Wimbledon 2013 | Sabine Lisicki v Agnieszka Radwanska July 4, 2013

Wimbledon 2013 Ladies' Singles Semifinals Sabine Lisicki vs Agnieszka Radwanska Live Stream

Germany's Sabine Lisicki backed up her stunning win over Serena Williams by beating Kaia Kanepi to reach the semi-finals at Wimbledon. The 23-year-old, seeded 23, won 6-3 6-3 on Court One to secure a place in the last four at the All England Club for the second time. There she will face Polish fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska, last year's runner-up, who beat Chinese sixth seed Li Na, 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 6-2 on Centre Court.

In the other half of the draw, France's 15th seed Marion Bartoli beat Sloane Stephens 6-4 6-4, and Belgian 20th seed Kirsten Flipkens upset 2011 champion Petra Kvitova 6-4 3-6 6-4. Kvitova's defeat means there will be a new name on the women's trophy on Saturday. Lisicki had caused arguably the shock of a tournament characterised by upsets when she beat defending champion Williams on Monday, and she suffered no comedown 24 hours later. It was the German's returning, rather than her big serve, that proved the difference in the first set as she broke in a lengthy opening game and again to take the set. Kanepi, who beat Laura Robson in round four, edged ahead in the second when Lisicki double-faulted twice. The German responded immediately though, reeling off four straight games and closing out the match, rather nervily, on her third match point. "I am very happy," Lisicki told BBC Sport. "It was an amazing match yesterday and I had to calm myself down, but I think the experience that I got from three previous quarter-finals here helped me. "There is no pressure for me because it is a game that I love so much and I want to keep it that way."

Radwanska, 24, demonstrated why she has become a fixture in the world's top four over the last year, despite lacking the stature and power of her leading rivals. Battling with a thigh problem and a more powerful opponent, the Pole sealed victory in a dramatic final game on her eighth match point after two hours and 43 minutes. She had fended off four set points with some superb returning and recovered from 5-3 down in the tie-break to win the first. Li hit back with four games in a row to take the second, at which point Radwanska had a medical timeout to get her thigh strapped, and the Pole promptly broke at the start of the decider. A second burst of rain caused a delay as the Centre Court roof was brought across, but the momentum stayed with Radwanska on the resumption and she clinched victory in a dramatic service game. "I'm very happy to have got through, and even when I was struggling a little bit in the third set," she told BBC Sport. "I'm very, very happy to be in the semi-finals." Asked about her thigh injury, she added: "Too much tennis the last few days, that's why I was struggling with that, but I think it's a good problem to have.

"I'm just going to keep going and try my best in the semi-finals." Bartoli, 28, remains on course to reach a second Wimbledon final after coming through a rain-interrupted match against American 17th seed Stephens. The Frenchwoman moved ahead with the only break of the first set in game 10, and edged a second that saw 10 breaks as Stephens won just five points on her own serve. "Obviously the grass is really suiting my game," said Bartoli. "It was a very tough battle." In an unexpected semi-final line-up, Flipkens is the most surprising name after seeing off eighth seed Kvitova in her first major quarter-final. The Belgian, who was ranked 262 in the world last year after suffering blood clots in her calf, played a terrific final set. Kvitova was feeling unwell in the latter stages and required treatment from the doctor, but despite pushing hard the Czech could not recover the solitary break in the decider. "It's amazing, more than a dream coming true," said Flipkens. "Semi-finals of a Grand Slam, ridiculous. Last year I didn't get into qualifying of Wimbledon."

Wimbledon 2013 | Sabine Lisicki v Agnieszka Radwanska July 4, 2013

Wimbledon 2013 | Sabine Lisicki v Agnieszka Radwanska July 4, 2013

Wimbledon 2013 | Marion Bartoli v Kirsten Flipkens July 4, 2013

Wimbledon 2013 Ladies' Singles Semifinals | Marion Bartoli v Kirsten Flipkens Live Stream

The upcoming Marion Bartoli and Kirsten Flipkens semifinal match is far from the Wimbledon match we looking for to see. The 15th and 20th ranked players in the world, respectively, have gotten to this stage by playing immaculate tennis and capitalizing on other top seeds' defeats. Neither of these players has dropped more than one set en route to the semifinals, and this matchup will be a tough one on both sides. Who will earn a berth in the women's final?

