W.10- The Lawn Where It's Happening

As this Wimbledon careens toward its final weekend, traveling upon scenic but treacherous rails, everyone can't help but watch from a distance and wonder whether the story of the women's competition will soar to gloriously irresistible heights, or completely derail and leave everything in a twisted pile in its aftermath.

One thing that we do know is that, however things play out, Aryna Sabalenka is going to be smack dab in the middle of it all.

It's probably just how she likes it.

INTO THE SEMIFINALS! ??

Aryna Sabalenka defeats Madison Keys (6-2 6-4) and secures her place in the last 4 at #Wimbledon for the second time in her career, after 2021.

4th consecutive Slam semifinal, 6th overall.

The road to the championship & the world no. 1 spot continues. pic.twitter.com/XNIKYJcrzh

— Relevant Tennis (@RelevantTennis) July 12, 2023

With #1 Iga Swiatek now officially on ice for yet another grass season, the AELTC's doors have opened wide for the #2-ranked Belarusian. Any prospective path to her second '23 slam title is most assuredly not lined with fragrant petunias, nor the destination decked out in gold-plated fixtures, but to say that she seemed invigorated on Day 10 would be an understatement of propriatary "Championships" proportions.

Arriving on Court 1 on Wednesday for her quarterfinal with #25 Madison Keys, Sabalenka had little need to worry about the Bannerette discovering some sort of creative way to confuse or frustrate her, for they both employ essentially the same big-hitting, take no prisoners game. Hit hard, gain control early in rallies and try to overpower the opponent. The average rally during their match today was around three shots.

While Sabalenka *has* started to experiment with implementing some variety into her game (she seemed to be infatuated with drop shots in her last outing), make no mistake that her bread-and-butter tactic is power. And with one Serena Jameka Williams no longer in the picture, as long as Sabalenka keeps her shots between the lines, there is likely no tour player -- not even Keys, one of the hardest hitters ever off the ground -- who can match her shot-for-shot on her best day. And, for the most part, that's just what she experienced today.

Right from the opening moments, Sabalenka began to out-hit Keys, who quickly fell behind 15/40 in the first game of the match. She reached GP, but dropped serve anyway as Sabalenka went about orchestrating a noticeably clean 1st set from start to finish. Up a double break at 4-1, she served for the set at 5-2. After finding herself down a BP, Sabalenka fired up a big serve/forehand winner combo. On SP, a service winner down the T secured the set.

Sabalenka threatened to edge ahead early in the 2nd, as well, but Keys managed to hold her back. She held in a three-deuce game for 2-1, then again in game 5 after seeing her 40/love lead once again go to deuce. Keys' patience and resilience seemed to be rewarded in game 6, as after managing to hold in multiple games under the pressure of Sabalenka's shots, Keys finally put away a break of serve on her third BP when the Belarusian fired a forehand long to give Keys a 4-2 lead. Keys was busy consolidating that break a game later, taking a 40/love lead on serve as the match seemed set to go to a 3rd set.

Now, if you'd have been able to stop the clock at that moment and move ahead in time to be told that Keys wouldn't win another game in this match, in truth, it shouldn't have *shocked* anyone who knows what they should know about a Keys match and the sort of things that *can* happen. But you'd likely have figured that the culprit in her scoreboard collapse was another of her error-strewn fits. Fact is, though, Keys didn't get the chance to crumble like an ancient lighthouse. Sabalenka just took the racket out of her hand.

From that moment on, Keys dropped five straight points and Sabalenka was back on serve. Sabalenka then blasted her way to a love hold for 4-4, running her point streak to nine. A huge Sabalenka return that Keys had no chance at retrieving pushed the run to twelve at love/40 in game 9. Keys stopped the streak with an ace, but a point later she wasn't able to control a Sabalenka power shot from her position at the net (that wasn't a 16-year old over there), flying a volley to go down a break at 5-4.

