Wimbledon 2025 semi-finals: Sabalenka v Anisimova before Bencic v Swiatek - live

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now 09.01 EDT *Sabalenka 2-3 Anisimova Sabalenka goes long for 0-15, then a double ups the ante; she takes her time after sending down a third consecutive fault and her her delivery sits up and begs to be spanked; Anisimova will be disappointed she hits the net on return. But have a look! She cracks a backhand winer cross, raising two break points, and this feels like a potential inflection point, but a return into the net and a forehand that’s just long bring us to deuce, Anisimova slipping on to haunches in frustration as the missed opportunity. So to deuce we go, at which point there’s a pause as someone in the crowd has a situation; Sabalenka takes over some water, then both players sit under their respective umbrellas, left in limbo at a pressure moment. That’s better news for Anisimova, able to relax while her opponent stews. Share

7m ago 08.53 EDT Sabalenka 2-3 Anisimova* We also mentioned earlier that the players might try to turn their opponent’s strength against her, and Anisimova goes long on the backhand for 15-all, then hits a terrible forehand wide from mid-court. At 15-30, Sabalenka has a sniff, but she frames a return to release pressure … then does likewise when sent a second consecutive body-serve. A return then falls long, and Anisimova will be happy with her start. Share

10m ago 08.50 EDT *Sabalenka 2-2 Anisimova We said just before that the second serve might be something for Anisimova to target, an we’ve just been told that no one – man or woman – hits them back as hard as she does. Of course, it’s no sooner said than Sabalenka nails an ace down the T for 40-0, and from there, she too secures a love hold. This is developing into an intense contest, both players bringing it. “Wimbledon has a history of clashing with other sports,” writes Krishnamoorthy V. “My best memory is from 2019 - we were returning from a road trip and my mobile was tuned to the OBO of the cricket World Cup and the car radio was tuned to the epic Federer - Djokovic . The former went to the superover and the latter to a tie break after 12-12 in the fifth set. We pulled over to a food court mall and there were two big screens with live telecast of both the matches. Surreal.” I can’t remember the 2019 World Cup. What happened there? Share Updated at 08.51 EDT

14m ago 08.47 EDT Sabalenka 1-2 Anisimova* Sabalenka hasn’t found her range or her head yet, an attempted drop she oughtn’t to have played hitting the net for 30-0. From there, Anisimova serves out a love hold, and she’s started nicely. View image in fullscreen Amanda Anisimova plays a forehand return as we go with serve in the opening set. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/AFP/Getty Images Share Updated at 08.50 EDT

16m ago 08.44 EDT *Sabalenka 1-1 Anisimova Sabalenka smites a forehand winner down the line, then a return flies long; 30-0. But a poor second serve allows Anisimova to attack and incite the error – look out for that as a feature, because that facet of Sabalenka’s game is a relative weakness – then at 40-15, a terrible drop allows the American to make a cup of tea prior to swatting a backhand winner. But a big serve takes care of the next point, so we’re level at a game apiece. Share

20m ago 08.40 EDT Sabalenka 0-1 Anisimova* (denotes server) A confident start from Anisimova, who makes 40-15, but scurrying in to net after a squash-shot return dips, she flicks long, inviting minor pressure. No matter: Sabalenka nets a forehand, and the underdog is into the match. Share

24m ago 08.37 EDT Our players are out on Centre. Anisimova actually leads the head-to-head 5-3, so won’t be feart, but Sabalenka has won three of the last last four. My feeling is that she controls her power slightly better, but she’s also more prone to collapse and likely to be the less chill of the two. Share

31m ago 08.30 EDT I did not, I must say, expect Bencic to bin Andreeva yesterday. Partly, Bencic is someone on whose performance I’ve never felt able to rely, but mainly, I felt like Andreeva was ready to win – as much as anything because, for the first time, those were the vibes she and her coach were exuding. Which isn’t to say I expected her to, but I did think it’d take Swiatek or Sabalenka to stop her. Bencic, though, played the big points superbly, and if she can do that against Swiatek, she’s a chance. Share

38m ago 08.22 EDT As it did last year, Wimbledon clashes with the Lord’s Test – unhelpful for people working on the former with tickets for the latter. Pray for them. Both venues encapsulate some of the worst of this country – fussiness, coldness, formality – and some of the best – tastefulness, attention to detail, beauty. There are few venues, if any – in any sport – which envelop you in their history so absolutely, that feel an honour to attend, that so enrapture those lucky enough to play at them. I love both despite myself. Share

50m ago 08.11 EDT Two years ago, Swiatek men Bencic in the round of 16, winning in three, but both are better now than then; my sense, though, is that it’s the former who’s taken the bigger strides. On grass, she’s a very different player to the one she was then and as a consequence, her on-court persona is very different too. Share

1h ago 08.00 EDT Most likely, Anisimova will look to hit at Sabalenka’s backhand, while Sabelenka looks for her forehand. But sometimes, players seek to turn an opponent’s strength against them, and if either one finds their money shot malfunctioning – and these big weapons have little margin for error – I’d not be surprised to see it targeted. Share

1h ago 07.53 EDT On BBC, they’re saying Sabalenka needs this more than the other three semi-finalists, which I understand: she was so disappointed to lose the French Open final to Coco Gauff, and as world no 1, winning things is what she’s meant to do. But Anisimova and Bencic will see this as the chance of their lives and have not a clue when they’ll be this close to glory again, whereas Sabalenka will be there or thereabouts next year and for many more to come. Share

1h ago 07.48 EDT It’s really hot in London today, but these are some supremely fit athletes, so I doubt the temperature has much effect on the outcome. View image in fullscreen Not a cumulonimbus to be seen over Sw19 today. Photograph: BBC Share Updated at 08.01 EDT

1h ago 07.46 EDT So who’s going to win today? It’s hard to look beyond Sabalenka and Swiatek; I’d actually be more inclined to back a shock if the matches were reversed, because the match-ups as they are seem to favour the favourites. Anisimova, I fear, does what Sabalenka does, just less well, while Swiatek might need hitting off the court, something Anisimova is better capable of than Bencic. But both are live dogs. Share

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