The Serbian fairytale continues. Ana Ivanovic saved three match points to beat Nicole Vaidisova yesterday just as Novak Djokovic was battling past Lleyton Hewitt. After their performances in Paris, they were paraded on the balcony of the parliament building in Belgrade and one wonders at the ceremony the Balkan republic would lay on for its national heroes were they to advance any farther.

Ivanovic has become the queen of Wimbledon hearts – one man stood up during a lull in play, with the Serb a set and a break down, and shouted, “I love you, Ana,” which seemed to have the desired effect as she recovered the deficit to secure a 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 victory and a place in the last four.

The world No 6, who became the first Serb to reach the semi-final at Wimbledon only a month after losing in the French Open final, was making her debut on Centre Court and admitted that the nerves had been a hindrance in a yo-yo performance. “I was really intimidated when I first stepped on the court,” she said. “It was very exciting because I have played on Centre Court in Paris, Australia, the US Open, but never here. This tournament is very special for me, so to have the chance to play [on it] was already amazing.”

After the high of her surprise victory on Tuesday over Amélie Mauresmo, the champion, Vaidisova seemed to have lost her appetite for a fight. She cruised through the first set, but as soon as she was broken in the second, shortly after an unnecessary eight-minute delay for rain, she appeared to disinterested. Serving at 5-2 down, she hit two double faults and two unforced errors to surrender the set and sloped off for a bathroom break.

Expert View

Federer reminded me of the young girls in Bali who perform intricate movement in an altered state of consciousness

Simon Barnes

• More

• Post a comment

BACKGROUND

• Federer equals Borg's famous five

• Swiss maestro survives Nadal barrage

• Murray’s mixed blessing ensures domestic bliss

• Fans starting to feel short-changed

• Results from SW19

Related Internet Links

• Rafael Nadal blog

• The Wimbledon blog

• Wimbledon Timeline

Multimedia

• Wimbledon match tracker

• Flushing Meadows Image Highlights

• 2007 Wimbledon draw

Related Links

• Tipsarevic prepared for the long haul

Ivanovic, 19, started the final set calamitously as Vaidisova pulled herself together – rarely in the course of the match did they both play well at the same time – and the Serb had to draw on all her grit to recover from 5-3 down. She then saved three match points – two were errors from Vaidisova, one a forehand winner down the line – before taking a 6-5 lead and snatching victory on her second match point.

“Even when I was a break down, I just knew I could do it,” Ivanovic said. “I had a feeling I could win this match. I think that’s what made the big difference.”

Vaidisova, who finished the match with a double fault, failed to turn up for her postmatch press conference after disappearing somewhere within the confines of the All England Club.

She did emerge two hours later and admitted, close to tears, that her emotions had got the better of her.

Ivanovic now plays Venus Williams in the semi-finals. Williams is in indomitable mood and the three-times winner proclaimed herself as the favourite for the title after her 6-3, 6-4 victory over Svetlana Kuznetsova. “Why would I say anyone else?” the American said. “My self-esteem would be quite low if I named another person.”

Williams was watched by Hank Kuehne, her boyfriend of six months, who is a recently divorced professional golfer. “He’s a great guy,” she said. “He understands competition and is very supportive. I love having him here.”

Of the prospect of her semi-final against Williams, whom she is winless against in two meetings, Ivanovic said: “It’s going to be a very tough match. Venus is in great shape. She played amazingly in her past couple of matches. But I have the experience of playing on Centre Court now, so I just want to play the best I can and see who’s better tomorrow.”

Anna Fitzpatrick maintained a British presence in the girls’ singles by upsetting Ksenia Milevskaya, the No 4 seed from Belarus and a semi-finalist at the French and Australian Opens. Given the ironic nickname “Fat Bloke” by her brothers, a slender Fitzpatrick, who is based at the Monte Carlo Tennis Academy, prevailed 6-4, 6-4.

Semi-finals

(1) J Henin (Bel) v (18) M Bartoli (Fr)
(6) A Ivanovic (Serbia) v (23) V Williams (US)