Wimbledon 2019: Serena Williams and Simona Halep surge into final – as it happened

Right it’s time to call time on today’s blog, somewhat earlier than expected after those dominant wins for Serena Williams and Simona Halep. Let’s hope proceedings will go on for a little longer tomorrow when Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal meet for the first time here since the Greatest Match of All Time ™. Hopefully Kevin Mitchell’s preview will keep you going until then – otherwise this definitely will if you can spare six hours. Thanks for your company today. Bye!

A few other results to bring you from today. Wimbledon’s 2010 marathon man Nicolas Mahut and his fellow Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin are through to the men’s doubles final, defeating Croatia’s Ivan Dodig and Slovakia’s Filip Polasek 6-2, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (2). They’ll face the winners of the match just getting under way on Centre Court, between the Colombian second seeds, Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah, and South Africa’s Raven Klaasen and New Zealand’s Michael Venus.

On No 1 Court, Bruno Soares and Nicole Melichar, the top seeds in the mixed doubles and the villains of the piece yesterday when they did for Andy Murray and Serena Williams, could go the same way as Murena, trailing by a set in their quarter-final.

And in the wheelchair events, there have been quarter-final singles defeats for Britain’s Gordon Reid, Alfie Hewett and Jordanne Whiley, but victory for the two-time Paralympic silver medallist Andy Lapthorne, who has become the first Brit to reach a quad final at Wimbledon.

The match is on Williams’s racket and she’ll be the strong favourite not only because of their head-to-head (which she dominates 9-1) but also because of their match-up. An attacking Williams should beat a defending Halep. But if Williams gets the jitters, Halep showed today that she’s in the form to take advantage.

One thing is certain: if Williams does win the title, at the age of 37, with no momentum coming into the tournament and given the pressure of the history she’s chasing, it would be one of her best grand slam wins. And that’s saying something.

Here’s Kevin Mitchell’s match report:

Two semi-finals. Four sets. A combined seven games won by the defeated. The crowd may feel short changed but they did get to see Williams at her best. Can she maintain that power, poise and precision against Halep or will the milestone of equalling Margaret Court’s all-time grand slam record become a millstone as it did in the Wimbledon and US Open finals last year?

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And here are the thoughts of the victor:

It’s good, especially after my year. It feels good to be back in the final. I just needed some matches. Every match I’m improving. Now I’m feeling good I can do what I do best, and that’s playing tennis. I wake up every morning and I get to be fit, play in front of crowds. Not everyone can do that. I love what I do, it’s just a remarkable experience. [Halep is] tough. We always have tough matches. I look forward to it.

Strycova prevails in a 14-shot rally on the first point. A final flourish? Perhaps, because Williams wallops her way to 15-all. But then Strycova decides to get in on the act. 15-30. Which becomes 30-all. Strycova loops long and it’s match point. And Williams ends with yet another winner, sprinting forward to dispatch a cross-court forehand! Williams is through to her 11th Wimbledon final after a devastating display that lasted only 59 minutes and stands only one win away from that historic 24th grand slam title and her first since becoming a mother!

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Second set: *Williams 6-1, 5-2 Strycova (*denotes next server)

Strycova is skating on very thin ice at 15-30 on her serve. Or stumbling on slightly worn grass, to be more accurate. The drop shot that served her so well against Konta again fails to come off here. 15-40, two break points that could leave Williams serving for the match. Strycova holds firm on the first, but inexplicably blazes a volley well into the tramlines on the second! Strycova screams before putting her face in her hands. It’s almost checkmate for the Czech.

Second set: Williams 6-1, 4-2 Strycova* (*denotes next server)

In words that will probably put the curse on Williams, there are no signs she will get nervous closing this out. She’s looking so assured. When she’s nervous her footwork can be the first thing that goes, but she’s moving so freely, unlike her opponent who appears to be struggling with a leg injury. Williams consolidates the break by holding to love.

Second set: *Williams 6-1, 3-2 Strycova (*denotes next server)

It’s certainly fun watching the 5ft 5in Strycova digging out everything she has in her box of tricks to try to conjure a comeback against Williams, even though she is surely going to come up short. Williams rolls through another service game and then puts the pressure on Strycova’s serve at 30-all. Strycova double faults, but I’m not sure that can be called a fault given the way Williams was lurking within the baseline. And Strycova nets!

Second set: *Williams 6-1, 1-2 Strycova (*denotes next server)

As Tumaini says in his tweet, the mixed doubles has certainly helped Williams in the singles, but becoming an honorary Brit has also seen her lifted by the crowd more than perhaps in previous years. But the Centre Court patrons are cheering loudly for Strycova as the Czech underdog gets to game point. And Strycova is screaming even more loudly herself when she holds to win only her third game of the match.

