Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova overcame a breakdown in line-call technology to beat local favourites Sonay Kartal 7-6 (3), 6-4, winning the second Wimbledon quarter-final nine year since her first appearance.
Pavlyuchenkova finally made his quarterfinals at the All Ingland Club in 2016, when he lost to final champion Serena Williams. The nine-year range between the Wimbledon quarterfinals is tied for the second longest time by any woman in the open era after Svetlana Kuznetsoso’s 10 years between the 2007-2017 appearances.
“This is incredible for me because I always thought that it wasn’t enough on the grass. I’m so impressed and proud to compete with young girls, especially as I’m older,” said Pavlyuchenkova, 34.
Pavlyuchenkova won in straight sets despite facing adversity, including Hawkeye glitch and harsh conditions requiring closure of the roof of the centre court.
Pavlyuchenkova reached the game point 4-4 in the opening set when Cartal hit a shot that clearly looked long. There was no call from automated line call technology – for the first time this year, All England Club adopted it to replace line judges, and Pavlyuchenkova stopped playing.
TV replays showed that Kartal shots were common, but after asking for advice over the phone, referee umpire Nico Helworth said the point had to be played as Hawkeye Technology could not track the shot.
Pavlyuchenkova continues to break her service, apparently fuming during the referee saying, “She’s local, so they can say anything. You took the game from me. They stole the game from me. You stole the game from me. You stole the game from me.”
However, she recovered and saved set points when Sonay Kartal served 5-4, earning the opening set with 15 of her final 23 points.
“My mental toughness is getting better,” Pavlyuchenkova said in an on-court interview after the match. “I used to be a bit crazy in my head! But now I’m learning to fight point by point.”
The other women’s fourth match on Sunday’s schedule is no. 1 Aryna Sabalenka vs. No. 24 Elise Mertens, No. 1. 13Amanda Anisimova vs. 30 No. 30 Linda Noskova and lucky losers Solana Sierra vs. Laura Siegemund.
ESPN research and Reuters contributed to this report.