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Vesnina triumphs to keep Cibulkova's wedding plans on track
Dominika Cibulkova will not have to alter her wedding plans after crashing out of Wimbledon to Elena Vesnina.
The unseeded Elena Vesnina reached the Wimbledon semi-finals at the expense of bride-to-be Dominika Cibulkova to continue her best run at a grand slam.
Vesnina looked remarkably assured on No.1 Court against the 19th seed, breaking four times in a 6-2 6-2 success to set up a last-four showdown with Serena Williams.
The loser's consolation prize is that she will not have to rearrange her wedding, with Cibulkova having set a date for Saturday – when the women's final takes place.
Both players were taken the distance in their fourth-round matches on Monday, each winning their respective deciding sets 9-7.
But 29-year-old Vesnina, ranked 50th, appeared much the fresher on Tuesday in a battle between two players determined to dominate from the baseline.
The opening game was an eight-minute marathon, in which the Slovakian finally held, but Vesnina had the break at the next opportunity.
The Russian cemented that with another break as Cibulkova's forehand continued to falter, in stark contrast to Vesnina's pinpoint precision off both wings.
Vesnina totalled 13 winners in a fully deserved first-set triumph, showcasing some supreme shot-making in her first grand slam quarter final.
It was a pattern that continued in the second set, a woefully timed Cibulkova double fault giving Vesnina a break point that she seized with a confident volley at the net.
Cibulkova tried to motivate herself for a turnaround and a stunning backhand return at 4-1 down hinted at more to come, but the world number 18 ultimately came up short and will walk down the aisle this weekend rather than onto Centre Court.
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
Vesnina bt Cibulkova [19] 6-2 6-2
WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS
Vesnina - 22/10
Cibulkova - 15/13
ACES
Vesnina - 3
Cibulkova - 1
BREAK POINTS WON
Vesnina- 4/13
Cibulkova- 0/0
FIRST SERVE PERCENTAGE
Vesnina - 70
Cibulkova - 63
PERCENTAGE OF POINTS WON ON FIRST/SECOND SERVE
Vesnina - 79/57
Cibulkova - 55/40
TOTAL POINTS
Vesnina - 68
Cibulkova - 46