Serving for the match, and having won 13 of 14 points, Sabalenka didn't find things *quite* as easy in her attempt to close. Keys managed to stay even through four points. But a wide serve from Sabalenka gave her her first of two MP. On her second attempt, another wide serve produced another Keys error, as the Bannerette couldn't keep the rocket shot in the court.

Sabalenka won 6-2/6-4, returning to the Wimbledon semifinals in her second straight appearance in the event (two years after her last...you know why), in a third slam in '23 (she's the only player 3-for-3, and stands at 17-1 on the year on the season's biggest stages) and at a fourth consecutive major.

Big serve, big win ??@SabalenkaA | #Wimbledonpic.twitter.com/ktBcsWnm5s

— wta (@WTA) July 12, 2023

3 - Aryna Sabalenka is the third player in the Open Era to win all her first six Women’s Singles Majors QFs, after Ann Jones and Chris Evert. Marching. #Wimbledon | @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/WswJaelud9

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) July 12, 2023

The win improves Sabalenka's career slam QF mark to 6-0 (she's the "Anti-Pegula"). And, to think it was just two calendar years ago that the weight around her tennis ankle centered around her not having reached a QF in her first 14 major MD. Sabalenka has now reached the semis in six of the last eight slams, where she's been a no-nonsense presence between the lines unless she's been met with nonsense on the other side of the net or in the stands (provoked, that's when things on her side can threaten get more than a touch dicey).

1 - Aryna Sabalenka is the first player to make the semi-finals of the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon in the same year since Serena Williams in 2016. Stunning. #Wimbledon | @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/51QSsCkkhx

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) July 12, 2023

40-7 on the year, Sabalenka is two wins away from leaving London with the identical season record as Iga Swiatek (42-7), but is now just *one* win from replacing her at the top of the rankings to become the 29th WTA singles #1. (Yeah, the WTA's own pre-SW19 "rankings update" wasn't worth the social media platform it was posted on.)

Just reaching the final will move Sabalenka slightly past Swiatek in the rankings (9365-9315), as her almost seven-month long season chase would prove successful whether she lifts the Venus Rosewater dish or not.

If Sabalenka comes up short, the playing field moves to the North American summer hard court season, where neither exactly burned down the competition before closing well at Flushing Meadows (where Iga def. Sabalenka in the SF, then won the title). Swiatek was just 4-3 before New York (Warsaw QF-Toronto 3r-Cincinnati 3r), while Sabalenka went 5-3 (San Jose 3r-Toronto 3r-Cincinnati SF). Sabalenka has more to defend at the front, and Swiatek at the back. Barring a Sabalenka title this weekend that would give her a bigger lead, whoever "wins" what's left of the summer will head into the fall in the ranking pole position.

Either way, Sabalenka isn't going anywhere. She's in the room, on the court, and in the arena where it'll be happening for the rest of what looks like could prove to be quite the compelling back stretch of the 2023 season.

Some will embrace that development, while some won't. But it'll surely keep the WTA in the headlines, *most* of the time for the right reasons.

=DAY 10 NOTES= ...sometimes you never know what you're going to get. The second (well, simultaneous... again) women's QF of the day was a two-rounds-early rematch of the '22 final between #3 seed and defending champion Elena Rybakina and #6 Ons Jabeur. It was seen as a clash of styles between something resembling a drummer keeping beat with the sound of a hard-charging rock band and a practitioner of jazz who swerves and sways and plays what comes naturally.

Who was to know that the latter would get the best of the former because of her decision to play with more driving, intentful groundstrokes than flairful diversity? Apparently, trying to perform the "usual set" of songs and not getting the standing ovation she wanted a year ago was something that Jabeur didn't particularly wish to do all over again.

