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Wimbledon 2022 LIVE: Elena Rybakina vs Simona Halep latest result and reaction from Centre Court semi-final

Wimbledon 2022 LIVE: Elena Rybakina vs Simona Halep latest result and reaction from Centre Court semi-final

Wimbledon 2022 - LIVE!

Elena Rybakina produced the performance of her life as she brushed aside Simona Halep to reach the Wimbledon final

The 23-year-old, born in Moscow but who represents Kazakhstan, arrived on Centre Court as the underdog against 2019 Wimbledon champion Halep. The Romanian was back at SW19 for the first time since that triumph and looked set to reach consecutive finals, of sorts, having not dropped a set all tournament.

But Rybakina needed 76 minutes to booked her place in a first Grand Slam final, in just her second main-draw appearance at Wimbledon, as she hit her way through Halep in a sensational 6-3 6-3 victory. She will face another first-time finalist on Saturday in Ons Jabeur, after the Tunisian got the better of Tatjana Maria’s variety earlier in the day. Maria brought subtlety and guile to that match; Jabeur should expect Rybakina to bring a sledgehammer.

Rybakina vs Halep latest news

  • Game, set, match! Rybakina into first Grand Slam final

  • First set! Rybakina takes first set 6-3

Match report

17:34 , Matt Verri

Elena Rybakina produced the performance of her life as she brushed aside Simona Halep to reach the Wimbledon final

The 23-year-old, born in Moscow but who represents Kazakhstan, arrived on Centre Court as the underdog against 2019 Wimbledon champion Halep. The Romanian was back at SW19 for the first time since that triumph and looked set to reach consecutive finals, of sorts, having not dropped a set all tournament.

But Rybakina needed 76 minutes to booked her place in a first Grand Slam final, in just her second main-draw appearance at Wimbledon, as she hit her way through Halep in a sensational 6-3 6-3 victory. She will face another first-time finalist on Saturday in Ons Jabeur, after the Tunisian got the better of Tatjana Maria’s variety earlier in the day. Maria brought subtlety and guile to that match; Jabeur should expect Rybakina to bring a sledgehammer.

Read the full report!

 (AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)

Rybakina vs Jabeur

17:28 , Matt Verri

So we have our women’s singles final. Rybakina vs Jabeur on Saturday afternoon.

Jabeur got the better of Maria’s variety earlier today... there won’t be quite so much subtlety with Rybakina!

Serious performance!

17:13 , Matt Verri

Rybakina 6-3 6-3 Halep

17:07 , Matt Verri

Halep has space to go down the line with the backhand pass, goes crosscourt instead and Rybakina is waiting. Routine volley. 15-15.

Couple of long returns from Rybakina, helping Halep to get through this game. That’s better, deep return and Halep can only send the response low into the net. 40-30.

Double fault Halep. The second serve has been such a problem this afternoon, nine double faults in the match. Deuce. Forehand wide from Halep. Match point Rybakina!

GAME, SET, MATCH! Stunning backhand return gets the job done. That’s an incredibly display from Rybakina.

Rybakina 6-3 5-3* Halep

17:02 , Matt Verri

More big hitting from Rybakina, forehand winner dispatched crosscourt as Halep moves the other way. Return then flies just long after a serve down the T. 30-0.

Better from Halep, has to go big now. Couple of huge forehands keep her in the game. Serve out wide and Halep can barely get a racquet on it. She’s hanging on though, backhand return sets up the point. 40-30.

Ace! Catches the line and Rybakina is a game away from victory.

Rybakina 6-3 *4-3 Halep

16:58 , Matt Verri

Drop volley from Rybakina, lands just wide. Very nearly a lovely angle.

No fine margins this time, well out. Halep enjoying a rare comfortable game on serve. 40-0.

Rybakina dumps a forehand low into the net, Halep keeps herself in this match. Needs a break quickly though.

