We have reached the semi-final stage in the women’s draw at Wimbledon and there is the promise of two thrilling last-four encounters.
The four women still standing at Wimbledon are all bidding to be crowned champion at the All England Club for the first time, with world number one Aryna Sabalenka spearheading the strong quartet.
Sabalenka is a three-time Grand Slam champion and, having finished runner-up at the Australian Open and the French equivalent this season, the Belarusian will be desperate to go one position better at SW19.
However, standing in her way is world number 13 Amanda Anisimova and after a brief break from the game the resurgent American is back in confident spirits.
The other last-four dust-up sees Iga Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion, mix it with the unseeded Swiss star Belinda Bencic.
Selections
Sabalenka to fall short again
Sabalenka survived an almighty scare in her quarter-final victory over unseeded German Laura Siegemund, who was 4-3 ahead on serve in the closing set only for the 37-year-old to feel the effects late on.
Even in earlier round wins over Marie Bouzkova, Emma Raducanu and Elise Mertens, those opponents forced a tiebreak and were able to stay within three games of the world number one, suggesting that there may be opportunities that arise for Anisimova to defeat her.
Despite being the lower-ranked player, Anisimova has won five of her eight previous meetings with Sabalenka and she has had an excellent grass-court campaign, having won 11 of her 13 matches and made the Queen’s Club final.
The American hinted at her promise when making the French Open semi-final as a teenager in 2019 and, now 23 years of age, she may finally be able to live up to those expectations.
Both players look to utilise their power and, in a match which could be settled by who makes the least unforced errors, the value is in siding with Anisimova.
Tip 1: Amanda Anisimova to beat Aryna Sabalenka @ 19/10
Swiatek to book final spot
It has been a poor season for Swiatek, who has taken a slide down the rankings after failing to win a single piece of silverware since securing her fourth French Open title in 2024.
However, recent signs have been extremely encouraging from the Pole and she has been rejuvenated during this grass-court campaign.
Swiatek reached the final in Bad Homburg in her final preparation event before the trip to the All England Club, defeating Victoria Azarenka, Ekaterina Alexandrova and Jasmine Paolini 2-0 before bumping into world number three Jessica Pegula in the final.
The Pole has stepped things up another level since then, though, and is into her first Wimbledon semi-final having dropped only one set across her five matches.
In fact, Swiatek has dropped serve only six times across her five tournament victories and routine wins over former Australian Open champion Danielle Collins and fellow seeds Clara Tauson and Liudmila Samsonova read especially well.
Bencic deserves plenty of credit in what is only her second Grand Slam appearance since the 2023 US Open due to becoming a mum.
However, it was an error-strewn performance from quarter-final victim Mirra Andreeva and she is unlikely to live with the powers of Swiatek, who has won three of their four meetings and has far greater big-stage experience.
Tip 2: Iga Swiatek to win 2-0 @ 4/5
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- Source: https://blog.betway.com/tennis/wimbledon-tips-best-bets-for-the-womens-semi-finals/