A year after losing to Elena Rybakina in a heartbreaking #Wimbledon final, @Ons_Jabeur gets her revenge with a 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-1 quarterfinal win. 💪

🇹🇳 Jabeur outhit Rybakina by producing 35 winners to 18 unforced errors, setting up a semifinal with Aryna Sabalenka. 💥

— TENNIS (@Tennis) July 12, 2023

In truth, it was difficult to know exactly what Rybakina was bringing into the contest. Her pre-SW19 match play was lacking, and she arrived for grass season having recovered from a viral illness that put her out of Roland Garros. Through the first week of play, aside from dropping her opening set to Shelby Rogers in the 1st Round, the Kazakh had barely been tested, and even only had to play five games in one match. She still had that internal feeling of "superiority" that most Wimbledon champions are expected to carry with them when they arrive at the All-England Club, but was it enough to combat an opponent with redemption on her mind and, even without a title there, a just-as-strong feeling of "belonging" on the SW19 lawns?

Jabeur, after a slow start to her own grass season, *had* been tested at this event. She rallied to defeat Bianca Andreescu last week, leading into her destruction of two-time champ Petra Kvitova in the Round of 16 as the Tunisian's rhythm-and-flow game truly began to flow again.

The pair traded breaks early in the opening set, with Rybakina going up 3-1, only to see Jabeur take a love/40 lead in the follow-up game. A deep Jabeur return went unreturned and the set was back on serve. The Tunisian took a 6-5 lead with another break of serve, stringing together three consecutive points and closing with a backhand winner.

With Jabeur serving for the set, consecutive Rybakina errors turned her 15/40 lead into a SP for Jabeur. But Rybakina's penetrating shots produced a break-saving error on BP #3 as the set went to a tie-break.

There, it was Rybakina who flashed her "championship ring," serving big and taking a 6-3 lead. Jabeur held two for 6-5, but Rybakina's big serve up the T elicited a long Jabeur return as the Kazakh won 7-5.

Not playing for #1, nor for history or her embattled nation, Rybakina seemed to be content with proving her Wimbledon mastery once again.

But Jabeur remained on a mission.

Jabeur fought her way out of a 15/40 hole to hold for 3-2. Up 5-4, she took a big Rybakina crosscourt forehand and redirected it down the line for a winner on the opening point. A forehand winner gave her a 15/30 lead, and a deep return at Rybakina's feet set up the Tunisian with an easy put-away for 15/40. On this SP, Jabeur fired a backhand return into the corner and Rybakina couldn't keep her own shot inside the court.

As the deciding 3rd progressed, it wasn't Rybakina's power -- which won her Wimbledon a year ago, got her into this year's AO final, left her one win away from a Sunshine Double this spring, and has helped her out-hit #1 Iga Swiatek *three* times already this season -- but Jabeur's bigger-than-usual shots that led the way. Having found her range and feel by thwarting the Kazakh's big game with precision and aggression, the Tunisian began to consistently hit off the ground with more intent than flair, producing loose Rybakina errors and causing her to overplay in an attempt to overcome the tactic.

Jabeur's wide-bouncing return shot gave her a love/40 lead in game 2, and then a deep return forced another Rybakina backhand error as Jabeur went up 2-0. Rybakina had a shot to get the break back, at 30/30 a game later, but pushed a backhand wide after reaching a short ball as Jabeur held for 3-0.

Rybakina held from love/30 to keep contact, but again wasn't able to take advantage of a 15/40 edge on Jabeur's serve. A Jabeur forehand caught the edge of a line to reach GP, then she fired off an ace that kissed the T to lead 4-1. Smelling the finish line, Jabeur followed up with back-to-back-to-back driving backhands down the line in the 15/40 rally, with the third going behind Rybakina, who could only flail at the ball as Jabeur broke to lead 5-1.

Serving for her third slam SF in 12 months, Jabeur couldn't help herself, throwing in consecutive drop shots on back-to-back points (her success rate was 50/50 -- she didn't need them). Reaching MP, Jabeur saw a final Rybakina forehand error end the 6-7(5)/6-4/6-1 match, ending the Kazakh's Wimbledon reign a few days short of a year.

