Elena Rybakina stormed into the Wimbledon semi-finals with a comprehensive 6-3, 6-2 victory over Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina. She will face Wednesday’s other quarter-final winner, Barbora Krejcikova, in Thursday’s semi-final after the Czech player defeated Jelena Ostapenko 6-4, 7-6(4). Donna Vekic will meet Jasmine Paolini in the other semi-final.
Kazakhstan’s Russian-born Rybakina entered the quarter-finals as the highest-seeded player remaining, with Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff already out and Aryna Sabalenka withdrawing due to a shoulder injury. Despite being broken in the first game, Rybakina quickly recovered, taking the first set 6-3 and dominating the second set 6-2 with impressive serving. This semi-final appearance marks her second-best performance at Wimbledon, following her 2022 title win over Ons Jabeur.
Barbora Krejcikova, the Czech 31st seed, had struggled with form leading up to Wimbledon, exiting the French Open in the first round. However, she reached her second-ever Grand Slam semi-final, having won the 2021 French Open. Krejcikova showcased her superiority on Court 1 against Ostapenko, whose inconsistent serving hampered her chances. This is Krejcikova’s first time past the fourth round at Wimbledon.
“Really pleased with the way I played today,” Rybakina said on-court. “It’s always tough to play against Elina, she’s a great player, great fighter. No matter the score, it is not as easy as it might look like. Of course, I have such amazing memories from 2022 and I’m just enjoying every time I step on the court, especially when I play good.”
When asked about being the favorite to win Wimbledon, Rybakina replied, “I don’t like it, to be honest.”
An overjoyed Krejcikova expressed her emotions after her win, saying, “I don’t have any words right now. Just a minute ago, I told myself that I’m going to leave everything I have [on the court], and I’m really happy that I did. It’s an unbelievable moment that I’m experiencing right now in my tennis career.”
Krejcikova had battled illness and won just three tour matches between February and June. “It was a very, very difficult period,” she added. “There have been many doubts from inside, but also from the outside world. I’m super happy that I never give up and that I’m standing here right now and that I qualified to be in the semi-finals.”
