Wimbledon 2021 semi-finals: Barty beats Kerber and Pliskova v Sabalenka – live! | Sport

Pliskova 5-7 6-4 5-4 Sabalenka* Another ace gives Sabalenka 30-0, another ace gives Sabalenka 40-0, then Pliskova hooks a return wide and will have to serve for it. Hold on to your tatts!

*Pliskova 5-7 6-4 5-3 Sabalenka Consecutive errors from Sabalenka hand Pliskova 30-15 – in fairness, Pliskova pushes her into uncomfortable positions to elicit them – and two aces make a joke of the pressure she should be feeling. Sabalenka will now serve to stay in the competition.

Pliskova 5-7 6-4 4-3 Sabalenka* At 40-0, Pliskova hooks back a superb forehand return, but her next one goes wide, and we’re getting to the nub of this. Sabalenka has two more chances, and but for the fact that she’s her, there’s no reason to think she’ll take either. But she is her, so who knows?

*Pliskova 5-7 6-4 4-2 Sabalenka Again, Pliskova makes 15-0 but then nets a backhand; the way the match has gone and is going, Sabalenka should consider this a chance. But she nets a forehand when well in the rally … but Pliskova nets a forehand! 30-all, only the second of the match, and this is getting AV Dicey! It really is! A brilliant get from Sabalenka coaxes a weak forehand out of Pliskova, but it moves away a little, enticing the shank, then concussive forehands secure the game. Pliskova is two away!

Pliskova 5-7 6-4 3-2 Sabalenka* At 30-0, a beautiful point, Sabelenka running one down, then adjusting at the net when Pliskova clips the cord to clip a winner cross-court. She holds to 15, and perhaps there are signs of a late charge – it’s not saying much, but she did a little better in Pliskova’s last service game and is holding more easily.

*Pliskova 5-7 6-4 3-1 Sabalenka Here we go. Sabalenka gets a return in play – no more – but plays a really good second stroke, sidespinning away from Pliskova as she advances to the net. She can only flick her response long, but the elusive 0-15 is not long for this world and in no time at all, four points disappear. Even when Pliskova frames one, in lops nicely onto the baseline and Sabalenka can only net, yowling in frustration.

Pliskova 5-7 6-4 2-1 Sabalenka* Now a love hold for Sabalenka, but if she can’t find some returns, it’s not going to matter.

*Pliskova 5-7 6-4 2-0 Sabalenka Sabalenka has only earned one break point the whole match, and her inability to make any impression on Pliskova’s serve is, so far, the defining aspect of this match. On the other hand, you can only save so many with winners and aces before it gets too much, and Pliskova consolidates to love. Martina reckons Sabalenka needs to change her returning position and just get the ball into play, because at the moment she’s disbursing a lot of free points.

Pliskova 5-7 6-4 1-0 Sabalenka* Pliskova makes Sabalenka play an extra ball and then another, guessing right and slapping the clean-up cross court for a bazzing winner. Sabalenka retaliates with one of her own, then a rare sliced ace into deuce court – and onto its outermost fibre too; 30-15. But two errors and suddenly she’s facing another break point, the pressure intensifying when her favourite serve out wide goes wide. Pliskova meets her second go well, and Sabalenka nets a backhand! Might that be the crucial blow?

*Pliskova 5-7 6-4 Sabalenka I can’t recall a single game in this match in which Sabalenka has 0-15, and when Pliskova nets a forehand, Martina lets us know that it is indeed the first time. And have a look! Sabalenka runs down a tentative ball into the corner and hurls a forehand winner down the line! Pliskova, though, cannily takes the pace off her serve to control the next point, then a big serve allows her to do similar and in seconds, it’s 30-all. Sabalenka is in the next point, hammering away, but a netted backhand means Pliskova needs just one more … and there it is! A forehand winner earns Pliskova, the match and us the third set we deserve!

Pliskova 5-7 5-4 Sabalenka* The serving in this match has been so, so good – Sabalenka hits two aces for 30-15 – then Pliskova shanks a return – that aspect of the game has not. We wind up at 40-30, then Pliskova goes long on the return and will have to serve for it.

*Pliskova 5-7 5-3 Sabalenka Sabalenka has barely put Pliskova’s serve under any pressure at all, which does not bode well for a game against Barty, should she earn one. I’m surprised she hasn’t adjusted anything – in this set, she’s only made 7/18 – but a double hands Sabalenka some hope. At 40-30, though, she can only net a backhand, and will now serve to stay in the set.

