Wimbledon: Karolina Pliskova finally had a chance to play in a Wimbledon quarterfinal, and she made the most of it.
The tour veteran lost only 13 points on her serve and beat unseeded Viktorija Golubic 6-2, 6-2 to advance to the semifinals.
Just two more victories and Karolina Pliskova, a first-time semi-finalist who is known for her body art as well as for the quality of her serving, might even consider getting the Wimbledon logo tattooed on to one of her limbs.
Or, given how her serve has been central to her progress through the draw, the Czech could find herself contemplating an image of the speed gun or her ace count, which is already up to 40 for The Championships.
Second seed Aryna Sabalenka ended the fairytale run of upcoming Tunisian star Ons Jabeur, winning 6-4, 6-3 to enter the semi-finals.
In other women's quarter-final, 25th seed Angelique Kerber of Germany beat 19th seed Karolina Muchova of Czech Republic 6-2, 6-3.
You have to go all the way back to her opening round for the last time that Pliskova, lost more than three games in a set. After five matches and 10 sets, she has conceded a total of just 28 games.
The sound of the heavy rain smacking against the closed roof of No.1 Court somehow added to the sense of occasion as Pliskova, a former World No.1 and US Open finalist, continued a run that suggests that this might just be the week when she lands her first Grand Slam title.
An overnight break helped No. 14-seeded Hubert Hurkacz of Poland rally past No. 2 Daniil Medvedev to earn the last quarterfinal berth at Wimbledon. Hurkacz won 2-6, 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. The players were on serve in the fourth set when the match was suspended Monday night because of rain.
For someone sailing in uncharted waters Ashleigh Barty certainly enjoys making waves for her opponents.
The No.1 seed turned the battle of the Australians into a one-sided affair on Centre Court as she progressed to her first Championships semi-final at the expense of unseeded countrywoman Ajla Tomljanovic 6-1, 6-3.
Angelique Kerber has got her mojo back. With a full house permitted on No.1 Court for the first time this Fortnight, the rejuvenated German celebrated her first Grand Slam quarter-final since her 2018 run to the title here by whistling past the No.19 seed Karolina Muchova, 6-2, 6-3, in 75 minutes.