The good and bad news for both of these women is that they have never played against each other before. Generally semifinal opponents are rivals or at least familiar faces. This concept could help Kirsten Flipkens, though she has been around long enough for Bartoli to have seen her style of play. In terms of past history at Wimbledon Marion Bartoli should be viewed as the favorite by a long shot. She was a finalist against Venus Williams in 2007. And in terms of previous Major results Bartoli takes the cake again. This will be her third Grand Slam semifinal appearance, and she has been to the quarterfinals or better in each of the four tournaments. This week marked Flipkens' first Major quarterfinal and semifinal, but she has earned her spot in the final four.

Bartoli has not just looked excellent these two weeks—she has looked the best of all the 128 competitors. Though she only faced one seeded player (Sloane Stephens, who is ranked slightly lower than her) so far, her form has been brilliant. Also Flipkens would normally not even be a seeded player, but she has been having a great year herself. Not only has the French No. 1 not dropped a set this entire tournament but she hasn't even been stretched to a single tiebreak. She has played four 7-5 sets, though, which could help Flipkens to know that the chance is there. This run, along with her 2011 French Open venture, have been her best performances ever in my eyes.

Kirsten Flipkens looked great even before reaching the quarterfinals, and now she has a chance to participate in the final. The only set she dropped this fortnight was the opening set against Petra Kvitova in her last match. Her storming-back-from-a-set-down in the quarterfinal match was an unusual sight to see, but she wore her opponent down and was very protective of hitting any unforced errors. That was her first big upset at Wimbledon but it proved that she has what it takes to beat the woman currently ranked five spots higher than her.

Flipkens knows what it is like to play under the Centre Court roof at Wimbledon. She is used to the atmosphere around the indoor stadium and how the lights may or may not affect play. Because she played her last match in this environment due to rainy conditions, she could have an edge. Experience - Flipkens has much less experience (and career prize money, which could be a motivator) than Bartoli but has not been fazed by that yet. Bartoli has been in the final here before and has posted other big Wimbledon wins in her career. This is the perfect court for her to win her first Major title, if she is to do so. Playing style - Bartoli swings with two hangs on both sides and plays flat, hard balls in nearly every point. Flipkens has a somewhat dull game and much less power, but her backhand slice could work wonders for her against Bartoli's also unusual game.

Though Kirsten Flipkens has a few shots that could match up well against Marion Bartoli, I do not think this one will be too much of a contest. Bartoli is the better player overall, especially at Wimbledon, and has been even more dominant for the last five matches. Maybe Flipkens could try to extend a set to a tiebreak but the odds of her taking two sets are slim. I will say Bartoli wins in straight sets, with one of those sets being fairly close, to make her way back to another Wimbledon final.

Wimbledon 2013 | Marion Bartoli v Kirsten Flipkens July 4, 2013

Wimbledon 2013 | Marion Bartoli v Kirsten Flipkens July 4, 2013

Wimbledon 2013 | David Ferrer v Juan Del Potro July 3, 2013

Amid the chaos and the carnage elsewhere, the top half of the men's draw is the only element that has shown some respect for the form-book. By the end of manic Monday, the four seeds due to reach the quarter-final had all done so. Novak Djokovic led the way, without for once being at his supreme best as he defeated Tommy Haas 6-1 6-4 7-6. A first set lasting only 25 minutes was misleading in that Haas, who according to his countryman Boris Becker is playing the best tennis of his career at 35, had his chances.

He became the first man to break the No 1 seed this tournament, doing so twice, but had to be content with that as well as a brave third set in which he saved a match point but made a couple of tired errors in the tie-break. As the match grew competitive there were some excellent rallies, one of which ran to 37 strokes. "He's a grass court specialist so I'm really glad to have come through in three," Djokovic said. He will now play Tomas Berdych, the seventh seed, who beat him in the 2010 semi-final here. The Czech ended Bernard Tomic's fine run by 6-7 7-6 6-4 6-4 in a match that took a while to catch fire.

