MX23RW : Friday, November 15 07:36:21| >> :600:295080885:295080885:

Live Commentary: Garbine Muguruza vs. Agnieszka Radwanska - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of the Wimbledon semi-final between Garbine Muguruza and Agnieszka Radwanska.
2

Garbine Muguruza has earned her place in the Wimbledon final with a three-set victory over Agnieszka Radwanska.

The 20th seed raced into a set advantage before Radwanska, the runner-up in 2012, powered back to take it to a decider.

However, despite falling a break behind, Muguruza rediscovered her earlier form to reach her first Grand Slam final.

Read below to see how the action unfolded on Centre Court.


Sort:
Newest
Oldest
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Wimbledon semi-final between Garbine Muguruza and Agnieszka Radwanska.

On June 29, there were 128 players all vying for the ladies singles crown at Wimbledon, but now we are down to just four as Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Agnieszka Radwanska and Garbine Muguruza look to clinch the third major of 2015. The showdown between Williams and Sharapova follows later this afternoon, but first up, we have the battle between the 13th and 20th seeds.

Given her previous lack of success on grass, Muguruza is a surprise semi-finalist at SW19 but that's not to say that she is necessarily the underdog. The Spaniard has seen off the likes of Angelique Kerber and Caroline Wonziacki on the way to reaching the last four of a Grand Slam for the first time and victory here would not only take her into the world's top 10, she would also become the Spanish number one ahead of Carla Suarez Navarro.

As for Radwanska, it was only three years ago when she reached number two in the world rankings after making the Wimbledon final. However, before this year's event, she had failed to progress through to the quarter-finals of her last five Grand Slam tournaments, which has seen the Pole drop out of the world's top 10. Before Wimbledon though, she reached the final in Eastbourne and that set her up to capitalise on Petra Kvitova's early exit to reach the last four for the third time in four attempts.

HEAD TO HEAD! Radwanska eased to victory in their first two meetings, but it's been a different story in 2015. On the hardcourts of Sydney and Dubai, it was Muguruza who came out on top and she will fancy her chances of making it a third successive triumph.

Here come the two players, who make their way onto a sun-kissed Centre Court. Unlike yesterday, we should get through today's matches without any delays.

STATS! As far as aces are concerned, Muguruza has recorded six more than her opponent, but Radwanska has the better of it when it comes to points won behind the first serve. Both players are tied for break points won at 21 apiece.

The warm-ups have been completed and we are ready to go. It will be Radwanska to serve first.

BREAK! It's a positive start from Radwanska, who converts a forehand winner into the corner to earn 30-15, but a poor drop shot allows Muguruza to step in to put away a winner of her own. The Radwanska second serve looks a shot to be targeted, and Muguruza gets to deuce after a fierce return sets up a dominant point. The Spaniard sets up a break point but she can't convert after netting a forehand. However, a second chance arises and she takes it, firing a forehand into the corner. This is her first appearance on Centre Court but she has settled immediately.

Radwanska is known for being able to absorb the power of her opponents, but she's struggled to contain Muguruza in these early stages. The Spaniard hits her way to three game points, and although Radwanska improves to reach 40-30, Muguruza connectes with a one-two behind her serve to complete the game.

Radwanska comes back from 0-15 and 15-30, but at 30-30, the power of Muguruza is on show once again and it's enough to earn her the chance for the double break. She gets a look at a second serve, but her return goes a couple of feet wide. Radwanska reaches game point with the first ace of the semi-final before converting a volley to get on the board.

A couple of wayward shots from Muguruza gives her opponent a chance at 15-30, but the Spaniard is fortunate to catch the back of the baseline with a backhand to level the game. A first serve is sent out by Radwanska t give her game point, before the 20th seed finds the line with an ace out wide.

BREAK! Muguruza strikes early with a beautiful passing shot before Radwanska goes wide to concede 0-30. The Spaniard's power helps her prevail from a lengthy exchange to earn three break points, and although the first is saved, the second is converted when Radwanska slices into the net. This first set is slipping away from the Pole.

Two big first serves help take Muguruza to 30-15, before she ends an enthralling exchange with a stunning forehand winner down the line. The double-break is backed up when Radwanska sprays a forehand wide, and she is one game away from losing the opener.

Muguruza has the chance to reach 0-30 after chasing down a drop shot, but she flicks a forehand just long of the baseline. However, two mistakes from Radwanska hand two set points to the Spaniard, but she shows a drastic improvement to reel off four points in a row to remain alive in the set.

SET! It's not only Muguruza's power that is effective, it's her accuracy too. She races into a 40-0 lead, bringing up three more set points, and a big first serve sees her win the set in just 34 minutes. It'll take something special from Radwanska from here.