Celebrating on Centre Court ✨#Wimbledon | @Ons_Jabeur pic.twitter.com/IRemEXJcKr

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 12, 2023

So, while the semifinalists in the top half of the draw sport a list of victims at this tournament that include four consecutive seeds (Marketa Vondrousova) and four former slam winners (Elina Svitolina), Jabeur counters with back-to-back wins over players who have won three Wimbledon crowns (plus a U.S. Open winner). She'll carry a 1-3 career head-to-head vs. her next opponent, Aryna Sabalenka, into the semis.

Ons Jabeur on facing Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon:

“I saw she won very quick, which I wasn’t happy with.” 😂 pic.twitter.com/HfetsbAzoz

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 12, 2023

Of course, Jabeur stands as the biggest road block/last chance (depending on your position) that might prevent the possible Sabalenka/Svitolina final that would threaten to break "tennis Twitter" and crack through the "casual" weekend coverage of Wimbledon.

So, you know, we'll probably get a Jabeur/Vondrousova final, right? And we'd likely enjoy it (while avoiding the devil we didn't get to know). Surely the AELTC officials are shaking in their loafers at the prospect of either... and that makes the suspense not a bad deal at all, I'd say.

...the wheelchair competition got underway on Wednesday, and form held.

#1 Diede de Groot posted her 109th straight match win with a 3 & 3 victory over Kgothatso Montjane, winning her 27th straight match over the South African (who won their first two of 29 meetings in 2015). Montjane nearly upset de Groot in a post-RG clay court match a few weeks ago.

De Groot will next meet countrywoman Aniek Van Koot (def. Lucy Shuker).

Jiske Griffioen defeated Zhu Zhenzhen, and will face #2 Yui Kamiji (def. Momoko Ohtani 6-1/7-5, her 74th consecutive non-de Groot victory) for a berth in the final. Kamiji reached her maiden SW19 singles final in '22, while Griffioen's last slam final came in 2016 when she won the inaugural Wimbledon women's WC singles crown.

...the MX final is set, and there's one Ukrainian woman closer right now to a Wimbledon title than Svitolina. That'd be Lyudmyla Kichenok, who will play for the crown alongside Mate Pavic. It's already the biggest final of Kichenok's career. She reached the final and won the Cincinnati 1000 title a season ago with Alona Ostapenko, and the pair have reached slam SF in Paris and London (both in 2022).

Pavic will be playing for his sixth different slam title, having won the AO/WI/US MD titles and MX at the AO and US. With this he's now reached at least one final in each of the other three slam doubles disciplines that he hasn't yet won, so if they win he'd be within striking distance of a Career Slam in *both* MD and MX. He's only 30 years old.

The other finalist duo consists of Xu Yifan and Joran Vliegen. The 34-year old Xu has won WD titles in Indian Wells and Miami, but is 0-2 in slam WD finals ('19 WI/'20 US). This is Vliegen's third slam final, havng come up short in the '22 RG MX (w/ Ulrikke Eikeri) and '23 RG MD.

...Alina Korneeva's bid for a third staight junior slam remains alive, as the #1 seed advanced to the QF with a win over qualifier Greta Greco Lucchina. She's joined by two Japanese teens (#8 Sayaka Ishii and #8 Ena Koike), two Brits (Ranah Akua Stoiber and wild card Mika Stojsavljevic), the Roehampton winner (#5 Renata Jamrichova), a Czech (Nikola Bartunkova) and the #2 seed (Clervie Ngounoue/USA).

...in the Contrexeville 125, Arantxa Rus defeated Erika Andreeva, and Anna-Lena Friedsam knocked off Aleksandra Krunic.







