Hello and welcome to LIVE updates of the ladies’ singles semi finals at Wimbledon 2021. First up, we have top seed, Ash Barty against 2018 champion, Angelique Kerber. The players are due on court from 13.30 BST.

GAME, SET AND MATCH! – BARTY 6-3 7-6 KERBER. It’s the world number one, Ash Barty who surges into her first Wimbledon final with a straight sets victory over the 2018 champion. The Aussie was imperious in the opening set but had to dig deep and fight back from a deficit in the second before prevailing 7-3 in the tie break on her fourth match point. She seals the win in one hour and 26 minutes and the former junior champion in SW19 will now meet Aryna Sabalenka or Karolina Pliskova on Saturday.

TB LATEST: Barty leads 6-0 at the change of ends. Match points galore!

BARTY 6-3 6-6 KERBER. The forehand purrs and Barty roars through a hold to 15 to take us into a breaker.

BARTY 6-3 5-6 KERBER. Angie does not look impressed when Barty’s return slaps against the net cord and drops over, making it impossible for her to respond. It piles on the pressure at the business end of the set, but the German stands firm and guarantees herself the minimum of a tie break.

BARTY 6-3 5-5 KERBER. Incredible work from Barty. She makes it 10 points in a row with a quick-fire love hold to level the set. It had been all Kerber but the world number one has found a way back in at the crucial moment.

BREAK! – BARTY 6-3 4-5 KERBER. Wow! There’s a lull from Kerber and Barty pounces rather emphatically. The Aussie breaks to love, seizing an opportunity to stay very much alive in the set with a fabulous lob and forehand pass combo.

BARTY 6-3 3-5 KERBER. Angie absolutely scorches a return winner that clips the back of the baseline to make deuce. It’s the type of shot that has Centre Court gasping in awe and can really crank up the heat on an opponent – but not Barty on this occasion. Another timely big serve helps her through. That pressure is now on Kerber as she bids to serve out the set.

BARTY 6-3 2-5 KERBER. The three-time major winner can see the finish line in this second set and is not willing to let her target falter. Barty tries to ramp up the pressure from 40-15 down but Kerber finds pure German efficiency mode from deuce and moves to within a game of levelling the match.

BARTY 6-3 2-4 KERBER. Angie sighs in irritation as her return game that is usually such a major assert suffers a minor malfunction. Barty seizes on it and it results in a routine game for the top seed.

BARTY 6-3 1-4 KERBER. Barty benefits from some pure net fortune and suddenly has a look at two break points. Kerber fends them off, making deuce with a beautiful drop shot and wide forehand combo. The German is suddenly winning the key points that were Barty’s speciality in the first set and digs out the hold with a corking forehand up the line.

BARTY 6-3 1-3 KERBER. Ash finds her first serve and it helps her on to the board for the loss of one point. She’s going need to find something extra again though as Kerber has got the bit between her teeth at the moment.

BARTY 6-3 0-3 KERBER. There’s definitely more desire and determination to be more offensive from Angie and it’s reaping rewards early in Set 2. She marauds to a love hold to consolidate and has wrestled the momentum her way.

BREAK! – BARTY 6-3 0-2 KERBER. Angie looks to engage the crowd for what feels like the first time. It helps her lure a slice error out of Ash and snare triple break point. The Aussie saves two but can’t reach the sanctuary of deuce on this occasion. Kerber finally wins one of those big points and could well have a foothold in this semi final.

BARTY 6-3 0-1 KERBER. After playing second fiddle at times during that first set, Kerber stays solid and benefits from a slight dip from the Aussie to kick off the second with a confident hold to 15.

SET! – BARTY 6-3 KERBER. In a microcosm of the set, Barty plays the big points well to claim the game and ultimately an impressive opener in 34 minutes. The Aussie hits back from 0-30 and then needs a brave second serve at break point down following an untimely double fault. A big forehand tees up the set point and the top seed clinches it in style with a wide ace.

BARTY 5-3 KERBER. The serve-out question is posed in emphatic fashion. Kerber may not take this set but she’s certainly playing more points on her racket now, rather than simply responding to the slice, dice and forehand attack of Barty.

BARTY 5-2 KERBER. Barty responds with her best service game by some distance. The world number one clinches a love hold in style with a vicious low slice down the open flank that Kerber just can’t get near.