Elena Rybakina lived up to her billing as favourite to win Wimbledon with a ruthless 6-3 6-2 dismantling of Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals on Centre Court.
The 2022 champion produced a fine display of explosive hitting coupled with a rock-solid serve to end Svitolina's hopes of a maiden grand slam triumph at the 42nd time of asking.
Rybakina struck 28 winners during a one-sided 61-minute battle with Svitolina, who was out of sorts two days on from an emotional victory over Wang Xinyu, which occurred hours after a Russian missile struck a children’s hospital in Kyiv.
Fourth seed Rybakina wrapped up victory just as the sun started to shine with a seventh ace to march into the semi-finals.
"Yeah, really pleased with the way I played today," Rybakina said.
"It is always tough to play against Elina, she is a great player and fighter. So, no matter the score, it was not as easy as it might have looked.
"Of course I have such amazing memories from 2022 and I am just enjoying every time I step on the court.
"I also don’t like it (being favourite) to be honest but definitely I have an aggressive style of play, a huge serve and it is a big advantage.
"Of course I want to go to the end but it is match by match."
Rybakina had been tipped for a deep run in SW19 even before the withdrawal and exits of various seeds, but was up against an in-form Svitolina.
Svitolina made the semi-finals last year after being handed a wild card upon her return to the tour following pregnancy, but entered this tournament as the 21st seed and got past two-time runner-up Ons Jabeur in round three.
Despite the political undertones surrounding this match, with Rybakina from Moscow, Svitolina again outlined on Monday she was fine with the Kazakhstan player due to her switch in allegiances, and the pair shook hands at their French Open meeting last month.
After breaks were exchanged at the beginning of this Centre Court battle with the roof open, Rybakina moved through the gears and did not face another break point.
The forehand of the world number four had been on point from the outset and when she sent down a 113mph ace to move 4-3 up, the writing was on the wall.
Svitolina suddenly went 0-40 down and conceded the break when she sent her backhand into the net before Rybakina closed out the 31-minute opener with another ace.
Another break followed at the start of the second set, with a first opportunity squandered after a wild forehand but corrected when Rybakina whizzed her next passing shot beyond the Ukrainian.
Two more aces established a 3-1 lead before Svitolina had problems on her serve after she sent down two double faults in the seventh game.
It helped Rybakina break again and after match point was set up via another sumptuous forehand winner, a 113mph ace booked her place in the semi-finals.
Sealed in style 🌟
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 10, 2024
A dominant Elena Rybakina defeats Svitolina 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the semi-finals! 👏#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/EXjJhNCFMK
Latvian livewire Jelena Ostapenko blew herself out as Barbora Krejcikova reached her first Wimbledon semi-final.
Ostapenko had blitzed her way through the women's draw, dropping only 15 games in four matches with a ferocious flurry of winners.
But when the unforced errors started to creep well above the winner count on Court One, Krejcikova was able to take advantage.
A blink-and-you-miss-it quarter-final encounter did not feature a rally of more than eight shots, but Krejcikova made hers count in a 6-4 7-6 (7-4) victory to set up a last-four showdown with Rybakina.
"I don’t have the words right now," she said. "I was so much into the game I told myself I’m going to give it everything I have and I’m really happy that I did. It’s an unbelievable moment for me."
The two former Roland Garros champions had contrasting starts to the match, Ostapenko racing through her first service game in less than two minutes and Krejcikova opening with two double faults.
But the 28-year-old Czech, who was still playing doubles late on Tuesday night, not only held serve but then broke Ostapenko in the next.
It proved pivotal with Krejcikova barely missing a first serve as Ostapenko, who had previously not dropped more than three games in a set at these championships, found herself behind in a match for the first time.
Suddenly some of the fearsome groundstrokes which have been hitting the lines all fortnight were not finding their target.
Ostapenko would do well to get a sponsorship tie-up with a certain high-end watch company, given she uses up every Hawkeye challenge available to her. None were successful.
But the 27-year-old from Riga hit her stride in game four of the second set, a thumping cross-court winner bringing up break point which Krejcikova surrendered with a return into the net.
A battling hold in a game of six deuces felt significant, but in Ostapenko’s next service game she coughed up two double faults as Krejcikova moved back on to her opponent’s shoulder.
Into the tie-break and Krejcikova served beautifully again before taking the first of three match points to cap a composed display and a well-deserved victory.
Look at what it means to Barbora Krejcikova and her team ❤️
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 10, 2024
A first semi-final for Barbora at #Wimbledon as she defeats Jelena Ostapenko 6-4, 7-6(4)! pic.twitter.com/mUFhnUASzj