*WOMEN'S SINGLES SF*
(WC) Elina Svitolina/UKR vs. Marketa Vondrousova/CZE
#6 Ons Jabeur/TUN vs. #2 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR

*WOMEN'S DOUBLES SF*
#16 Dolehide/Zhang Sh. (USA/CHN) vs. #3 Hunter/Mertens (AUS/BEL)
(PR) Hsieh/Strycova (TPE/CZE) vs. Bouzkova/Sorribes Tormo (CZE/ESP)

*MIXED DOUBLES FINAL*
#7 L.Kichenok/Pavic (UKR/CRO) vs. Xu Y./Vliegen (CHN/BEL)

*WHEELCHAIR WOMEN'S SF*
#1 Diede de Groot/NED vs. Aniek Van Koot/NED
Jiske Griffioen/NED vs. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN

*WHEELCHAIR WOMEN'S SF*
#1 Kamiji/Montjane (JPN/RSA) vs. Ohtani/Zhu (JPN/CHN)
Shuker/Van Koot (GBR/NED) vs. #2 de Groot/Griffioen (NED/NED)

*GIRLS' SINGLES QF*
#1 Alina Korneeva/RUS vs. #8 Ena Koike/JPN
Ranah Akua Stoiber/GBR vs. Nikola Bartunkova/CZE
#5 Renata Jamrichova/SVK vs. (WC) Mika Stojsavljevic/GBR
#7 Sayaka Ishii/JPN vs. #2 Clervie Ngounoue/USA

...YEAH, SO THE TOUR WAS TOTALLY WRONG AT THE START OF THE TOURNAMENT ("not shocked" face)... ON DAY 10:

WORLD No.1 RANKING WATCH ??

?? For the 2nd straight Slam, the #1 ranking will be on the line

?? @SabalenkaA will need to reach the final to have a chance of overtaking Swiatek at #1

?? If @iga_swiatek advances to QFs, then Sabalenka would need to win the title ??#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/5fmetcEGBK

— wta (@WTA) July 3, 2023

???? pic.twitter.com/HqAYifcKSK

— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) July 12, 2023

Aryna Sabalenka is one win away from becoming the new World No. 1!#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/jM4bqyCc04

— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) July 12, 2023

...ONLY MARTINAS IN THE BUILDING (and KIMS and FRANCESCAS and ROBERTAS)... ON DAY 10:

Let's go @Martina!!! #Wimbledon

Great to see the legend, our very own Martina Navratilova, out on court having fun ?? https://t.co/UWn27Y6pGA pic.twitter.com/e8RvN56JlQ

— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) July 12, 2023

Fun day at the office ❤️🫶🏻 #Wimbledon @Wimbledon @Clijsterskim @Schiavone_Fra @mhingis pic.twitter.com/oA5lL0mFZT

— Roberta Vinci (@roberta_vinci) July 11, 2023

...THE MOMENT WHEN HE SAID TO HIMSELF, (in Spanish) "F-IT, I CAN GET THAT ONE"... ON DAY 10:

Gustavo Fernandez, that is outstanding!

Gordon Reid may have been favourite to win this rally after his lob, but Fernandez never gave up ??#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/NFacaT71gm

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 12, 2023

...HOW TO SEE WIMBLEDON WITHOUT A TICKET (or ESPN+)... ON DAY 10:

Everyone wants a piece of the #Wimbledon action. pic.twitter.com/frfYXUViCj

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 12, 2023

Meanwhile...

Had this same issue yesterday. Wanted to watch Eubanks-Tsitsipas highlights. Couldn't find them anywhere.

What is #Wimbledon doing? https://t.co/y2kXU4bf1v

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) July 12, 2023

But if someone tries to show a five-second clip somewhere on social media they'll be struck down with great vengeance and furious anger.


...HMMM... ON DAY 10:

Understatement: the @wimbledon organizers are not eager for the optics of Princess of Wales presenting the trophy to a player from Belarus. (Nor of a Ukrainian and Belarusian playing a final and declining to pose together before the prematch coin toss, etc.) #Wimbledon

— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) July 12, 2023

Oh, the horror. If it comes to that, then tell the "Princess of Wales" to just stay home. I'm sure she has some meaningless ribbon to cut or some people to wave at somewhere.

