Mumma Maria makes Wimbledon semi-finals

Unfancied Tatjana Maria is the first player through to the women’s Wimbledon semi-finals following a three-set comeback win over fellow German outsider Jule Niemeier.

Maria rallied from a set down to defeat Niemeier 4-6 6-2 7-5 on Monday and will face either third-seeded Ons Jabeur or unseeded Marie Bouzkova for a most unlikely spot in the final.

The 103rd-ranked Maria is only the sixth woman in the open era to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals after turning 34.

Bidding to become the first tennis mum since Australian Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980 to win Wimbledon, the mother of two also recovered from a set down to beat 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in the fourth round.

Niemeier dropped serve in the final game, hitting a backhand into net on match point.

Niemeier, 22, was a qualifier at the French Open, losing in the first round in her only other appearance at a grand slam tournament.