Bencic 2-6 0-4 Swiatek*
Bencic just cannot handle Swiatek’s pace at all, coughing up plenty of misses and short balls. The Swiss looks irritated as a fan lets off a champagne cork just as she’s about to serve at 0-15.
No matter, Bencic eventually lands a good delivery which Swiatek can’t get back, 15-15. The Pole then gifts her opponent a cheap return error off her backhand wing for 30-15.
But yet another short ball subsequently sets up that lethal Swiatek forehand once again, the No8 seed brutally firing another winner for 30-30…
Bencic isn’t giving up, however, crying “Come on!” after forcing Swiatek to net her next forehand.
Swiatek isn’t content with just one break, however, forcing Bencic scurrying wide with another penetrating shot – the Swiss unable to get it back, deuce.
A brilliant Swiatek return forced Bencic to bunt a forehand wide, break point… but the five-time Grand Slam champion misses a crosscourt forehand by millimetres and we’re back to deuce.
Centre Court gasps in unison as Bencic double faults to give away another break point. And Swiatek takes this one with a sensational, too-hot-to-handle return.
The first semi-final was a marathon. This one is a sprint…