And it'd only be *one* player declining to pose for the prematch coin toss, etc. The RUS/BLR players are just trying to play their sport.

It’s a shame the players, organizations and tournaments can’t transcend conflict and politics. I guess it would take a big person to do so. pic.twitter.com/hOeYsZbYMS

— Tennis Analyst (@TennisAnalyst) July 12, 2023

So... what happens with the Champions Ball should Medvedev and Svitolina win... ?

— Enrique Siu (@EnriqueSiu) July 12, 2023

Hmm... what if it's Sabalenka and Medvedev posing? Oh, the horror.

Maybe people need to stop demonizing players and/or painting everyone with the same broad brush, and not categorize them simply because of the three letters next to their name (or the lack of any letters). Just a thought.


...LA PETIT TAUREAU IS STILL WINNING AWARDS, and that's a good thing... ON DAY 10:

Naomi Osaka is officially a mom ??

Congrats @naomiosaka and @cordae!

— wta (@WTA) July 11, 2023

Aryna Sabalenka was down 6-2 5-1, and then one net cord away from going down to Kaia Kanepi in last year’s US Open R2…

She went on to reach the semis, and has now reached the semis of four consecutive Grand Slams for the first time of her career pic.twitter.com/KyD1kCYxct

— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) July 12, 2023

*CAREER SLAM SF - active*
23 - Venus Williams, USA (16-7)
9 - Victoria Azarenka, BLR (6-3)
9 - Simona Halep, ROU (5-4)
8 - Angelique Kerber, GER (4-4)
7 - Petra Kvitova, CZE (3-4)
7 - Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (3-4)
6 - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (1-4) *
5 - Madison Keys, USA (1-4)
5 - Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS (4-1)
5 - Garbine Muguruza, ESP (4-1)
5 - Iga Swiatek, POL (4-1)
4 - Naomi Osaka, JPN (4-0)
4 - Karolina Pliskova, CZE (2-2)
4 - Vera Zvonareva, RUS (2-2)
3 - Genie Bouchard, CAN (1-2)
3 - Sara Errani, ITA (1-2)
3 - Ons Jabeur, TUN (2-0) *
3 - Sloane Stephens, USA (2-1)
3 - Elina Svitolina, UKR (0-2) *
2 - Jennifer Brady, USA (1-1)
2 - Danielle Collins, USA (1-1)
2 - Sofia Kenin, USA (2-0)
2 - Sabine Lisicki, GER (1-1)
2 - Karolina Muchova, CZE (1-1)
2 - Alona Ostapenko, LAT (1-1)
2 - Elena Rybakina, KAZ (2-0)
2 - Maria Sakkari, GRE (0-2)
2 - CoCo Vandeweghe, USA (0-2)
2 - Marketa Vondrousova, CZE (1-0) *
--
*-to play SF

[SLAM SF 2020-23]
6 - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (1-4) *
5 - Iga Swiatek, POL (4-1)
3 - Ash Barty, AUS (2-1)
3 - Ons Jabeur, TUN (2-0) *
2 - Victoria Azarenka, BLR (1-1)
2 - Jennifer Brady, USA (1-1)
2 - Simona Halep, ROU (0-2)
2 - Sofia Kenin, USA (2-0)
2 - Karolina Muchova, CZE (1-1)
2 - Naomi Osaka, JPN (2-0)
2 - Elena Rybakina, KAZ (2-0)
2 - Maria Sakkari, GRE (0-2)
2 - Serena Williams, USA (0-2)
1 - Danielle Collins, USA (1-0)
1 - Leylah Fernandez, CAN (1-0)
1 - Caroline Garcia, FRA (0-1)
1 - Coco Gauff, USA (1-0)
1 - Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA (0-1)
1 - Dasha Kasatkina, RUS (0-1)
1 - Angelique Kerber, GER (0-1)
1 - Madison Keys, USA (0-1)
1 - Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (1-0)
1 - Martina Trevisan, ITA (0-1)
1 - Petra Kvitova, CZE (0-1)
1 - Magda Linette, POL (0-1)
1 - Tatjana Maria, GER (0-1)
1 - Garbina Muguruza, ESP (1-0)
1 - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS (1-0)
1 - Karolina Pliskova, CZE (1-0)
1 - Nadia Podoroska, ARG (0-1)
1 - Emma Raducanu, GBR (1-0)
1 - Elina Svitolina, UKR (0-0) *
1 - Marketa Vondrousova, CZE (0-0) *
1 - Tamara Zidansek, SLO (0-1)
--
*-to play SF

