By Yemi Babalola Lagos, Nigeria
The quarterfinals of the 131st edition of the Wimbledon championships kicked off yesterday with the women singles (Ladies singles as it is known in Wimbledon).
The quarterfinals saw Spaniard Garbine Muguruza in straight sets, defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia 6-3 6-4 to book the first spot in the semi-finals to be played on Thursday. The seventh seed Kuznetsova after losing to the 24-year old yesterday accused Muguruza was getting coaching tips during the match, an accusation Muguruza has vehemently denied.
Muguruza who is the current world number 14 would be taking world number 87, and unseeded Slovakian, Magdaléna Rybáriková in the first SW19 semifinal fixture come Thursday. Rybáriková in straight sets knocked out younger American Coco Vandeweghe 6-3 6-3 to book a meeting with Garbine Muguruza. Unlike Muguruza who is a former French open champion and 2015 Wimbledon finalist, this would be Rybáriková first Grand slam semifinal appearance; she is also the eighth‐lowest‐ranked Grand Slam semi-finalist in history.
While 10-times Grand slam winner, Venus Williams made short work of 2017 French open champion Jelena Ostapenko 6-3 7-5 to become the oldest semi-finalist since Martina Navratilova in 1999. The 37-year-old American used experience and her serves to outmatch the youngster.
This victory ensured that Venus would be taking on home girl Johanna Konta in the other semifinal come Thursday at the Wimbledon championships. As Konta knocked out pundits favourites Romanian Simona Halep. The fixture was a form of revenge match for Konta as she takes on Romania’s Halep. Halep’s Coach Illie Nastase on court verbally abused Johanna Konta at the Federations Cup earlier in the year. Halep won the first set but could not withstand Konta’s comeback in the second and deciding sets. As the Briton won 6-7 7-6 6-4 to book a date with the sister of the defending champion of the competition, Venus Williams.
Gradually the likelihood of a new champion emerging or an experienced one coming back is getting real, as any of these four semifinalist would definitely be making history if they make it to the finals on Saturday. The Wimbledon is living up to its prestigious class.
