Maria Sharapova of Russia plays a forehand en route to her win over Coco Vandeweghe of the USA at Wimbledon tennis championships in London. (Reuters)

DPA/London

Top seed Novak Djokovic yesterday completed a dramatic fightback to post a 6-7 (6-8), 6-7 (6-8), 6-1, 6-4, 7-5 defeat of South African Kevin Anderson and reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals.
The contest had been interrupted after three hours on Monday night due to bad light with the score level at two sets each. After the win, the Serb called it “one of most difficult matches at Wimbledon and maybe of my career.”
Women’s former champion survived a gamesmanship row to set up a showdown with old rival Serena Williams as the Russian battled into the semi-finals with a 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 6-2 victory over Coco Vandeweghe.
Sharapova needed two hours and 45 minutes before she finally saw off unseeded Vandeweghe to reach her fifth Wimbledon semi-final and her first since 2011. But the world number four was accused of unsporting behaviour by Vandeweghe, who was unhappy that Sharapova was moving during the 23-year-old American’s service action. Vandeweghe protested to the umpire during the quarter-final and repeated her complaint in the post-match press conference
But Sharapova insisted she was doing nothing out of the ordinary. “It is what it is. What she said, I’m not going to argue against her words,” said the Russian.
The 2004 winner, seeded fourth, will play a Wimbledon semi-final for the first time since 2011. Sharapova, a five-time grand slam winner, finally prevailed despite 10 double-faults. “I’ve played five matches already, I’ve faced different challenges, matches, opponents, circumstances,” said Sharapova. “The first four I played quite well and got the job done in two sets.
“Today serving for the second set, I could have made it easier for myself. We went into the third, but I still got the job done. I have to be pleased with that, that I’m in the position of being in a semifinal again after these many years.”
In other matches, Spain’s Garbine Muguruza earned her first semi-final at a major by beating Swiss Timea Bacsinszky, the 15th seed, 7-5, 6-3. She is the first Spanish woman to go this far at Wimbledon since Arantza Sanchez Vicario in 1997.
Agnieszka Radwanska beat Madison Keys 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 6-3 and will next face the Spaniard, while Serena beat Victoria Azarenka 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Williams is aiming for a 21st grand slam title and her third major of this season. She stands a formidable 17-2 over Sharapova and has not lost to the Russian in more than a decade.
Men’s defending champion Djokovic champion had to struggle to recover after the hard-hitting Anderson put him in a two-sets-to-love hole, from which Djokovic rallied for only the fourth time in his career. The match was decided yesterday by the concluding set, which began half an hour late due to a passing rain shower. Anderson fired 40 aces in his losing effort lasting a total of three and three-quarter hours.
A sudden late series of errors from Anderson - two double-faults in the penultimate game - gave Djokovic a break for 5-4 as the 14th seed missed on a volley drilled at his feet.
Djokovic then seized his chance and closed out victory a game later as Anderson mis-hit a forehand to yield a match point and Djokovic happily moved through from the South African’s ensuing return long.

Results  and schedule
Men (fourth round): Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) bt Kevin Anderson (RSA x14) 6-7 (6/8), 6-7 (6/8), 6-1, 6-4, 7-5
Women (Quarter finals): Serena Williams (USA x1) bt Victoria Azarenka (BLR x23) 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
Maria Sharapova (RUS x4) bt Coco Vandeweghe (USA) 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 6-2
Garbiñe Muguruza (ESP x20) bt Timea Bacsinszky (SUI x15) 7-5, 6-3
Agnieszka Radwanska (POL x13) bt Madison Keys (USA x21) 7-6 (7/3), 3-6, 6-3
Women’s semi-finals head to heads
Serena (USA x1) v Sharapova (RUS x4)
Williams leads 17-2
Muguruza (ESP x20) v Radwanska (POL x13) Series level 2-2
Today’s order of play Centre Court (1200 GMT) Men’s quarter-finals
Vasek Pospisil (CAN) v Andy Murray (GBR x3)
Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) v Marin Cilic (CRO x9)
Court One (1200GMT)
Gilles Simon (FRA x12) v Roger Federer (SUI x2)
Stan Wawrinka (SUI x4) v Richard
 Gasquet (FRA x21)


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