BREAK! That's not the start to the second set that Radwanska wanted. Muguruza powers her way to 0-40, and although Radwanska provides a response, the Spaniard's backhand proves too hot to handle. She could run away with this match from here.

A shocker of a forehand from Muguruza gives Radwanska 0-30, but three points in a row, the third a superb outswinging serve that catches the line, brings up game point for the Spaniard, who completes the hold with a backhand conversion that hits the line.

Two Muguruza errors hand Radwanska some breathing space at 30-0, and the Pole completes a much-needed love hold with a backhand volley and a smash.

Back-to-back aces - her second and third of the match - take Muguruza to 40-0 before she registers a love service hold of her own with a huge first serve that only catches the frame of Radwanska's racquet.

Radwanska simply can't handle Muguruza's shots off the ground, and at 15-30, the Spaniard has the sights sets on the double break. The 2012 finalist recovers to 40-30, but a tame second serve is given the treatment by Muguruza. Radwanska survives though, courtesy of mistakes from her opponent.

BREAK! Some mistakes are beginning to come from Muguruza now, and two in a row allow Radwanska to reach 0-30. Like her previous service game, a serve out wide halves the deficit before Radwanska wilts after another bombardment from the baseline. However, the Pole earns her first break point of the match when her opponent nets, and it's taken when the Spaniard does the same off her backhand wing. That could be huge.

Two stunning winners take Muguruza to 15-30, but she goes for too much on the next return which goes long. Radwanska holds firm to take the next two points to hold, and this is beginning to feel like a different match. How will Muguruza cope with having to retreat for the first time in the match?

BREAK! Radwanska is starting to play with more variety and it's drawing the errors out of her opponent. Muguruza responds with a backhand winner, but it's break point to Radwanska after a backhand goes long. Muguruza looks in control of the point but it's a tremendous reply from the Pole, who ends the point with a smash to move a game away from the set.

SET! A tame return from Muguruza allows Radwanska to get to 30-15 before two set points are created with a smash. The first is saved with a forehand passing shot, but the second is taken by the Pole, who is happy to see the 20th seed go wide. What a turnaround!

BREAK! Muguruza lost five games in a row to lose that second set, something which can't continue if she wants to stay in this match. She saves a break point with an ace, but when she faces a second, she fires a forehand long of the baseline. This is Radwanska's to lose now.

BREAK! Well, maybe not. The Muguruza of old has returned, pummelling two huge winners to earn three break points. Radwanska saves the first, but on the second, she sprays a forehand wide of the line.

Muguruza has improved, but she misses two makable winners and that allows Radwanska to get a look at 30-30. The Spaniard holds firm though, taking the game when Radwanska nets. This has been a terrific match.

At 30-0 down, Muguruza misses the easiest of forehands - those kind of errors weren't coming 45 minutes ago. Radwanska holds to love with a nice drop shot at the net.

After the opening two points are shared, Muguruza can't convert a difficult smash to concede 15-30 but she lucky with a net cord on a drive volley on the next point. Muguruza reaches game point, but Radwanska moves her around the court before converting a forehand winner. The Spaniard eventually holds after catching the back of the line with a backhand, but it was anything but easy.

BREAK! After both players trade errors, Muguruza explodes into life to put away a second-serve return for 15-30. Another imposing point see her drill home a drive volley for two break points before a phenomenal defensive lob is followed by a winner off the ground. Is that the decisive game of the set and match?

Radwanska has some joy, prevailing from the best rally of the match and striking a clean forehand winner, but on the remaining points, she is helpless as Muguruza produces more relentless hitting to move to within a game of a place in the final.

Muguruza should be 0-15 ahead but wastes a routine return off a second serve, before only finding the net with a forehand from inside the court. Sloppy. A sublime defensive lob takes Radwanska to three game points, but Muguruza stays alive with a forehand winner. That's followed by a backhand winner and a Radwanska error and all of a sudden, we are at deuce. The Pole survives though, despite being taken to a second deuce, but Muguruza will serve for a place in the final.

MATCH! The first two points are shared before Muguruza comes out on top in a rally that sees Radwanska go wide. The Pole fires back with a flat forehand winner, before she earns break point with a dream of a return. It's saved by Muguruza, but the Spaniard throws in a double fault to hand her opponent another chance. It's saved again, and Muguruza has match point after a bad challenge from Radwanska. It's taken with a nerveless drive volley, and the 20-year-old earns her place in her first Grand Slam final.

What a match that was. Radwanska played her part, but this was Muguruza's afternoon and she can now sit back and relax as Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova battle it out to join her in Saturday's final. Will have coverage of that in 15 minutes time. See you then!

ID:232697: cacheID:232697:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:18300:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark reacts in her Ladies’ Singles Third Round match against Camila Giorgi of Italy during day six of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 4, 2015
Read Next:
Caroline Wozniacki outclasses Camila Giorgi
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!