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

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.

Barty 6-3 1-4 Kerber* Much better form Barty at 15-0, taking control of the rally with her forehand and finishing with an inside-outer into the corner. She does likewise with the next point too, then dashes to the net and look to have netted the simple putaway … but clips the cord, doing well to see it drop over. Suddenly, things are changing again, and Kerber is visibly nauseated to stick a backhand into the net and hand over two break-back points. She saves the first with a backhand that clips the baseline and dies, then the second with a drop and composed winner, from close to the net and with Barty tanking in. And Kerber then closes out quickly, her forehand working beautifully to spirit a one-legged winner down the line, and we are cooking!

*Barty 6-3 1-3 Kerber Barty is only a break down but will know that momentum has shifted; as well as a hold here, she’ll want some winners – and she gets them, her serve back firing again too.

Barty 6-3 0-3 Kerber* Kerber must’ve eaten a mushroom at change of ends because she’s grown – suddenly, her side of the court looks small and Barty’s looks cavernous – and she sends her scuttling about the baseline before despatching the winner which secures a love hold.

*Barty 6-3 0-2 Kerber Yes Angie! Playing the first point of the game she takes it to Kerber, setting up the rally with a lob and finishing it with a forehand. She’s starting to feel this, hollering when she takes the next point too, outlasting Barty from the baseline but playing far less passively than before, and when Barty sticks a backhand out, just, she has three break points! Barty saves two and is well set to do likewise with the third, controlling the rally … but then she swipes a forehand wide! We got ourselves a ball-game!

Barty 6-3 0-1 Kerber* It’s tight because Kerber is good, but Barty’s forehand is dominating this match and in general, she looks to have just that bit more. Kerber needs to get hers going because at the moment, any point that goes beyond a few shots is inviting that shot to take control. At 15-0, she finds a beauty down the line, which is much more like it, and secures her hold to 30.

*Barty 6-3 Kerber Here we go, and Kerber gets 0-30 when she pins Barty on her backhand and the error follows. Barty’s won a few service games from behind so won’t be fazed by this and makes light of a fine return to a serve out wide, clumping a forehand winner towards the opposite corner and onto the line. The next rally features a battle of backhand slices, controlled and won by Barty, but a double hands Kerber break-back point. No matter, a fine second serve backed by that ruinous forehand – is there currently a better shot in tennis? – earns her deuce, and seconds later, a bousting serve out wide is enough for the set!

Barty 5-3 Kerber* It feels like Barty is reading Kerber better than Kerber is reading her, though Kerber is hitting the ball well now. It means to win points, she has to hit winners past her or wait for errors, while Barty is able to work the spaces and use the court. But Kerber holds to love, forcing Barty to serve for the set.

*Barty 5-2 Kerber I love Barty’s forehand cross-court – the one she plays from inside the court that’s almost a table tennis shot, hit obliquely and with bare whip and spin, to bounce just inside the sideline. It gets her 30-0 in this game, and she’s soon sat down again, one game away from the sey.

Barty 4-2 Kerber* There we go! At 15-all, Kerber locates her crouching forehand down the line and closes out from there. That’s her easiest hold so far, and came because she turned up the power, risk and conviction on her groundstrokes and serve.

*Barty 4-1 Kerber Here we go, Kerber finds her range, and a forehand down the line brings her 0-30. We might be reaching that elusive point at which both players are playing well – Barty certainly is, quickly reasserting for 30-all, reading Kerber’s intentions very well indeed. An ace follows … then a double, taking us to deuce … then another ace. Barty’s action is just so easy and loose, though in commentary, Sam Smith wonders if Kerber has done her homework and knows that under pressure, the ball usually goes down the T as that one did. Anyhow, a further service-winner follows, and this is terrific from Barty.

Barty 3-1 Kerber* Lovely from Kerber, who hauls Barty to the net then lobs her when the approach falls into the slot. But she finds herself at 30-15, and if Barty gets into this next point, she’s in trouble … which is what happens, that forehand dictating till a backhand goes into the net. Kerber, though, cleans up well from there and is on the board.

*Barty 3-0 Kerber Barty’s forehand is there now, and after Kerber comes into punish a backhand winner she dispenses one for 15-all. But Kerber is warm now too, finding a beautiful angle off a return to send the ball spinning across the face of the net before bouncing just inside the sideline. Barty, though, isn’t bothered and a gorgeously disguised drop gets her 30-all. This is warming up and Barty can’t close out, so we go to deuce, whereupon she rapidly finishes things courtesy of that glorious, prodigious forehand. Kerber should be worried, but only figuratively speaking because what good would it actually do her?

