The first to advance to the semis was Czech Barbora Strycova, with a 6-2 6-4 victory over compatriot Kristyna Pliskova. The world No.51 Strycova has had stellar results at this grasscourt tournament, having played the final in 2014 and 2016 and semifinals last season.
Strycova’s next obstacle will be in-form Ashleigh Barty, who is now just two match wins away from reaching the WTA No.1 ranking. In Friday’s quarterfinals, the second-seeded Barty won five games in a row to close out the first set against neon-yellow-clad Venus Williams, having a -2 winners-to-unforced-errors differential, compared to her opponent’s -14, and then marched through the second set by breaking the five-time Wimbledon champion twice for a 6-4 6-3 victory.