So Maria Sharapova squeezes into the last four. But who will she meet there? Victoria Azarenka? Or Serena Williams? Find out here.
MARIA SHARAPOVA WINS 6-3, 6-7, 6-2!
It’s over! Maria Sharapova was desperate not to have to serve for the match again, given her nightmare in the second set, and she puts pressure on Vandeweghe’s serve. The game goes to deuce. Vandeweghe misfires to give Sharapova a match point. They rally and Vandeweghe’s forehand clips the net and cruelly drops wide!
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Third set: Sharapova* 6-3, 6-7, 5-2 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): Sharapova begins by slapping a tentative forehand into the net. She’s annoyed with herself but she wins the next three points. She’s all ... well, not smiles ... all ... less frowny again, let’s say. Sharapova bangs down her fourth ace to hold.
Third set: Sharapova 6-3, 6-7, 4-2 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): Vandeweghe clips the line with a monstrous forehand from right to left and Sharapova clunks her forehand wide to make it 15-0. Then, inevitably, a double fault. Vandeweghe is undeterred. She goes for a classic one-two, a serve out wide, a winner into the opposite corner for 30-15, but Sharapova continues to bang on the door, extracting two forehand errors from Vandeweghe to earn a break point. Vandeweghe balloons a forehand and all the momentum she was building up is frittered away.
Third set: Sharapova* 6-3, 6-7, 3-2 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): To my right, my colleague Kevin Mitchell is talking to me about Latin, just as Vandeweghe seizes two break points, Sharapova whacking a forehand long. But Sharapova is so stubborn; she keeps Vandeweghe at bay with two big serves. She’s also erratic, though. Then she rushes a backhand wide and almost goes all Nick Kyrgios on her racket. This time, there’s no escape. A stonking return from Vandeweghe leads to another error from Sharapova! Vandweghe is back in it again and she is loving this. The crowd loves her. Sharapova doesn’t.
Third set: Sharapova 6-3, 6-7, 3-1 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): Vandeweghe springs into a backhand to take a 40-15 lead. She has a brief wobble, losing the next point, but she holds. Sharapova still has work to do.
Third set: Sharapova* 6-3, 6-7, 3-0 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): Sharapova consolidates the break.
Third set: Sharapova 6-3, 6-7, 2-0 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): Sharapova produces a beautiful lob to make it 30-all. Then some farce: Vandeweghe crunches a forehand into the left corner. Sharapova hangs high ball up to the baseline. Vandeweghe fluffs an astonishingly bad smash low into the net. A dramatic match, sure, but there has been some appalling tennis at times. Vandeweghe saves the break point but gives up another with a forehand into the net and falls behind when she nets a backhand.
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Third set: Sharapova* 6-3, 6-7, 1-0 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): Maybe Maria Sharapova really doesn’t want to play Serena Williams. She’s just hit a first serve ludicrously long. That was ridiculous, nowhere near the intended target. Then again, I could be talking rubbish. It’s been known to happen. Sharapova holds to love.
Both players have returned from a quick comfort break. We’re into a third set!
Coco Vandeweghe wins the second set 7-6 to level the match!
Second-set tie-break: Sharapova* 3-7 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): Coco Vandeweghe meets a short ball and bangs a backhand into the corner to complete a stunning comeback! Maria Sharapova served for the match 20 minutes ago but she appears to have forgotten how to serve.
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Second-set tie-break: Sharapova 3-6 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): Sharapova nets a backhand! Three set points for Vandeweghe.
Second-set tie-break: Sharapova 3-5 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): Sharapova swings - and misses a forehand by miles!
Second-set tie-break: Sharapova* 3-4 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): Vandeweghe comes up with another big forehand.
Second-set tie-break: Sharapova* 3-3 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): Vandeweghe returns long.
Second-set tie-break: Sharapova 2-3 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): Vandeweghe double faults.
Second-set tie-break: Sharapova 1-3 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): Another forehand winner from Vandeweghe!
Second-set tie-break: Sharapova* 1-2 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): Another forehand winner from Vandeweghe puts her in command!
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Second-set tie-break: Sharapova* 1-1 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): Vandeweghe hits back with an excellent forehand winner.
Second-set tie-break: Sharapova 1-0 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): Vandeweghe knocks a forehand wide.