Rybakina 6-3 4-2* Halep

16:55 , Matt Verri

Back to Rybakina to move a couple of games from victory. Her third ace of the match is a good start.

Halep struggling to get any of these returns back in play, another one flies long. 40-15.

Swinging ace out wide and that’s a superb game for Rybakina. Closing in on a first Grand Slam final.

Rybakina 6-3 *3-2 Halep

16:52 , Matt Verri

Rybakina looking for a swift response to that disappointing game. Flat backhand crosscourt sends Halep scrambling and she can’t cover the ground. 30-30.

Brilliant from Rybakina - impressive from Halep too as she somehow keeps herself in the point but it’s eventually a simple volley into an open court for Rybakina. Break point!

Double fault! Crazy again from Halep, who has gifted a break to Rybakina once again.

Rybakina 6-3 2-2* Halep

16:48 , Matt Verri

First real bit of pressure on Rybakina’s serve now, 0-30. Can Halep find a way back into this set and with it the match?

Huge chance now, Rybakina pulls a forehand wide. Three break points Halep.

Halep breaks! Rybakina with another unforced error - she’s disappered for a game and has been duly punished.

Rybakina 6-3 *2-1 Halep

16:45 , Matt Verri

Rybakina brings Halep forward with the drop shot, but she reads it well and does enough with the forehand down the line. Follows it with yet another unforced error though. 30-15.

Swinging serve out wide, Rybakina nets the return and Halep is on the board in the second set.

Rybakina 6-3 2-0* Halep

16:42 , Matt Verri

Confidence is high for Rybakina, as you’d expect. Maybe too high - goes for an incredibly ambitious forehand down the line. Sails long.

Halep then shanks a forehand, she has to get this together and quickly. Match really getting away from her. Return slapped straight into the net. 40-15.

Nice point, Halep works Rybakina around the court and then puts away the forehand. Nets that return though, Rybakina consolidates the break.

Rybakina 6-3 *1-0 Halep

16:38 , Matt Verri

Rybakina stops the point, convinced a Halep forehand has landed beyond the baseline. Was called in but Rybakina has already marched over to the over side of the court - it was out. Good call from her. 30-30.

Almost! Chance is there for a backhand pass down the line, just wide from Rybakina. She swats away a swinging volley to then take it to deuce. Back to deuce again, as Halep chucks in a fourth double fault.

Break point Rybakina - Halep forehand is wide. Saved! Halep keeps her nerve to put away the volley.

Another double fault, another break point. And another double fault! Disastrous from Halep, Rybakina a set and a break up now.

Rybakina 6-3 Halep

16:28 , Matt Verri

Rybakina kicks the game off with her first ace of the match, wouldn’t have expected it to take this long. She then whips a forehand winner crosscourt. 30-0.

Ace down the T brings up three set points. Halep saves one with a flat backhand, and a second with a deep groundstroke that Rybakina can’t get back. 40-30.

That’s wide from Halep though - Rybakina takes the first set!

Rybakina *5-3 Halep

16:24 , Matt Verri

Halep serving to stay in the first set.

Couple of unforced errors in a row from her though, the second a seemingly routine forehand as she moved forward. 30-30.

Double fault - set point Rybakina! Halep challenges but that second serve was indeed long. She saves it though, nice touch at the net and a simple backhand into the open court. Deuce.

Solid from Halep under pressure and she holds with a serve out wide. Over to Rybakina.

Rybakina 5-2* Halep

16:19 , Matt Verri

There is nothing subtle about this from Rybakina but it’s so effective. Forehand is being hit so cleanly, Halep struggling to live with it.

Now it’s the backhand, Halep tries to lob it back up but drops wide. 40-15.

Drop shot from Halep, Rybakina reads it and sends a slice deep into the court. Halep can’t flick it back.

Rybakina *4-2 Halep

16:15 , Matt Verri

Weak second serve from Halep, sits up to be hit and Rybakina is more than happy to do just that. Huge winner. She has another one next point, eventually given to her after a challenge. 15-30.