Pliskova 5-7 4-3 Sabalenka* Pliskova is in the flow! She skips into a fractionally short one, coaxing a forehand winner down the line, making 15-all in the process. A service winner followed by an ace follow … but a careless putaway from Sabalenka, sent right at Plislkova with the whole court to aim at, allows a brilliant forehand winner cross-court! Pliskova is seeing it, so she’s taking the ball early, and another fine forehand earns her deuce. Sabalenka, though, simply turns up the volume, closing out in short order.

*Pliskova 5-7 4-2 Sabalenka OH YES! Pliskova opens her consolidation game with three aces! Sabalenka then sends a return long, and that was extremely swift.

Pliskova 5-7 3-2 Sabalenka* Oooh yeah! Plisova makes 0-15 then guides a sumptuous backhand winner down the line! Sabalenka then goes long; can she find her aces yet again? No she cannot! Pliskova sends a second serve to her toes, and rather than make room she opts to play a French cricket shot, only able to net.

*Pliskova 5-7 2-2 Sabalenka At 15-0, Pliskova makes a dash to the net and outsmarts Sabalenka there for the first time, easing a winner from above her shoulder and saluting the crowd. Then at 40-15, she does the same but in grander style, laying a drop that Sabalenka charges to the net to flick back, only to see a winner deflected back past her! Here we go!

Pliskova 5-7 1-2 Sabalenka* At 30-0, Pliskova makes room to slot a forehand return down the line for a winner, so Sabalenka fires another serve wide to the backhand side – she’s so good at the flat ones, which is helpful when you have to defend a lot of break points at advantage. I said before that Sabelanka’s serve was where the drama was, but she’s actually holding more comfortably this set.

*Pliskova 5-7 1-1 Sabalenka Pliskova holds to 15, and we’ve resumed the pattern: drama when Sabalenka serves, relaxation when she doesn’t.

“Is there any prospect of players not being allowed to make so much noise when hitting the ball?” asks Marily Power. “Currently Sabalenka is ruining the tv experience. Frequently cant hear if a ball is called out.”

They’re working out there; it’s hard, and if it helps them, gezundheit. As it goes, I enjoy it because it makes me laugh, but in answer to your question, I’d say there’s no prospect of it stopping whatsoever.

Pliskova 5-7 0-1 Sabalenka* Ultimately that set was decided by break-point behaviour: Sabalenka served aces, Pliskova served a double. Sabalenka embraced the pressure moments! I know! And when a brilliant return gives Pliskova a sniff at 30-15, down screeches another ace! Pliskova, though, not only prevents another but turns it into a fine, error-inducing return, stepping right in on the next point, a second serve, to force deuce. So Sabalenka devastates a body-serve to make advantage – the ease of her power is almost as disquieting as the power itself – and another serve-forehand combo seals the deal. Gevaldig.

*Pliskova 5-7 Sabalenka At 15-0, Pliskova goes long on the return and challenges though she must’ve been able to see – she’s not happy out there, all of a sudden. Can Sabalenka make her play? Yes she can! She hurls herself at a beautiful forehand into the corner, but at the net, Pliskova feels all of it, whacking out with the whole court awaiting her! She makes 30-all, though … only for Sabalenka to direct her about the court, beautiful touch opening the space for a backhand winner! Set point! And oh dear, after five straightforward holds, she slings down a double! Ach, that’s a lot to divest in the next 90 seconds.

Pliskova 5-6 Sabalenka* Now then. Consecutive errors from Sabalenka, the second forehand extremely poor, and Plikova has 0-30; another, and it’s 0-40! So Sabalenka mullers an ace out wide, then Pliskova nets on the forehand return, then a backhand returns flies wide too. For someone not exactly renowned for thriving under pressure, Sabalenka has been really good in this tournament, and when she notches another backhand, she retaliates with an ace. More or less, Pliskova is just waiting to see what happens with the rest of us. And oh my days! Sabalenka sticks a serve onto the very final fibre of the outside edge of the box! It’s called out, she challenges, she takes the point, and when Pliskova nets a return, it’s her racket introduced to the turf. Like Ramos and Marley, it’s getting lively.

*Pliskova 5-5 Sabalenka At 15-0, a rare rally, Sabalenka just unable to flick over the net from close to it, on the run. Pliskova’s serve really is firing – she’s not hitting many aces, but she’s not offering many easy balls or second serves either. Another hold to love, and the pressure ratchets up.

Pliskova 4-5 Sabalenka* I’ve not a scooby who’ll win the breaker towards which we seem inexorably headed, but this is much better from Sabalenka, holding to 15 and finishing things with an ace.

*Pliskova 4-4 Sabalenka In comms, Martina wonders if Pliskova is rueing her missed break points and she probably is, but the reality is that they were handed to her, then taken from her. But Sabalenka is struggling to make an impression on her serve, and she holds easily, to 15.