Second set: Sharapova* 6-3, 6-6 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): Sharapova thinks she’s in control when she grunts her way into a 30-15 lead. But two loose shots later, Vandeweghe has a set point! Can she take it? No! She smacks a return off a second serve long! What a miss. She gets another set point, too, and that one also goes begging. Back to deuce we go. Eventually Sharapova holds. Tie-break.
Second set: Sharapova 6-3, 5-6 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): Filth is followed by inspiration; a double fault followed by an ace from Vandeweghe. She’s inconsistent. She’s up 40-15. Two errors later, it’s deuce; then comes a wheezing forehand into the net, Sharapova clutching another break point. But Vandeweghe keeps jabbing. Sharapova is forced to scoop a backhand long. Just. Sharapova then batters a backhand return long, challenging without any success, but that’s just the cue for another double fault from Vandeweghe, who then nets a backhand. Break point. Break? No. She saves it. She holds. She’s a warrior. Having chucked away the chance to win it, Sharapova will serve to stay in the second set. Maybe she put herself off with all that ridiculous shrieking.
Second set: Sharapova* 6-3, 5-5 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): Serving for the match, Sharapova begins with a backhand prod into the net. Vandeweghe is still fighting, determined to keep this match alive. Moments later, Sharapova belts a useless forehand long to make it 0-30, then an umpteenth double fault makes it 0-40, three break points for Vandeweghe, an unlikely route back into the contest. Vandweghe doesn’t turn down such hospitality: a low forehand into the corner alters the complexion immeasurably.
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Second set: Sharapova 6-3, 5-4 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): Vandeweghe makes a meal of it, but she holds. But Sharapova will serve for a place in the semi-finals.
Second set: Sharapova* 6-3, 5-3 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): Sharapova is serving with the new balls but her radar is skittering all over the place when she drills a forehand wide to hand over a 15-30 lead. But then two consecutive challenges go against Vandeweghe, who hits wide on a return on the final point. “Come on!” Sharapova barks at her team. See? She does talk to them.
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Second set: Sharapova 6-3, 4-3 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): Vandeweghe is keeping Sharapova honest. She steps into two whipcrack forehands and cracks them away for a 40-15 lead, before Sharapova punches a volley long.
Second set: Sharapova* 6-3, 4-2 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): The serving in this match has been pretty awful. Sharapova leads 40-15. She loses the next point, before a double fault brings the game to deuce. But she wins an entertaining duel at the net and holds with a big serve.
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Second set: Sharapova 6-3, 3-2 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): Vandeweghe could do with a stress-free hold here. It looks like she’s going to get one when it’s 40-0 but then she loses the next two points. She tightens up, netting a forehand. If sirens aren’t ringing in her head, they should be. It seems they are. No more free gifts.
Second set: Sharapova* 6-3, 3-1 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): The atmosphere on Centre Court is understandably muted now. The crowd’s not being given much to work with here. Sharapova offers Vandeweghe a glimmer of hope with a double fault at 30-0 but it’s soon replaced by the grim embrace of darkness.
Second set: Sharapova 6-3, 2-1 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): Danger looms for Vandeweghe when Sharapova rips into her groundstrokes to earn three break points. Vandeweghe nets a limp backhand and Sharapova breaks.
Second set: Sharapova* 6-3, 1-1 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): The crowd is on Vandewegher’s side, naturally, and cheer when she takes a 15-30 lead with some wonderful hitting into both wings. But it’s clear where Vandeweghe needs to work: she looks cumbersome when she has to defend, her movement a little heavy and rarely easy on the eye. Sharapova holds.
Second set: Sharapova 6-3, 0-1 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): Coco Vandeweghe has a wry smile on her face as she walks to the service line for the start of the second set. That’s replaced by a frown when she loses the first two points. She wins the next two points with two hefty swipes of her racket but the smile doesn’t return. This is serious business now, especially when a double fault gifts Sharapova a double fault. But she saves it with a pinpoint forehand down the line and momentarily silences Sharapova.
Maria Sharapova wins the first set 6-3!
With Sharapova serving for the first set, the first two points are shared. But two massive serves from Sharapov bring her two set points. She wastes the first with a double fault, but then she drags Vandeweghe out of her comfort zone with a backhand boulder to the right, and the American nets her forehand on the run.
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First set: Sharapova 5-3 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): Vandeweghe holds to love. Sharapova will serve for the set.
First set: Sharapova* 5-2 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): Sharapova quickly wins three straight points to establish a 40-0 lead, polishing off the game with a delicate backhand drop shot to consolidate the break. Vandeweghe will serve to stay in the first set.
