Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina returns the ball to Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova during a women’s quarterfinal match on day eight of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 9, 2019.
Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina returns the ball to Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova during a women’s quarterfinal match on day eight of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 9, 2019.Tim Ireland | Associated Press

Wimbledon update: Barbora Strycova beats Johanna Konta and Elina Svitolina beats Karolina Muchova to reach semifinals

Barbora Strycova reached her first Grand Slam semifinal by beating Johanna Konta 7-6 (5), 6-1 on Centre Court.

Strycova trailed 4-1 in the first set but broke back for 4-3 and clinched the tiebreaker when Konta netted a forehand.

The unseeded Czech player, who will face Serena Williams in the semifinals, then raced to a 3-0 lead in the second and broke again for a 5-1 lead.

Strycova's only other Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance came in 2014 at Wimbledon, where her serve-and-volley style of play is effective on the grass courts.

Konta was the last British player remaining in the tournament. In 2017, Konta became the first British woman since Virginia Wade in 1978 to reach the Wimbledon semifinals, and she also made the last four at the French Open in June.

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Elina Svitolina came from a break down in both sets to beat Karolina Muchova 7-5, 6-4 at Wimbledon and reach her first Grand Slam semifinal.

Svitolina was down 4-1 in the opening set but broke back when Muchova served at 5-3 and won the next three games as well. In the second set, Muchova broke again for a 2-0 lead only for Svitolina to win the next five games. Svitolina failed to serve out the match on her first attempt at 5-2 but later converted her first match point when Muchova missed a backhand return.

Svitolina had lost her previous four Grand Slam quarterfinals, including at this year's Australian Open, while her previous best result at Wimbledon was reaching the fourth round in 2017. She will next play former No. 1 Simona Halep.

Muchova was trying to become the first woman since 1999 to reach the semifinals on her Wimbledon debut.

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