Wimbledon 2018 - as it happened: Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber through to semi-finals

Follow the latest news and updates from Wimbledon 2018

Wimbledon Day Seven: Federer and Williams ease through 'Manic Monday'

After Manic Monday proved to not be as 'manic' as predicted, all eyes turn to the women's quarter-finals, where all the top seeds have been eliminated.

Karolina Pliskova was the final top-10 seed to be eliminated on Monday as she lost to Kiki Bertens in straight sets in one of the biggest shocks of the day.

That means the draw has opened up even more, with Serena Williams ominously creeping back to her best. The 25 seed faces Camila Giorgi second on Centre Court.

Follow all the live action below...

Please allow a moment for the blog to load...

Key Points

• Order of play from day nine at SW19
• Why are all the top seeds tumbling?
• Umpire controversy overshadows Dominika Cibulkova's fourth-round win
• Are the stars aligned for another Federer vs Nadal Wimbledon final?

[10 July 2018 09:58 · Jack Austin]

Good morning and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of day nine at SW19 as all eyes turn to the women's quarter-finals, which were yesterday blown wide open as Karolina Pliskova became the last of the top-10 seeds to be eliminated.

Today, Serena Williams takes on Camila Giorgi second on Centre Court as she looks ominously close to her best.

So, without further ado, off we go. 

[10 July 2018 10:02 · Jack Austin]

Here's who to keep an eye out for today...

[10 July 2018 10:20 · Jack Austin]

Here's how Pliskova became the final seed to fail to flourish at SW19:

[10 July 2018 10:40 · Jack Austin]

Just why have so many of the top women - especially Karolina Pliskova - struggled at Wimbledon this year? Luke Brown delves a little deeper to find out...

[10 July 2018 10:59 · Jack Austin]

Fortunately, some semblance of normality was restored yesterday as both Angelique Kerber and Jelena Ostapenko managed to stay in the competition... 

[10 July 2018 13:04 · Samuel Lovett]

Serena Williams says she is getting closer to being back to her best ahead of the Wimbledon quarter-finals.

The seven-time champion faces Italian world number 52 Camila Giorgi for a place in the last four in only her fourth tournament since giving birth to daughter Olympia in September.

After sweeping aside Russian Evgeniya Rodina 6-2 6-2 on Centre Court, Williams, 36, had an ominous warning for her rivals.

She said: "I feel like I'm getting to where I want to be.

"For me, there's so much further I want to go to get back where I was, and hopefully go beyond that.

"I'm getting there. I don't think I'm there yet. I feel like it takes time to get there.

"I'm always striving for perfection. There's a lot of things that, I don't know if you can tell, but I really need to work on. Hopefully I can get there."

[10 July 2018 13:06 · Samuel Lovett]

We'll be focusing on Angelique Kerber's quarter-final showdown with Daria Kasatkina. The former world No 1 is the highest seed left in the women's draw but goes up against an opponent who has beaten her twice this year, including on grass at Eastbourne last month. It should make for a fascinating encounter.

[10 July 2018 13:06 · Samuel Lovett]

The two women are currently warming up on Centre Court. Things will be getting underway shortly.

[10 July 2018 13:14 · Samuel Lovett]

Kerber 0-0 Kasatkina*

Kastkina means business and is giving it her all into breaking the German at the first time of asking. We're not even past the first game and already we've been treated to a 16-shot rally, some perfectly weighted drop shots and sweeping crosscourt exchanges. Kerber is on advantage for the third time and serving for the point.

[10 July 2018 13:15 · Samuel Lovett]

Kerber 1-0 Kasatkina*

Ah, there we go. Kerber holds on by the skin of her teeth as Kasatkina eventually pumps a forehand shot into the net after another long rally.