Clinical Rybakina into Wimbledon semi-finals

Former champion Elena Rybakina advanced to the Wimbledon semi-finals with a clinical win over Elina Svitolina on Centre Court.

Kazakhstan’s Rybakina moved a level above Svitolina in a 6-3 6-2 victory that lasted just 62 minutes, and will play in the top four for the first time since winning the competition in 2022.

The 25-year-old will face either Jelena Ostapenko or Barbora Krejcikova for a place in the final. These two will also play each other on Wednesday.

Rybakina and Svitolina traded breaks in the opening games of an initially even first set, with the Ukrainian then losing serve when trailing 4-3.

Rybakina maintained her momentum into the second set, breaking immediately with a deep forehand into the corner.

She broke again at 4-2 and served for the match to reach the semi-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time since reaching the final of the Australian Open in 2023.

The result ended Svitolina’s winning streak as the Ukrainian was unable to repeat her semi-final appearance from last year.

On Monday, the 29-year-old former world number three said it was “extremely difficult” to play at Wimbledon after Russian attacks killed dozens of people and severely damaged a children’s hospital in her native Ukraine.