Pliskova 3-4 Sabalenka* Neither player is playing well enough to trouble Barty at this point, and at 30-all, Sabalenka advances to clatter a simple backhand putaway, only to net! Naturally, she addresses the break point with characteristic reserve, serving out wide then roasting a backhand winner down the line. But she’s not hitting consistently at the moment, netting again for advantage … and HAVE A LOOK! She absolutely annihilates a serve out wide, then delicately thinks and feathers her way to advantage when the players meet at the net. An ace down the T follows, and whether she wins or loses, this match is on Sabalenka’s racket and I don’t think there’s much Pliskova can do about it.

*Pliskova 3-3 Sabalenka At 30-15, Sabalenka slips as Pliskova serves, handing her an ace, but a barrage of forehands claw her back to 40-30. But given a look at a second serve, she can only clout a forehand into the net, howling in furstration because that was a chance.

Pliskova 2-3 Sabalenka* A double hands Pliskova a leg-up – gosh, it’s a while since I’ve needed or given one of them, what a sign of being past your best that is – and though a netted return shoves it down, a forehand error restores the advantage. Sabalenka is really shmicing the cover off it now, but at 30-all another error hands Pliskova a break point for which she’s not really had to work. A violent serve follows, but then a return off the frame finds a beautiful oblique angle just over the net; Sabalenka makes a good effort at flicking back, but hits the cord. Again, though, Pliskova can’t convert and this time it’s on her, a poor return rather than a booming delivery the problem, and Sabalenka closes out from there. She clinches the game at the net with a wrong-footing put away and is thinking her way through points really well now.

*Pliskova 2-2 Sabalenka At 30-0, Pliskova sends down a double and Martina reckons she’s tossing the ball further in front than usual. She gets a first serve next though, but Sabalenka takes control of it nonetheless, opening the court for a forehand winner only to net. But Pliskova makes 40-15, then sews up the game with an ace.

Pliskova 1-2 Sabalenka* But now look! Consecutive errors from Sabalenka and she’s facing 0-30, but a brutal forehand, from centre to backhand corner, halves the deficit. A serve down the middle that Pliskova might do more with than hook wide comes next, and a clever forehand that earns 40-30 has Martina noting that she always had power but now she’s got more “touchy-feely shots”. She closes out, and will be hunting the break after change of ends because she might not be catching it as she is now for the duration of the match.

*Pliskova 1-1 Sabalenka At 30-15, Martina notes that Pliskova catches a toss, something she seldom does, and files it under nerves. But she holds to 15 – not looking as impressive as Sabalenka but we’re only just getting going.

Pliskova 0-1 Sabalenka* Sablenka opens with an ace, then follows it with two forehand winners, the second a simple pat-away after a colossal serve down the T. Another ace follows, and get a load of that Kaz, old mate.

Martina reckons Sablenka is the better player but Pliskova is the better grass-court player, and who am I to argue with that. I just wonder if Pliskova moves well enough to retrieve the barrage of shots that are coming her way.

“Pliskova has more of them but Sabalenka’s is meaner,” says Martina of their respective tatt games. Both of their mothers gave them gyp when they came home with them, you’ll be flabbergasted to learn.

“In Melbourne, Australia,” says Peta Colebatch. “Was in UK on PhD all those years ago in 1971 watching Evonne Goolagong on TV, so would be such a dream if Ash can go all the way on Saturday. And in NAIDOC week here too. My heart is in my mouth at times, but such a lovely person.”

“Over on Court 14, GB’s Jordanne Whiley cruised past old rival Anniek Van Kout, 6-2 6-0,” emails Chris Page. “She was in imperious form.”

I caught a bit of that earlier. I’m in absolute awe of those guys.

In some ways, Barty reminds me of Berrettini, in that her two biggest weapons – the serve and the forehand – can destroy whatever else their opponent has planned. She’s defter than him too, but ultimately, that last match went her way because of those two shots.

Ultimately, whoever meets Barty on Saturday will have to play like God’s mum to win, and even that might not be sufficient.

I missed the hug the players exchanged at the net, but that was great to see too. Kerber knew she’d given it all she could, and was beaten by the better player; that can be hard to take, given Barty, at 25, is eight years younger than her, at 33. But she’s only starting on the road back – this was the best she could give today, but a bit more time and a few more matches, and she’ll have more to show us.

