Wimbledon 2023 LIVE! Elina Svitolina vs Marketa Vondrousova; Ons Jabeur vs Aryna Sabalenka in semi-finals
We will have a new women’s champion in SW19 this year and today four will become two as Elina Svitolina takes on Marketa Vondrousova before Aryna Sabalenka faces Ons Jabeur on Centre Court for a place in the final.
Svitolina is the crowd favourite, returning to the sport after giving birth and channelling the atrocities that are going on in her home country of Ukraine during a thrilling run which has seen her beat grand slam champions Venus Williams, Sofia Kenin, Victoria Azarenka and Iga Swiatek. She faces world no42 Vondrousova, who is enjoying a career-best run at Wimbledon.
Jabeur is also gaining many new fans and has gained revenge for last year’s final defeat against Elena Rybakina in the quarter-final, but now faces no2 seed Sabalenka who is herself playing some of the best tennis of her career. Follow both matches LIVE with Standard Sport’s dedicated blog below, featuring expert insight and analysis from Dom Smith on Centre Court.
Live updates
Vondrousova holds
Svitolina 3-6, 0-3 Vondrousova
Really odd moment when Vondrousova’s ace for game-to-love is challenged halfheartedly by Svitolina who sits down at her chair thinking she has wrongly challenged more out of desperation than anything else.
But up she gets when she is shown to have challenged correctly.
Soon enough, though, Vondrousova serves out the game for 3-0 in the second set.
Vondrousova breaks!
Svitolina 3-6 , 0-2 Vondrousova
Svitolina puffs out her cheeks and drops her shoulders in disappointment when her 15-0 lead is wiped out by a long shot, but Voundrousova then misses a lob.
Poor net shot from Svitolina for 30-30, and then another shot crashed into the net to bring up break point.
She looks devastated by her form at the moment… and then puts away an excellent volley which seems to fire her AND the crowd up.
And then an absolutely stunning, stunning get from Vondrousova, who stretches into the open court to flick Svitolina’s smash back over.
Svitolina is broken, and Vondrousova frankly deserves her fourth break in a row. Excellent from the Czech.
Vondrousova holds
Svitolina 3-6, 0-1 Vondrousova
Vondrousova gets off to the perfect start in the second set despite allowing Svitolina back into a 30-0 game with a poor miss.
Superb serve for 40-15, before the Ukrainian can only find the tramlines.
Vondrousova well, well on top at present.
VONDROUSOVA WINS THE FIRST SET
Svitolina 3-6 Vondrousova
Vondrousova goes long as Svitolina edges in front, before the Czech nets for 30-0.
Then a wonderful, wonderful clipped slice from Vondrousova for 30-15.
Svitolina cannons the ball down the line bringing up 40-15, but gets bad luck when Vondrousova’s shot clips the net and bounces over for 40-30. Then it’s long from Svitolina. Deuce.
The crowd rallies behind the Ukrainain, but she is put on the backhand by a poor shot and it’s set point.
“We love you Elina”, cries one man in the crowd, but it’s no good. Vondrousova breaks again and takes the set 6-3.
Vondrousova holds
Svitolina 3-5 Vondrousova
Rampant serving from Vondrousova to bring up 40-0.
She then benefits from a poor, poor net by Svitolina. It’s 5-3 and the 2019 French Open finalist is one game away from the first set
Vondrousova breaks AGAIN
Svitolina 3-4 Vondrousova
Both players are really struggling on serve at the moment and that shows as Svitolina goes 0-40 down for her second successive service game.
Vondrousova trips. 15-40.
Vondrousova breaks again.
SVITOLINA BREAKS BACK
Svitolina 3-3 Vondrousova
Vondrousova nets for 0-15, and then double-faults. She challenges the missed second serve and it is the tightest Hawkeye call I have ever seen.
At 0-30, Vondrousova puts two nice winners away for 30-30, before double-faulting again to offer Svitolina a break point.
Deuce.
Advantage Svitolina. Game Svitolina. Wow. An immediate break back.
VONDROUSOVA BREAKS TO LOVE
Svitolina 2-3 Vondrousova
Svitolina finds herself two break points down, and then isn’t helped by missing her first serve. She is sent to the back of the court by Vondrousova, who benefits from a Svitolina miss to edge 0-40 ahead. Stunning winner Vondrousova. A break to love!
Back on terms
Svitolina 2-2 Vondrousova
Vondrousova is pushed by Svitolina, who gets two points under her belt, but serves a fiery serve to win the game.
Svitolina holds
Svitolina 2-1 Vondrousova
Strong serving puts Svitolina 40-15 up, and then she pushes her Czech opponent to the back of the court and forces her to net.
Another confident hold from the Ukrainian.