With Tomic's supporters' club, the Fanatix, having failed to get show court tickets, there was a distinct lack of atmosphere on Court One. For two sets the serve dominated and each man won a tie-break until the match went haywire with three breaks in five games, Berdych taking two of them and then the set. The fourth set also finished 6-4 in his favour, so the one remaining Australian in either draw is out. One of the mysteries of tennis is how a player can find a match so difficult for an hour or more and then suddenly run away with it. David Ferrer, the number 4, has become an expert in the genre over the past few days, twice struggling and then reducing opponents to gibbering wrecks. The Spaniard had dropped at least one set in all three previous matches and on Saturday was 2-1 down to the Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov before coming through the last two sets 6-1 6-2.

Wimbledon 2013 | David Ferrer v Juan Del Potro July 3, 2013

Yesterday he was at it again, dropping the first set against Ivan Dodig of Croatia on a tie-break, drawing level on another one and then racing through the gears 6-1 6-1. Not that he seemed to know the secret, unless it was all a matter of confidence. "When I won the second set, the third and the fourth, I receive better, I play more confident with my game," he said. "And of course him take down"; presumably meaning lost belief. Ferrer had caused a certain amount of consternation by not turning up on the far-flung Court Two until almost ten minutes after the scheduled start-time of 11.30, which he insisted was nothing to do with needing treatment. Unlike many at this tournament he has not been making an excuse of injuries, despite the odd problem with his ankle and toe. In the early games he regularly held break points without being able to capitalise and should never have been taken to a tie-break. He then went 0-3 down and never recovered, netting a backhand to concede the set in just under an hour. The second set tie-break went his way and from then on it was all downhill, dominating the next two sets while conceding only two games.


Dodig had reached new heights by playing in a fourth round of a Grand Slam, albeit with the benefit of two retirements by opponents, Philipp Kohlschriber and Igor Sijsling. Ranked 49 in the world, he can look back with satisfaction, while Ferrer prepares for a quarter-final against the eighth seed, Juan del Potro, of whom he said: "He's a very great player. It's going to be difficult, and in grass court I think is more difficult. He play better than me in grass court." Ferrer did, however, beat the Argentine in straight sets last year before losing to Andy Murray in the quarter-final, when three of the four sets went to tie-breaks.

 Del Potro saw off Italy's Andreas Seppi, the 23rd seed and a five-set specialist who never looked like going that far this time. Three sets and saving three match points in the last of them was the best he could manage in going down 6-4 7-6 6-3. Thus Del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion, makes the last eight without having dropped a set. It is the first time he has done so in this tournament, although he was bronze medallist in the London Olympics here, beating Novak Djokovic.

 "All players feel nerves towards the end of the match and he made fantastic winners but I played really well to win the last two points," he told. "I'm so happy to be in the quarters for the first time at Wimbledon. I'm improving on grass and I like it a lot." His assessment of Ferrer, who leads him 6-2 on head-to-heads, was: "He's playing fantastic this season and I think he's the favourite but I like to play this on grass if my knee is okay. It's really painful but I'm having ice all the time."

Wimbledon 2013 | Andy Murray v Fernando Verdasco July 3, 2013

Fernando Verdasco accepts that he will have his work cut out to deny Andy Murray a Wimbledon semi-final berth – but insists he is not just going along for the ride.

Currently unseeded Spaniard saw off Frenchman Kenny De Schepper 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in an all left-handed clash on Court Three to reach the last eight at SW19 for the first time on his 11th appearance. But the 29-year-old clay court specialist accepts he will be a big underdog against second seed and home favourite Murray when they meet in their last eight showdown with the Scot boasting an 8-1 head-to-head record. ‘I’m going to go out there and try to do my game like I did every match and like I try to do every match that I play,’ said Verdasco, who is now joint-second on the list for the most attempts before reaching the quarters at the All England Club.