[2023 SLAM SF BY NATION]
4 - BLR (1-2)*
2 - CZE (1-0)*
2 - POL (1-1)
1 - KAZ (1-0)
1 - TUN (0-0)*
1 - UKR (0-0)*
1 - BRA (0-1)

[SLAM SF BY NATION 2020-23 / 14 slams]
9 - USA (5-4)
8 - BLR (2-5)*
6 - CZE (3-2)*
6 - POL (4-2)
3 - AUS (2-1)
3 - TUN (2-0)*
2 - GER (0-2)
2 - GRE (0-2)
2 - JPN (2-0)
2 - KAZ (2-0)
2 - ROU (0-2)
2 - RUS (1-1)
1 (W) - CAN,GBR,ESP
1 (-) - UKR*
1 (L) - ARG,BRA,FRA,SLO,ITA

[2023 WI SEMIFINALISTS - career WI SF]
2 - Ons Jabeur
2 - Aryna Sabalenka
2 - Elina Svitolina
1 - Marketa Vondrousova

[2023 WI SEMIFINALISTS - consecutive Slam SF]
4 - Aryna Sabalenka

[2023 WI SEMIFINALISTS - career WI W/L]
16-5...Jabeur
16-8...Svitolina
11-4...Sabalenka
6-4...Vondrousova

[2023 WI SEMIFINALISTS - career Slam W/L]
84-37...Svitolina
53-20...Sabalenka
48-24...Jabeur
31-20...Vondrousova

[2023 WI SEMIFINALISTS - 2023 Slam W/L]
17-1...Sabalenka
10-2...Jabeur
9-1...Svitolina
8-2...Vondrousova

**#50+ def. #1 - since 2010**
#116...2018 Beijing 1st - Jabeur d. Halep
#78...2014 Charleston 2nd - Cepelova d. S.Williams
#76...2023 Wimbledon QF - Svitolina d. Swiatek *
#76...2011 Cincinnati 2nd - McHale d. Wozniacki
#73...2011 Bastad 2nd - Arvidsson d. Wozniacki
#71...2021 Charleston QF - Badosa d. Barty
#68...2017 Rome 2nd - Kontaveit d. Kerber
#67...2019 Dubai 2nd - Mladenovic d. Osaka
#55...2019 Wimbledon 4th Rd. - Riske d. Barty
#53...2020 Brisbane 2nd Rd. - Brady d. Barty

*SLAM QF - 2020-23*
7 - Iga Swiatek (5-2) *
6 - Ons Jabeur (3-3) *
6 - Aryna Sabalenka (6-0) *
6 - Jessie Pegula (0-6) *
4 - Ash Barty (3-1)
4 - Elena Rybakina (2-2) *
4 - Coco Gauff (1-3)
4 - Karolina Pliskova (1-3)
4 - Elina Svitolina (1-3) *
3 - Simona Halep (2-1)
3 - Barbora Krejcikova (1-2)
3 - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (1-2)
3 - Karolina Muchova (2-1)
3 - Ajla Tomljanovic (0-3)

[most by nation]
23 - USA (9-14)*
14 - CZE (6-8)*
8 - BLR (8-0)*
8 - POL (6-2)*
7 - AUS (3-4)
6 - TUN (3-3)*
5 - KAZ (2-3)*
5 - RUS (2-3)
4 - GER (2-2)
4 - UKR (1-3)*

