World number one Aryna Sabalenka narrowly avoided a seismic shock as she fought back to beat veteran Laura Siegemund and claw her way into the Wimbledon semi-finals.
The Belarusian, the heavy favourite for the title, had to twice come back from a break down in the deciding set to beat the 37-year-old German 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Sabalenka has reached the final of the past three majors and, with most of her rivals falling in the first week of SW19, she has an incredible chance of reaching Saturday’s showpiece.
But few would have predicted the scare that Siegemund – who had previously never gone beyond the second round in singles here – came within touching distance of completing.
Siegemund, more noted for her doubles prowess, drove Sabalenka to distraction with her slices, brilliant returning and generally slow pace of play.
It took all of Sabalenka’s grit and determination to hang in and eventually advance after two hours and 54 minutes.
“After the first set I was looking at my box and thinking, ‘book the tickets, we are about to leave’,” Sabalenka, 27, said afterwards.
“I had to make sure I didn’t show I was annoyed by her – even if I was slightly, I didn’t want to give her that energy.”
Sabalenka will face either 13th seed Amanda Anisimova or Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova for a place in a first Wimbledon singles final.
There was barely any part of the match on a sun-drenched Centre Court that was enjoyable for Sabalenka.
Siegemund previously described her own game style as annoying, and the frustration was written all over Sabalenka’s face as she spent nearly three hours chasing down drop shots and slices.
There were helpless looks towards her box, chuntering when she missed a vital point and a huge roar when she finally got the best of her opponent.
But Sabalenka has said she is making a conscious effort to stay calmer on court – and it is credit to her that she never lost control or gave up.
“That is one of the most uncomfortable, painful matches Sabalenka has ever had to play in her life,” former British number one Annabel Croft said on BBC 5 Live.