• Wimbledon, Day Eight

What They Said

Victoria Azarenka reached her first Wimbledon semi-final © PA Photos

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• Profile: Victoria Azarenka | Marion Bartoli | Petra Kvitova | Sabine Lisicki | Tamira Paszek | Maria Sharapova

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Wimbledon Day Eight Gallery
Women's round-up: Sharapova & Lisicki power on
Plays of the Day: Day Eight

Maria Sharapova thrashed Dominika Cibulkova 6-1 6-1 and quickly turned her attentions to semi-final opponent Sabine Lisicki. She said: "It's really an honour. It's been a few years since I got past the fourth round and this is a great chance for me to take it further. I've got a tough opponent coming up - she's playing with a tremendous amount of confidence, and really well on grass. To be in the semis of Wimbledon is a bonus for me - after my injury I was just happy to be back on court - but the tournament isn't over."

Sabine Lisicki conquered her nerves to beat Marion Bartoli and become the first German woman to make the Wimbledon semi-finals since Steffi Graf in 1999. She said: "I'm speechless, I cannot believe it yet. I was very disappointed with myself at 5-4 in the second set when I missed easily - I should have just gone for it. But I felt I was the better player today and knew I had to focus and fight again in third set to win it."

Bartoli said: "My mind was trying extremely hard, but my body couldn't do anything anymore. I still fought very hard, especially in that second set. I was match points down. I have no regrets.

"I just have to rest now. I think the last month has been extremely positive. So I just have to remain positive and take the good things that I've done and move forward.

"Having to play Serena so early into the tournament, I think it was really tough to back it up today. But I still beat Serena Williams at Wimbledon. I think I still can be proud of myself."

After reaching her first Wimbledon semi by defeating Tamira Paszek, Victoria Azarenka said: "It was definitely very difficult to wait the whole day and keep focused but I'm really glad we managed to play and I'm really happy with the win. I knew when we went back to the locker rooms it was too late to wait on Court One. The roof is just amazing.

"It's my mum's birthday today so I wanted to give her a big gift and I was trying to play beautifully. I stayed really focused today and composed throughout the whole match.

"Kvitova is a great player. Grass obviously suits her really well as she has a huge serve. I must play my best tennis, stay focused and try my hardest."

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