Li and Cibulkova power into final

The two semi finals saw contrasting results, one going with the favourite, the other producing a major upset.

(Rank/Seed)

4/4 Li is now one step away from the one major title which has narrowly eluded her twice before after beating (31/30) Bouchard 62 64, her 3rd win in 4 semi finals played here. Initially, Bouchard was nervous as she didn't win a point in her first 3 service games to trail 0-5. Li was striking the ball beautifully once again, particularly off her backhand, hitting either clean winners or forcing Bouchard into errors. However, the Canadian eventually settled and would then win 4 of the next 5 games to lead 2-0 in the second after two marathon games almost lasting twenty minutes combined! Though Li would regain the momentum to win 3 straight games from here, the match remained closer as Bouchard began to impose herself more so on the return. It was clear Li was getting nervous as the finish line approached, but she never stopped going for it, hitting her 35th winner on match point (compared to just 23 unforced errors) to reach her third final here in the last 4 years. Bouchard in contrast managed only 10 winners to 14 unforced errors, but her phenomenal fortnight is a sure indication that Bouchard will be a future champion of some description. 

21/20 Cibulkova stunned everyone into silence with a thorough demolition of (5/5) Radwanska 61 62 to become the first Slovak ever to reach a major final! Radwanska was flat and lacklustre; a sad shadow of the woman who had played inspirational tennis to beat Azarenka a day earlier, a scheduling dilemma she bemoaned. Inspired by the Wimbledon triumph of her close friend, Marion Bartoli, Cibulkova was in contrast a bundle of energy. Initially, it looked as if Radwanska was just nervous but it soon became apparent that she was moving slowly by her normal standards, Cibulkova putting her permanently on the run, frequently closing in for drive volley winners. Cibulkova routinely killed her opponents 60mph second serve to build a 61 4-0 lead. Though the crowd cheered after a slight Radwanska reprieve to 4-2, having finally broken serve on her 9th break point of the match, it was purely a stay of execution. Cibulkova was always in control and romped to the finish, converting her first match point on yet another lame Radwanska netted backhand, jumping for joy and laying on her back in triumph. She finished the match with 21 winners to 20 unforced errors. Radwanska made a solemn, hasty retreat having let another golden opportunity to reach a major final slip away. You would never have known that Radwanska had led 4-1 in the head to heads before the match!