Halep nets a forehand, another great return from Rybakina who now has two break points.

One saved by Halep, a couple of big forehands get the job done. Deuce! Brilliant from Halep to keep herself in the point as the groundstrokes came thundering in from the other side of the net. Then moves forward and Rybakina can’t make the pass.

Couple of loose shots from Rybakina and Halep has a hard-fought hold.

Rybakina 4-1* Halep

16:09 , Matt Verri

Halep starting to establish herself a bit more in the rallies.

Backhand from Rybakina is too good there, but she then follows it with a reall poor attempt at the drop shot. 30-30.

Net cord puts Halep up, she then fires a forehand long as she lunges forward. Rybakina holds.

Rybakina *3-1 Halep

16:05 , Matt Verri

There we go, more like it from Halep. Lovely forehand winner crosscourt. Backs it up with another double fault though, 15-15.

Poor drop shot from Rybakina, Halep easily gets there and puts away the forehand. She then scrambles brilliantly to stay in the point, but Rybakina has an open court to just drop the ball into. 30-30.

Break point Rybakina! She’s hitting her way through Halep’s defences. Good response from Halep, big first serve out wide. Deuce.

Drop shot from Rybakina... close. Just clips the top of the net. Halep wasn’t moving for it. Backhand is then long from Rybakina and Halep is on the board.

Rybakina 3-0* Halep

15:59 , Matt Verri

Halep has not got going at all. Two more unforced errors and Rybakina is cruising through the service game.

First serve out wide, Halep can’t return. Hold to 15 for the 17th seed who has had a dream first eight minutes of this match.

Rybakina *2-0 Halep

15:57 , Matt Verri

Halep immediately under pressure, 0-30 on serve. She’s yet to win a point. Now she’s on the board though, backhand winner as she moves forward to the net.

Couple of loose returns from Rybakina help Halep’s cause too, but more big hitting is followed by a confident smash from the 23-year-old. Deuce.

Second serve halfway up the net from Halep, break point Rybakina. TAKEN. Flat forehand from Rybakina, Halep has no response. Sensational start.

Rybakina 1-0* Halep

15:53 , Matt Verri

Rybakina quickly up and running!

Serve finds its range early on, Halep barely able to get into a rally in the opening game.

Hold to love and that’s the perfect start in your first Grand Slam semi-final.

Warm-ups done!

15:51 , Matt Verri

Time to get underway in the second semi-final.

Rybakina to serve first.

Players out on court!

15:44 , Matt Verri

Halep has led them through the long Wimbledon corridors, before they pause just by the entrance to Centre Court. Now they head out into the sunshine.

Lots of slices and drop shots in the first semi-final - will be far more focus on powerful groundstrokes in this one!

Serious form...

15:38 , Matt Verri

Next up!

15:31 , Matt Verri

Ons Jabeur has booked her place in the Wimbledon final with victory on Centre Court.

Now that match is done, attention will turn to the second semi-final... Rybakina vs Halep.

They’ll be on court shortly.

Prediction

15:07 , Matt Verri

Simona Halep looks full of confidence at Wimbledon, extending her winning streak to 12 matches with a straight-sets victory over Amanda Anisimova in the quarter-finals.

Elena Rybakina, meanwhile, is also looking good on grass and has dropped just one set in SW19 this year on her way to the last four.

But, I expect Halep to have too much for Rybakina, especially on serve, and to reach another final.

Halep in three sets.

How to watch

14:45 , Alex Young

TV channel: BBC will broadcast the match on BBC One.

Live stream: TV licence fee-payers can stream the tennis action over the next two weeks via the BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app.

LIVE blog: Keep across all of the action right here with us!

Hello!

14:33 , Alex Young

Good afternoon and welcome to the Evening Standard’s LIVE coverage of the second women’s Wimbledon semi-final.

It’s Elena Rybakina vs Simona Halep and we should be up and running within the hour.