Wimbledon 2013 | Andy Murray v Fernando Verdasco July 3, 2013

Wimbledon 2013 | Andy Murray v Fernando Verdasco July 3, 2013

Andy Murray shows all the qualities of a true champion ‘I know is going to be, of course, a tough match. He’s No. 2 of the Wimbledon, a great player, one of the best in the last few years on tour. ‘Of course it is going to be difficult to beat him also with the crowd and everything but you need to have faith and try your best to try to win.’


Verdasco, who warmed up for Wimbledon by reaching the quarter-finals at Eastbourne, revealed he is on good terms with World No.2 Murray, but that will count for nothing when they face off on Wednesday ‘Yeah I have a good relationship with Andy. I mean, I know him for many years. He was practicing in Spain when he was younger,’ he added. ‘We always had a good relationship out of the court and on the court also. We played many times. It was never a problem, ‘But when you are out there, you try to win, he try to win, everybody try to win. ‘But this my first quarters.

I’m happy to be here and happy how I have played the whole tournament. Of course, is going to be a special match because it is going to be against Murray here in Wimbledon in quarterfinals, but it is going to be just one more match for me.’

Wimbledon 2013 | Novak Djokovic v Tomas Berdych July 3, 2013

Novak Djokovic tackles Tomas Berdych for a place in the Wimbledon semi-finals Wednesday still feeling the pain of his lost against the Czech at the All England Club three years ago.

World number one Novak Djokovic was beaten in straight sets in the semi-finals by Tomas Berdych in 2010, a defeat which raised serious doubts over whether or not the gifted but unpredictable Serb would ever build on his Australian Open breakthrough of 2008.

He lost that match but has since has gone on to win five more majors including the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open crowns in 2011.

"Yes, I had quite a turbulent five, six months of 2010 but the semi-finals of Wimbledon came in the right time for me because I felt that was like a springboard for me," said Novak Djokovic.

Wimbledon 2013 | Novak Djokovic v Tomas Berdych July 3, 2013

"From that moment on everything started going uphill really."

Not that Djokovic, who boasts a 13-2 winning record against Berdych will be taking anything for granted.

"I hadn't played great at that match against Tomas, but credit to him because he played finals that year, and he beat Roger and myself, played a good match against Rafa in the final. So he knows how to play on grass. That's the only time we played on this surface. I'm expecting a difficult match."

Djokovic reached his 17th successive Grand Slam quarter-final with a 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) win over German veteran Tommy Haas.

But with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal both suffering shock early defeats, he is taking nothing for granted against Berdych.

"It's the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam. He's an established top 5, top 10 player in the world.

"But I feel good about myself in this moment. I think I actually play better tennis on grass than I played two years ago when I won this tournament. For now I'm feeling good. I'm No. 1 of the world. I have no reason to be concerned about my game."

World number 2 Andy Murray insists he can cope with the burden of shouldering growing expectations that he will finally end the 77-year wait for a British man to win Wimbledon.

Murray was in commanding form once again as he swept into the quarter-finals with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 win over Russian 20th seed Mikhail Youzhny.

The second seed has yet to drop a set in his first four matches and looked more at ease than ever in the All England Club spotlight as he prepares for a last eight clash with Spanish left-hander Fernando Verdasco on Wednesday.

Losing to Federer in last year's Wimbledon final provoked a tearful response from Murray.

But, after winning the US Open and an Olympic gold at Wimbledon, the 26-year-old has appeared increasingly in command of his emotions both on and off court.

"There's always pressure coming into this event and it builds with each match," said Murray as he continues his bid to become his country's first men's champion at Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936.

"But I've dealt with it well over my career. I've played well at Wimbledon. It's been consistently my best slam over the course of my career."

Wimbledon 2013 | Novak Djokovic v Tomas Berdych July 3, 2013

Murray, playing in his sixth successive Grand Slam quarter-final, is the heavy favourite to reach a second successive final.

If he gets past Verdasco, against whom he has an 8-1 winning record, then he will face either Jerzy Janowicz or Lukasz Kubot with the two Polish Davis Cup teammates meeting in the other quarter-final in his side of the draw. Janowicz, the 24th seed, defeated Austria's Jurgen Melzer, 3-6, 7-6 (7/1), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 on the back of 16 aces and 34 winners as he reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final.