EXCLUSIVE: Regardless of whether SAG-AFTRA goes on strike this week, the studios have no intention of sitting down with the Writers Guild for several more months
https://t.co/4y6uXQ3lQk

— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) July 12, 2023

I think the Emmys jumped the shark quite a few years ago now... but there would be at least one "And the Emmy goes to..." announcement that would at least be an, albeit belated, step in the right direction

Bob Odenkirk and Rhea Seehorn have earned Emmy nominations for Best Actor and Best Actress in a Drama Series pic.twitter.com/fapAx5myQs

— Post Cred Pod (@PostCredPod) July 12, 2023

For the love of god give Rhea Seehorn this fucking statue https://t.co/Lf7GeTN7xC

— Bob Maplethorpe (@RealTrillBill) July 12, 2023

Monkey was angry when owner did not let it gopic.twitter.com/tPQqnOLTyz

— Best Moment (@BestMoment_Vids) July 11, 2023

This generative artshows a fractal-like zoom into an Salvador Dalì world, aptly exploded to provide a sort of a surreal trip into multiple dimensions and points of view

[📹 recursiveidentity: https://t.co/npkZkSJnkd]pic.twitter.com/y9AGVUUzRW

— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) July 12, 2023

TOP QUALIFIER: Jessica Bouzas Maneiro/ESP
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #25 Madison Keys/USA
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): #6 Ons Jabeur/TUN
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): xx
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q3 - #18 Lucrezia Stefanini def. (PR) Hsieh Su-wei 6-2/6-7(3)/7-6(11-9)
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 2nd Rd. - #20 Donna Vekic/CRO def. Sloane Stephens/USA 4-6/7-5/6-4 - trailed 6-4/3-0 and 2 BP, Stephens served at 5-3
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): 3rd Rd. - Lesia Tsurenko/UKR def. Ana Bogdan/ROU 4-6/6-4/7-6(20-18) - 3:40, slam-record 38-pt. TB; Tsurenko on 8th MP after saved 5 in TB
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.-WC): xx
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: (PR) Barbora Strycova/CZE (def. Zanevska/BEL; first Wimb. match since 2019 SF)
FIRST SEED OUT: #15 Liudmila Samsonova/RUS (1st Rd.-Bogdan/ROU)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: Bai Zhuoxuan/CHN, Jodie Burrage/GBR, Tamara Korpatsch/GER, Natalija Stevanovic/SRB
UPSET QUEENS: Romania
REVELATION LADIES: The Return of the Hordettes
NATION OF POOR SOULS: ITA (1-6 1st Rd.)
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Mirra Andreeva/RUS (4th Rd.)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Elina Svitolina/UKR (in QF)
PROTECTED RANKING: Jaqueline Cristian/ROU, Sara Sorribes Tormo/ESP, Barbora Strycova/CZE (all 2nd Rd.)
LUCKY LOSER WINS: Tamara Korpatsch/GER (2nd Rd.)
LAST BRIT STANDING: Katie Boulter (3rd Rd.)
Ms. OPPORTUNITY: Nominees: UKR women, Vondrousova, Jabeur
IT "??": Nominees: M.Andreeva, Korneeva, Jamrichova, (jr.)
COMEBACK PLAYER: Nominees: Svitolina, Hsieh/Strycova, Kenin
CRASH & BURN: Tatjana Maria/GER ('22 semifinalist, loses 1st Rd.)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF LONDON: Lesia Tsurenko/UKR (3rd Rd.: in 3:40, wins slam record 38-pt. TB over Bogdan on 7th MP; saved 5 MP in TB; Bogdan served for match at 5-3 3rd)
DOUBLES STAR: Nominees: Xu Yifan, L.Kichenok
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Nominees: Svitolina, Hsieh/Strycova, Zhang S., (Invitational)
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: xx
SPIRIT OF JANA (NOVOTNA) HONOREE: Karolina Muchova/CZE

All for Day 10. More tomorrow.