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It was a good day for the big British names in the mixed doubles as first Jamie Murray and Martina Hingis and then reigning champions Heather Watson and Henri Kontinen each progressed into the semi-finals, raising the exciting prospect of them facing each other in the final this weekend, and the possibility of a half-British title after all.
First Murray and Hingis swept into the semi-finals of the mixed doubles on Thursday afternoon with an entertaining straight sets win over all-British pair Ken Skupski and Jocelyn Rae.
Murray and Hingis won 6-4, 6-4 on Centre Court to the delight of a crowd who had just seen Johanna Konta beaten easily by Venus Williams. They were just too brisk and inventive for Skupski and Rae, racing into a 33-minute first set win, even if they needed five set points to seal it.
The best pictures from The Championships 2017Show all 55 1 /55The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon US player Venus Williams prepares to recieve serve from Britain's Johanna Konta during her women's singles semi-final win on the tenth day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Johanna Konta of Great Britain during her semi final loss against Venus Williams of The United States on day ten of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Sir Cliff Richard looks on from the centre court royal box on day ten of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Stefan Olsson in action during the Gentlemen's Wheelchair Singles on day ten of the Wimbledon Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Gordon Reid in action during the Gentlemen's Wheelchair Singles on day ten of the Wimbledon Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Johanna Konta talks to her trainer prior to her semi-final against Venus Williams on day ten of the Wimbledon Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A member of staff adds names to the order of play board prior to the start of the action on day ten of the Wimbledon Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Spectators are led into the grounds on day ten of the Wimbledon Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Switzerland's Roger Federer returns against Canada's Milos Raonic during their men's singles quarter-final match
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Croatia's Marin Cilic reacts as he uses a towel during a break in play against Luxembourg's Gilles Muller during their men's singles quarter-final match on the ninth day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Croatia's Marin Cilic serves to Luxembourg's Gilles Muller during their men's singles quarter-final match on the ninth day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Britain's Andy Murray reacts after losing a point against US player Sam Querrey in their men's singles quarter-final match on the ninth day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Ground staff work on court three ahead of day nine of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Rufus, a Harris hawk, sit on a seat on Centre Court ahead of day nine of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Slovakia's Magdalena Rybarikova waits to receive a serve from US player Coco Vandeweghe during their women's singles quarter-final match, after it re-commenced on a covered Centre Court, after rain delayed the match on Court One, on the eighth day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Coco Vandeweghe of The United States in discussion with the chair umpire during the Ladies Singles quarter final match against Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia on day eight of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon US player Coco Vandeweghe returns against Slovakia's Magdalena Rybarikova during their women's singles quarter-final match on the eighth day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The covers are pulled across court two during the Ladies Singles quarter final match between Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia and Coco Vandeweghe of The United States on day eight of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 A steward wrestles with an umbrella in the wind as rain delays play in the women's singles quarter-final match between Slovakia's Magdalena Rybarikova and US player Coco Vandeweghe on the eighth day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Johanna Konta of Great Britain celebrates victory after the Ladies Singles quarter final match against Simona Halep of Romania on day eight of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A spectator attempts to keep dry as they watch action on the screen on day eight of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Spectators attempt to keep dry as they watch the Ladies Singles quarter final match between Johanna Konta of Great Britain and Simona Halep of Romania on the screens on day eight of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Spectators attempt to keep dry as they watch action on the screen on day eight of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Romania's Simona Halep returns against Britain's Johanna Konta during their women's singles quarter-final match on the eighth day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Spectators watch the action on centre court on day eight of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon The Championships celebrate their 140th birthday this year, and the All England Club is looking better than ever.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Fans watch the play on a court.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Ball-kids wait to enter a court.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Hungary's Timea Babos returns against Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A general view of court 10.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Kei Nishikori plays a tweener.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A general view of Court No 1.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Dustin Brown during his match against Andy Murray.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Spectators watch Rafa Nadal in action.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Why buy a glass of Pimm's when you can get a jug?
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A fan drinks champagne.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon The Championships were first held in 1877.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A television camera operator stands on a platform above the All England Club.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Players chairs are pictured.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Pimm's.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A ball-boy is seen on court as Britain's Katie Boulter plays.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Fans peer over a fence to see the play on an outside court.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Ground staff talk.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A spectator wears a tennis ball hat.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A member of the ground staff looks on before play begins.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Selfie!
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Court attendants sit to the site of a court.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Service stewards stand at the top of an entrance.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis and Australia's Jordan Thompson play against Netherland's Jean-Julien Rojer and Romania's Horia Tecau.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A ball boy rolls a ball.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A court attendant uses an umbrella to cast shade on a player.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Ball-kids queue up ahead of play.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Ball-kids are told they "should not be seen. They should blend into the background and get on with their jobs quietly."
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Fans wear sun hats made from pages of a newspaper.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A fan walks between outside courts.
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The second set was just as quick and just as watchable but when Skupski over-hit a return from Murray’s serve it was enough to propel them into the semis. It would be a remarkable triumph for Hingis, 20 years on from her first women’s singles title here which she won as a teenager. Since then she has become a doubles specialist, winning the mixed doubles here two years ago. Murray, brother of two-time champion Andy, won the mixed doubles title 10 years ago alongside Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic.
Murray and Hingis will be joined in the semi-finals by another half-British pair after Watson and Kontinen, who won this title here last year, made it through a tiring three-set match against Rohan Bopanna and Gabriela Dabrowski.
In another fast-paced contest, Bopanna and Dabrowski took the first set on a tie break 7-4 only for Watson and Kontinen to fight back and take the second set 6-4. That inspired the home crowd and lifted Watson and Kontinen to play their best tennis, just as they did on their way to winning the mixed doubles title here last year.
It all came down to the third set and with the match tied at 4-4, Watson’s audacity eventually forced the crucial break, given her and Kontinen the chance to serve for the match. It was Watson who won it when her serve was too powerful for Dabrowski who could only skew her return wide, sending Watson and Kontinen into the semis. They will face Bruno Soares and Elena Vesnina on Friday.
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