Second set: Williams 6-1, 1-1 Strycova* (*denotes next server)

Strycova has defeated four seeds this fortnight, including Johanna Konta in the quarter-finals when she blew the Brit off course with her serve and volleying, low slice and liberal use of drop shots. But it’s not enough to interrupt Williams’s rhythm. While Strycova manages to hold serve at the start of the second set, Williams comes straight back at her with a hold to 15, though the highlight of the game was a stylish Strycova backhand winner which just clipped the line.

But no, there’s a possible twist to the tale as Strycova out of nowhere gets to 0-15, 0-30, 0-40 with a very fortunate net cord. The Czech needs all the luck she can get right now. But beware a riled Williams. The seven-times champion retaliates immediately, saving all three break points for deuce. A beautiful angled drop volley from Williams brings up set point. And the set is sealed with her third ace.

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First set: *Williams 5-1 Strycova (*denotes next server)

Williams’s serve is such a weapon and the free points she gets on it quickly puts so much pressure back on her opponent when they’re serving. Having returned a man’s 138mph serve in the mixed doubles for a clean winner on Tuesday, Strycova’s serve is batting practice for Williams right now. 15-40, two points for the double break. Strycova sends a backhand wide and this set could be over very soon.

First set: Williams 4-1 Strycova* (*denotes next server)

Williams whistles through on serve, to love. She’s looking like the woman who has won the title seven times before.

First set: *Williams 3-1 Strycova (*denotes next server)

Williams sends a little message to Strycova that any weak serves will be punished by rattling a return winner. 15-all. She then gives the Czech something else to think about as she crashes down the smash. 30-all. A Strycova second serve is inviting for Williams, but she bludgeons the backhand long, before letting out an anguished scream. 40-30. Deuce. Advantage Williams, when Strycova rushes the drop shot. Strycova decides to serve and volley – you can’t criticise her for the tactic – but Williams is on to it, and pulls off the passing winner for the break! Williams is looking ominously strong.

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First set: Williams 2-1 Strycova* (*denotes next server)

Sam Smith points out on the BBC commentary that Williams had played only 12 matches this year coming into Wimbledon, adding up to around 20 hours on court. She may have been underdone coming here but she’s cooking on gas on serve here, and a hold to 30 allows her to nudge ahead once more. Both players seem settled from the off.

First set: *Williams 1-1 Strycova (*denotes next server)

Williams looks furious with herself after an errant forehand gives Strycova game point at 40-15. Another unforced error and Strycova starts her serve with a comfortable hold. But Williams is already pushing here, trying to dictate the play, which could be ominous for the Czech who is appearing in her first grand slam semi-final at the age of 33.

First set: Williams 1-0 Strycova* (*denotes next server)

Ladies and gentlemen, Mrs Williams won the toss and will serve first. Sorry, make that Williams, what with Wimbledon finally stepping into the 21st century and no longer using marital status when saying the name of female players. But I digress. Williams gets to 30-all. Strycova checks the champion’s charge for 30-all. But Williams takes the next two points – finishing with the overhead – and that’s the opening game.

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Williams says: “This is the first time since Australia that I actually felt good. It’s been a really, really long year for me already, and hard year, because I’m usually not typically injured. Now that I feel good, I can actually focus on training and technique and practice, something that I just literally haven’t been able to do a lot of.”

Strycova says: “Of course, I don’t have as much power as Serena, but I have other weapons. I have really nothing to lose. When you go out there, you just focus on yourself and you focus how to beat that opponent, the way you want to beat her. So I am not really scared to play her. I just really will try my best and I will fight as much as I can.”

Tik! Tok! Tik! Tok! They’re warming up, the 5ft 10in Williams against the 5ft 5in Strycova. Williams leads the head-to-head 3-0, which includes their 2012 match at Wimbledon. This is a real contrast in styles between the power of Williams and the serve-volleying and slicing and dicing of the crafty Czech.

And here comes Serena into the Wimbledon arena. After the SerAndy/Murena partnership ended in defeat yesterday, she’s back to being just Serena this afternoon, but with seven Wimbledon titles and 23 grand slam singles titles to her name, that’s the way she likes it. However will that quest for a record-equalling 24th major weigh too heavily on her shoulders today, as it did in last year’s Wimbledon and US Open finals? It’s an intriguing sub-plot to today’s match.

And more musings on that semi-final: