Last update on. From the section TennisAshleigh Barty will retain the world number 1 ranking by reaching the semi finalsWimbledon 2021 at the BBC Dates: All England Club: 28 June-11 Jul Coverage: Live on BBC TV, Radio and Online with extensive coverage on BBC iPlayer and Red Button, Connected TVs, and mobile app. You can find more details hereTo reach the Wimbledon semi-finals, Ashleigh Barty defeated Ajla Tomljanovic, the world number one.Barty, 25, won 6-16-3 and will face Angelique Kerber in four of the final four.Kerber, 2018 Wimbledon champion, advanced after a convincing win over Karolina Manyova 6-2 6-3.After beating Viktorija Golubic and Ons Jabeur, Aryna Sabalenka will face Karolina Pliskova on Thursday in the other semi-final.This means that 16 players have taken the semi-final spots at Wimbledon and the Grand Slams.Barty, 2019 French Open champion, was no match to Tomljanovic. She cruised through the first set and won six games in succession, three of them being to love.However, Tomljanovic looked stronger in the second set and broke Barty in her opening game. She did not reach her second winner until the sixth match, when she appeared ready to fight back.In the seventh, she broke Barty once more. But Barty quickly stormed home to win her second match point with an Ace - her fifth match point.Barty said, "Ajla was an amazing competitor, she was always going bring out the best in me,""This is my dream come true. As athletes, you may hear this a lot. But this is my dream and this is why I am so grateful.After the German's win over Czech Muchova, Barty will face Kerber in the semi-final.Barty said, "It's a test of endurance." "Angie has clearly had success here before."I love that matchup. Angie is a great friend. She knows the court well and I'm sure she can play well."Kerber, who was the previous female winner in the women's draw had won the first set easily and maintained her composure throughout the second.This was her 10th consecutive win on grass after winning the Bad Homburg Open in June.Kerber said, "I'm looking forward to playing against Ash." Kerber said, "We've never played on grass court. She has been playing so well the last few months, if not years."I know I must play my best tennis and she will push for me to do that. She will give her all."Pliskova and Sabalenka to meet for the third timeSabalenka won her semi-final of the Grand Slam with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Tunisia's Jabeur. This was Sabalenka's maiden Grand Slam semifinal - she is the first Arab woman to reach eight at the All England Club.Both Sabalenka & Jabeur had won 33 of the Tour's top 2021 matches, so there was little to separate them in the early exchanges.Jabeur, who beat Grand Slam champions Venus Williams and Garbine Muguruza on her march to her march to the final eight, held break point in a five minute opening game but couldn't take advantage of her chance. Sabalenka held with a steady serve down the middle that her opponent couldn't return in.The eight next games were served, with Sabalenka scoring a big-hitting 122mph effort before she began to assert her dominance at the 10th.After wasting four set and break points, she capitalized on the fifth, when Jabeur scored.Jabeur appeared to be on his way to a break in game one of the second set, but Sabalenka was able to hold after three break points. The next two sets were against Sabalenka.In the eighth set, Sabalenka broke Jabeur before saving a break point. She then won the match with a backhand down her line."This win is a great feeling. Sabalenka stated that it's always difficult to play against Ons."She is a fantastic player and an incredible person."I am happy that everything seems to be working for me. It can be tricky to hit the grass and it can sometimes be difficult to use the ball.It fits my game perfectly and I really enjoy my time on court."Pliskova will be her eighth seed. She beat Switzerland's Golubic 6-2, 6-2 to reach the Wimbledon final four.It was the Czech's consistency and dominance at the baseline that made the difference. She has not dropped a set in the tournament.After a difficult year, Pliskova's rise to the Wimbledon final four has been a sign of a turnaround in fortunes.The French Open was won by the 29-year old. She lost the second round. Her defense of Eastbourne International ended in one match. She then fell out of the top ten for the first time since 2005.Pliskova stated, "I am super glad to be done.""I feel that my game has improved over the past two weeks, both in matches and practices. We did some great preparation, and we hope to continue."I'm going to enjoy it because it's never happened for me."
