Wimbledon 2024. Women's semifinals analysis: Rybakina against the thrill of first times

The women's draw of Wimbledon 2024 has been full of surprises from beginning to end. Starting with the last-minute withdrawal of Aryna Sabalenka, then the elimination of Iga Swiatek, and ending with the presence in the semifinals of three players who had never reached this stage in London before. The remaining player, however, is the top favorite: Elena Rybakina, the 2022 champion and current world number 4, is poised to clinch her second title. But to do so, she will have to defeat Barbara Krecjikova, while in the other match, Roland Garros finalist Jasmine Paolini will face Donna Vekic. No one expected players like Lulu Sun, Emma Navarro, or the aforementioned Paolini and Vekic to advance to the later stages of the women's draw. The Italian easily dispatched the American, and the Croatian staged a comeback against the New Zealander to set up a semifinal clash. In the upper half of the draw, favorites were falling by the wayside, except for Rybakina, who proves once again that grass is her best surface, with a career record of 19 wins and 2 losses. It remains to be seen if Krejcikova can be the third player to challenge Rybakina at Wimbledon. Jasmine Paolini vs. Donna Vekic: a historic opportunity for both We'll never know if these two players expected to reach the penultimate round of Wimbledon and be one win away from the grand final. Both have shown discomfort on the grass of London during their careers. In fact, Paolini had never won a match in the tournament, and Vekic's best result was reaching the fourth round. Paolini arrived on the grass court tour after a dream run at Roland Garros where she made it to the final, falling to Swiatek. That successful tournament gave her confidence that she can achieve great things. Meanwhile, Vekic hadn't won three matches in a row until her run in Bad Homburg, the tournament prior to Wimbledon, showcasing her ability on grass. The head-to-head record favors the Italian with two wins to one for the Croatian. Paolini emerged victorious in their first meeting at Cincinnati 2021 and last year in Montreal, while Vekic won in Courmayeur 2021. This will be their first encounter on grass. Their playing styles differ significantly, with Vekic relying on speed and power, particularly with her serve and forehand, while Paolini is a defensive wall who never gives up on a ball, possessing a wide range of tactical options. It will be intriguing to see who seizes control of the points first, as Italian's solid defense can turn into offense, a crucial aspect on this surface. The Croatian, on the other hand, always looks to dictate with rapid and aggressive shots. It promises to be a gripping semifinal between two players with contrasting styles. Elena Rybakina vs. Barbora Krejcikova: clash between Grand Slam champions In the second semifinal, two players who have previously won Grand Slam singles titles, Rybakina at Wimbledon 2022 and Krejcikova at Roland Garros 2021, will face off. However, it's the Kazakh who has remained among the top players on the circuit, currently ranking fourth, while the Czech is 32nd. While Rybakina lived up to the expectations of being a title contender, Krejcikova surprised everyone by winning five consecutive matches on grass for the first time. Both players had inconsistent seasons leading up to Wimbledon. Rybakina missed several tournaments due to health issues but managed to win three titles. Krejcikova's noteworthy result was reaching the Australian Open quarterfinals before a two-month injury break. Both needed a tournament like Wimbledon to rediscover their form. Krejcikova holds a surprising 2-0 advantage in their head-to-head matches, having won in WTA Melbourne 2021 and Ostrava 2022. This will be their first meeting on grass, where Rybakina excels, showcasing an offensive game and a strong serve. However, she faces an opponent in Krejcikova who handles slice shots masterfully for defense and attacks with a powerful forehand. Expect a match with long rallies where Rybakina aims to control points, while Krejcikova uses her slice as a defensive weapon. The Wimbledon semifinals are set, with four players ready to compete for a spot in the final. Rybakina aims to repeat her title success, while Paolini, Vekic, and Krejcikova seek their first taste of a final. Who will claim the two coveted spots for Saturday's grand final?

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Wimbledon 2024. Análisis semifinales femeninas: Rybakina contra la ilusión de las primeras veces