First set: Sharapova 4-2 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): Sharapova roars into a backhand return and wins the first point, a reeling Vandweghe netting her riposte. Sharapova is coming after her serve and it’s unsettling Vandeweghe, who goes long to concede two more break points. The noise pollution is another concern. Sharapova is even shrieking into that most physically demanding of shots, the backhand slice. Vandeweghe makes another error and Sharapova leads again. That’s three breaks in a row.
First set: Sharapova* 3-2 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): Vandeweghe shakes off the disappointment of being broken by beginning this game with a pearler of a backhand that lands right on the line. Sharapova scrambles but gets nowhere near it and soon it’s 0-30. Make that 0-40! Sharapova turns up the heat but Vandeweghe brings out the flamethrower, winning the rally with a neat backhand volley. Sharapova has already saved a few break points. She keeps Vandeweghe waiting. But she’s eventually overpowered by a huge forehand and can only knock a defensive shot well past the baseline. Vandeweghe is back in the set!
First set: Sharapova 3-1 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): In a break with tradition, this game does not begin with a double fault. Instead it’s an ace. I’m not sure how I feel about that. I might have to write a strongly worded letter of complaint to Coco Vandeweghe. Perhaps that’s what on her mind when she loses the next two points. On the next point, Sharapova leaves a wide open space down the middle as she waits for the serve, hoping to hit a forehand. She swings at the ball but it’s not a great shot, slightly mishit and too short, and a rally ensues; Vandeweghe wins it, before the game goes to deuce. A good return from Sharapova then unbalances Vandeweghe, who has to save a break point for the first time. She does so with the help of a big serve, but then she loops a backhand long to give up a second one. This time, her backhand malfunctions badly and Sharapova lands the first blow. That’s unlikely to be the last break of serve.
First set: Sharapova* 2-1 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): Sharapova decides she likes the cut of Vandeweghe’s jib and starts this game with a double fault. Another one makes it 15-30. This is lamentable and Vandeweghe soon has a break point when she pounces on a short ball with a forehand. Again, though, Sharapova raises her game when the moment calls for it, forcing deuce with an unlikely but timely ace. Vandeweghe is going for every shot but two wayward ones hand a relieved Sharapova the game.
First set: Sharapova 1-1 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): Having gone so close to breaking in the first game of the match, typically Vandeweghe begins her first service game with a double fault. A worrying sign? Think again. She battens down the hatches on her serve and swings into a 40-30 lead. The game ends with Sharapova netting a forehand. She’s made a few errors on that side already.
First set: Sharapova* 1-0 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): So here we are then: the first women’s quarter-final is underway. Maria Sharapova begins and you’ll know it’s started if you are the proud owner of a pair of ears. They share the first two points, outdoing each other with a couple of crummy forehands into the net, before Vandeweghe takes a 15-30 lead. Sharapova is yet to find her range. That pesky net is thwarting her and Vandeweghe, showing no nerves at all, attacks the net and earns two break points. Sharapova saves them both with some forceful tennis but then gives up another with an awkward forehand into the net. Vandeweghe is showing no nerves, yet Sharapova is such a cussed competitor; a third break point is saved with a rasping backhand. Yet the underdog continues to yap away, carving out a fourth opportunity with an excellent backhand return. Again, though, Sharapova produces her best when her back’s against the wall. Sharapova survives, pummelling a smash away at the net, but she knows she’s in for a fight now.
Tok! Tok! Tok! They’re knocking up.
The covers are off - and the players are back out. That’s good, isn’t it?
The covers are coming off! Huzzah!
The referee’s office is confident that the covers will be removed in the next 10 minutes.
How fortunate that Centre Court has a roof.
It’s just started raining! Play will not begin shortly. The covers are on and the players are walking off court.
The players are out. Play will begin shortly.
Preamble
Hello. She is the daughter of Tauna Vandeweghe, who swam for USA at the 1976 Olympics. Her uncle and grandfather were basketball stars. Her grandmother was Miss America in 1952. She hasn’t been on speaking terms with her dad. And today, she is a first-time Wimbledon quarter-finalist at the age of 23. She is Coco Vandeweghe, she has beaten three seeds to get here and she is playing Maria Sharapova, the former champion and five-time slam winner. She’s got quite the story. But will it continue beyond today? Or will her hopes and dreams meet a frosty end at the cold-blooded hands of that Russian with ice in her veins? There’s only one way to found out. Let’s play some tennis!
Play begins at: 1pm.