The 22-year-old was joined in the last eight just moments later by 31-year-old Kubot, the lowest-ranked player left at 130 in the world, who defeated France's 111th-ranked Adrian Mannarino, 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. The last Pole to reach the last-eight at Wimbledon was Wojtek Fibak in 1980. "It's unbelievable what is going on right now. We have two players in the quarter-finals and a woman in the quarter-finals. I think this is by far the best that possibly could happen to Polish tennis," said Janowicz.

Spanish fourth seed David Ferrer reached the quarter-finals for the second successive year by firing 53 winners in his 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/3), 6-1, 6-1 win over Croatia's unseeded Ivan Dodig. He goes on to tackle Argentine eighth seed Juan Martin del Potro who reached his first Wimbledon quarter-final with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 win over Andreas Seppi, the 23rd seeded Italian.

Wimbledon 2013 | Sloane Stephens v Marion Bartoli July 2, 2013

Sloane Stephens is chasing her second slam semi-final of 2013 after French Open. Can former runner-up Marion Bartoli stop her at Wimbledon?

Stephens came of age at the Australian Open, cementing her status as one of the most talented youngsters in the game by reaching the last four and after a successful French Open, she's once again in the latter stages at Wimbledon.

The draw is wide open and Serena Williams says that Stephens is capable of going all the way. She's really had to dig deep this fortnight coming through three desperately tight matches. She saw off Andrea Petkovic (who used to be ranked in the top ten) 8-6 in the third in round two before winning a topsy-turvy battle with Petra Cetkowska and then battling past another talented youngster in Monica Puig 4-6, 7-5, 6-1.

But in Marion Bartoli she's up against an opponent with a wealth of experience. Bartoli stunned Justine Henin in the semi-finals back in 2007 to reach the Wimbledon final, her first and so far only Grand Slam final. The Frenchwoman ended her coaching relationship with her father earlier this year and she's currently playing her best tennis for quite some time. She's through to the last eight without dropping a set and Stephens told the press that it's going to be a very tough match.

"She hits really flat, really hard. She goes for all of her shots. It's tough playing someone who is going for it all the time. You kind of have to adjust, you know, just do your best really." Stephens style is quite different. She's capable of hitting a big ball from the back of the court but her main strength is her athleticism and she will be hoping to wear Bartoli down eventually.

Sloane Stephens v Marion Bartoli Live Stream

Sloane Stephens v Marion Bartoli Live Stream

Wimbledon 2013 | Sabine Lisicki v Kaia Kanepi July 2, 2013

Who anticipated this at the beginning of the Wimbledon? Sabine Lisicki will face Kaia Kanepi in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon 2013.

Manic Monday certainly lived up to its billing at Wimbledon 2013, with world No. 1 and undisputed Wimbledon 2013 favourite Serena Williams falling to a 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 defeat against Sabine Lisicki. The German grass court specialist fell behind by a break twice in the third set but kept on digging deep and incredibly managed to overturn the Serena momentum.

With the victory Lisicki set up a quarter-final showdown with Kaia Kanepi. The powerful Estonian managed to hold her own despite having the crowd against her when she took on Laura Robson in round four. There was no booing or impolite cheers for double faults, but the crowd were evidently desperate to see Robson reach the last eight. Kanepi eventually ground out a 7-6, 7-5 win, shaking off the nerves to finally claim victory on her fifth match point. Lisicki and Kanepi should provide an entertaining matchup. Both players have games well suited to grass.

Also, they're both considered as the best servers in the WTA. Kanepi perhaps has the superior power game but Lisicki is good at rushing the net, and as we saw against Serena, she's lightning quick across the court. This showdown will be the first competitive meeting between Lisicki and Kanepi. With so much up for grabs it's hard to pick a winner. It could simply come down to who holds their nerve. If it's not such a tentative affair, we're going to see a very exciting display of attacking tennis.

Sabine Lisicki | Wimbledon 2013

Sabine Lisicki | Wimbledon 2013

Kaia Kanepi | Wimbledon 2013