Barty is such a pleasure, saying that that was as good a match as she’ll ever play. She knew she’d have to be good to beat Kerber, is really proud of herself and her team, and is looking forward to Saturday. She says that she makes sure to have fun on the court and getting to share what she does with people she loves is amazing; there’s nothing better than coming out on court and having fun, but she also has fun and laughter in practise. She wouldn’t change anything about her journey here, and it’s so moving to hear someone so utterly at one with themselves and in thrall to life. Well played her, not just today but every day.

That is brilliant performance from Barty, who wasn’t perfect but only because she wasn’t allowed to be. Kerber gave her plenty, but in the end the concussive majesty of that forehand was too much; whoever she meets next will have a lot about which to think.

Barty 6-3 6-6 (6-3) Kerber* Kerber isn’t going anywhere. She unloads her suitcase and soul at the next point, a forehand allowing her to monster a decisive backhand – though Barty has a damn good go at getting it back. And when Kerber schleps her to the net, she nets her pick-up! Surely not! Well, Barty then nets a forehand, and suddenly this is dicey as Riley … but Barty is serving next!

*Barty 6-3 6-6 (6-0) Kerber Oh, this is brilliant from Barty! She’s looked to have just that bit more all the way through this match, and more forehand cruelty, followed by an ace, gives her six match points! As Alex Ferguson once said, when it goes, it goes fast, and this has been devastating.

Barty 6-3 6-6 (4-0) Kerber* Kerber should take the first point when offered a short forehand begging to be tumped, but she can only net, ceding the mini-break instead. And it’s quickly 3-0, another hooked forehand opening the court for the mop-up! Crucial times for Kerber now … and she can only offer-up a double!

*Barty 6-3 6-6 Kerber Barty goes wide with a forehand and Kerber is up, but Barty remains unflustered – her temperament is perfect – and another hooked forehand, but from close to the line it goes down, gives her two points for a breaker. And she only needs one, that serve-forehand combo doing the trick yet again.

Barty 6-3 5-6 Kerber* And that’s why. She knows Barty is hot, she knows she’s given it her best, and she goes long on the backhand to open the game. Barty then misses with a forehand, just, then can’t get after a tame second serve, netting a forehand shortly afterwards; 30-15. She does likewise next point, but a return to the body sees Kerber net before a net cord dribbles over for deuce. Might that be the key moment? No! Kerber gets her forehand working again, closes out, and I think this is the highest-level match I’ve seen so far. It’s not necessarily the most exciting, but in terms of two brilliant players hurling everything at each other while you watch their brains ticking and firing, this is way out in front.

*Barty 6-3 5-5 Kerber Kerber will still fancy herself to break again, but Barty might be coming onto something, whipping a forehand onto the sideline for 15-0. An ace onto the outside of the T then gives her 40-0 – Kerber challenges, but you could see – then a serve out wide elicits a fine return, except Barty simply crouches to deflect a backhand winner into the opposite corner. I’m worried for Kerber.

Barty 6-3 4-5 Kerber* Eeesh! Barty leaps directly into the game, an overhead from the back of the court hit with intense venom and sending up a puff after landing on the line – that is colossal shot, and definitely Barty’s best of the set. Two backhand errors from Kerber follow, and this might be the match right here! And … oh yes! Kerber plays a belting point but Barty just plays a better one, her slice keeping her in it until she sees a lobbing opportunity. Kerbert gets to it, but she hands Barty the chance to play that hooked, oblique forehand, and she doesn’t need asking twice. She breaks to love, and we’re back on serve!

*Barty 6-3 3-5 Kerber Kerber crouches to land a fabulous return deep and about Barty’s ankles; Barty can’t respond. Yes she can, she just saves it for the aces that comes next, giving her 30-15, and a terrific backhand cross-court follows – that might be her best shot of the set. But a double gives Kerber a sniff, and a monstrous forehand return onto the line makes deuce! Can she force the break that’ll seal the set? No she cannot, a service winner and wide return demanding that Kerber serve it out.

Barty 6-3 2-5 Kerber* Barty bangs a return to fault into a ballboy; the crowd chuckle knowingly, of course they do. Then, at 15-0, Barty opens her stance to send a forehand into the corner only to hook one wide just as she’d struggled into a rally dictated by Kerber’s forehand. More of this please! But just as I’m typing that Kerber is playing a perfect set here, not because she’s hitting loads of winners but because she’s dominating a player as good as Barty playing as well as Barty, consecutive unforced errors gift Barty deuce … so Kerber closes out authoritatively, a definitive forehand down the line underlining her superiority. Barty will have to serve to stay in the set, and a third one would be an absolute treat.

*Barty 6-3 2-4 Kerber After the first-set comedown, Barty is back, but a brilliant backhand return cross-court gives Kerber a sniff at 30-15. But Barty isn’t fussed, an ace sealing the game shortly afterwards.