Barty 2-0 Kerber* Now it’s Kerber’s turn to start nervously, going long on the forehand before redeeming herself with a canny body-serve. She then hands Barty 15-30 with a careless backhand that drops wide, and though she finds a forehand winner next, a netted backhand means she’s now facing break point. And she can’t save it! Kerber dominates the rally thanks to a booming forehand, but when Barty moon-balls back an overhead, she guesses right and is waiting to return the next, hammering a forehand winner down the line!

*Barty 1-0 Kerber Barty begins with a double, then redeems herself with a service winner. But this is a tentative start, and she goes long with a forehand, Kerber into the game having done almost nothing. Oh gosh, Barty goes long again near the start of the next rally for 15-40, only to save the first break point with an ace and the second with a whipped forehand describing an oblique angle. That’s more like it, and she closes out from there, Kerber yet to win a point off her own racket.

I imagine Kerber will want to keep the ball on Barty’s backhand, while Barty might want to yank Kerber in.

I guess it’s also the case that Kerber has had to play well to win, and given three hours 19 minutes against Sorribes Tormo – my match of the tournament so far – her needle should be hitting the groove.

Tracy Austin notes that Kerber knows how to win semis and finals and Wimbledon and Barty doesn’t, which is true. I don’t think the occasion will get big on Barty, but if it gives Kerber the composure and confidence to play her best, it’s still a huge advantage.

On the other hand, if Kerber loses the first set she won’t panic and Barty hasn’t faced a grass-courter of her calibre to this point – she even called her “the ultimate test”. Kerber tells BBC that Barty pushes her to play at her limits, which is a lovely notion, and credits the fans with giving her the motivation to play her best.

But let’s look at our first match. Barty was terrific against Tomljanovic, and I think she might just be too consistent for Kerber, who’s had to fight her way to this point. Her best level, and I’ve not a clue who takes this, but her level this fortnight and it’s Barty in two.

Pliskova reckons she’s playing good tennis and is pleased she’s completed her set of Grand Slam semis. She calls Sabalenka “all or nothing” but says she has her weapons and shots too, so is expecting a good match.

I hope that Sabalenka doesn’t second-guess herself and plays as she always plays, going for her shots. It’d be extremely easy to play percentages, but that’s exactly what Pliskova will want.

Pliskova has served ridiculously so far, and she’ll have to today. Once the rally’s away I think she’ll struggle to match Sabalenka’s strokemaking, power and invention. Unless it all get too much which, let’s be honest, is extremely understandable; how players keep themselves together is a mystery to me, I’d be sobbing with joy and delight every time I tried to compete.

I’m watching VT with Sabalenka, who laughs that Pliskova is serving well and hitting balls hard. She is so much fun, and I can’t wait to see her today; I think she’ll win, but not having a clue is part of it.

On BBC, Chrissy and Martina are enjoying a chinwag, so earlier than anticipated, here’s today’s life-enhancer bit: Unmatched, the 30 for 30 on them, is a beautiful evocation of sport, competition, friendship and womanhood; The Fall: Decker v Budd, is currently available on Sky, and a stunning insight into a grief, pain and healing, set in a very specific time and place; and Akosua Larbi-Mensah is a 12-year-old girl who moved from Enfield to Brugera tennis academy only for it to close because of corona, so she’s now raising funds to attend Rials.

Also sustaining us today:

What an absurdly wonderful state of affairs. I wish I had eight eyes and four brains.

Centre Court

Ashleigh Barty [1] v Angelique Kerber [25] (1.30pm)

Karolina Pliskova [8] v Aryna Sabalenka [2] (2.45pm)

More or less, elite sportsfolk are made up of three elements: ability, mentality and personality. The absolute best have large helpings of all three – when you see them compete, you see all of them, and they suffuse whatever it is they play with their life-force. But it’s possible to be brilliant without quite having the lot, as it is to gradually build on apparently deficient raw materials.

Looking at today’s matches, it’s not especially hard to tick and cross the relevant boxes for each of our four competitors. But the thrill of it is that come Saturday evening, things might have changed.

However, Ash Barty and Angelique Kerber, who contest our first semi, can legitimately claim a clean sweep, which is why both have already won majors. Barty is just a freak of nature, brilliant at everything including being sound, while Kerber has rediscovered her love for the game and dug to the deepest recesses of her soul to reach this point. As such, whichever of them makes the final will be favourite for it.

On the other hand, our second semi features two players still trying to prove themselves. Karolina Pliskova might’ve thought her time had passed, having failed to win a slam when she was number one in the world, most likely because she was pitting her ability – which is immense – against others whose ability is immenser. But she has a new coach this season and might just have improved enough to finally get there.

Aryna Sabalenka, meanwhile, is a curious case, a player whose ability and personality are so lively that they might have hampered her mentality. Until this week, she had never made the last eight of the big four, an absolutely ridiculous state of affairs, but the calm and devastating way in which she dismissed Ons Jabeur in the quarter-final suggested that, at last, she’s at one. Welcome to Wimbledon day 10!

Play: 1.30pm BST