. It’s women’s singles semi-final day at SW19 and we cannot wait. Everyone is expecting a final between Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek — two decorated dominant women of this era who are yet to go all the way at Wimbledon — but it’s not going to be that straightforward, is it? We’ve got that plus much more with our reporters around the grounds in Wimbledon so stay with us for the latest updates.

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