Keeping up with tradition on Moo’s Tennis Blog, i’ve decided to live blog the madness of Manic Monday again. Last year’s live post can be found HERE. As always, all eight women’s matches are on the schedule for Monday so it’s going to be a wild few hours! I’ll be updating this page as and when things happen. Enjoy!

16:30pm: That’s a wrap on Manic Monday for the women. I really hope this live post has been enjoyable, particularly for anyone stuck at work or unable to watch live! Signing off…

16:26pm: Eight women remain at Wimbledon 2018. Who you got at this stage for the title?

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16:24pm: Polls for the four quarter-finals are now up and previews will follow later tonight.

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16:22pm: So that’s a wrap on Manic Monday! It didn’t feel quite as manic as last year although I still feel I need a lie down. The quarter-finals are all set and i’m excited about this line-up. I’m super happy to have booked Tuesday afternoon off work!

16:19pm: The Wimbledon 2018 quarter-finals are all set! Serena Williams beats Evgeniya Rodina, 6-2 6-2 in 62 minutes. Pretty solid from Serena with 64% first serves in and 10 aces. A great tournament for Rodina.

16:13pm: We’re close to the end now as Serena quickly breaks back and consolidates her serve to lead 6-2 5-2.

16:05pm: A great game from Rodina with a passing shot winner (that gets a racquet clap from Serena) and a return winner to break back. Serena leads 3-2 on serve in the second set.

15:57pm: This is not much of a contest as Serena quickly races into a 3-0 second set lead. The serve is looking pretty damn good.

15:45pm: Rodina is all taped up and seems to be struggling with injury as she throws in two double faults to gift the opener to Serena in a tame service game. A decent opener from Serena who serves her way out of trouble on the lone break point that she faced. This looks very comfortable for Serena.

15:35pm: Kasatkina-Van Uytvanck has been my favourite match of the day so far. Kerber-Bencic is a close second. Can’t wait for Mert’s recap! Serena is up a break on Rodina in the last match of the day. Just eaten some emergency chocolate for the last push 😂.

15:29pm: I can’t believe how similar this match was to the one in Eastbourne! Daria Kasatkina comes from a set and a break down to beat a fading, Van Uytvanck, 6-7(6) 6-3 6-2. This is back-to-back Slam quarter-finals for Kasatkina who played a great match for the most part. Her serve let her down at the end of the first set but she didn’t panic and looked in control of her game. An excellent close of the match with a hold to love. Van Uytvanck ran out of gas at the end in a sea of errors but still a superb tournament for her. I really hope she can build on this run. Well done, Dasha!!!

15:17pm: Van Uytvanck manages to get a tweener back in court (!) and is still going after her shots. Sadly the errors are starting to flow now, much like their match in Eastbourne. Kasatkina is vert steady at the moment and is *4-1 up in the second set.

15:06pm: Kasatkina looking good at the start of this third set vs. Van Uytanck with an early break. This is the only fourth round match that has gone three sets so far.

15:01pm: The best match of the day so far has gone the distance! Van Uytvanck played a shaky game at *2-1 in the second set including a misjudged shot when I think Kasatkina’s ball was going out. Kasatkina comes back to win the second set, 6-3. Serena Williams vs. Evgeniya Rodina is coming onto Centre Court soon…

14:59pm: Kerber saves four set points to beat Belinda Bencic in a really entertaining clash out on No.1 Court, 6-3 7-6(5). Kerber had a match point which Bencic saved with a serve on the line and drive volley winner. Kerber went again to drop shot (whyyyyyyy) and Bencic managed to hold for the tiebreak. Kerber won a huge point at 4-4 where she sliced and sliced and sliced on the BH, eventually getting the error from Bencic. Bencic was the more aggressive but a few more errors at key times as Kerber found the line with her serve on her second match point. Kerber into the quarters!

14:42pm: Bencic is unable to serve out the set vs. Kerber at *5-4, missing four set points including a double fault on one. Bencic is frustrated at being unable to challenge on one of Kerber’s balls called in as she is out of challenges. The replay shows it was in anyway. Kerber breaks and then holds to love. Bencic will serve to stay in the Championships. Kasatkina-Van Uytvanck remains a joyous watch. AVU is starting to falter with Kasatkina winning three games in a row to go up a break in the second set.

14:35pm: Sixth time lucky! Big, big congrats to Julia Goerges has advanced to her first ever Slam quarter-final with a 6-3 6-2 win over Donna Vekic. I think Goerges was arguably the best player on tour who hadn’t make a QF at a Slam. Things got nervy in the second set vs. Vekic but Goerges did really well to hold onto her serve at *3-1 and *4-2 and then broke for the win.

It will be Goerges vs. Bertens for a first Wimby semi-final on Tuesday!

14:17pm: Nooooo Kasatkina double faults away the first set against Van Uytvanck. A sad end to the the best set of tennis today. It’s been a brilliant watch so far. Van Uytvanck takes it, 7-6(6) with two bold serve and volleys at the end of the tiebreak including a half volley that surprised and went back behind Kasatkina on set point.

Kasatkina had played such an encouraging set, twice coming from a break down. She led *6-5 *30-0 but couldn’t take it as Van Uytvanck hit back-to-back return winners. Kasatkina’s serve just let her down at the end with Van Uytvanck being very brave on the big points.

13:53pm: Goerges has taken the first set against Vekic, 6-3. Van Uytvanck-Kasatkina has been a very fun watch so far. Kasatkina will serve to stay in it at *4-5, exactly the same happened in Eastbourne.

13:52pm: Kerber wins the last five games to go up a set on Bencic, 6-3. A really positive start from BB who is aggressive and charging the net. Too many errors though against a steady, Kerber. The German player is more defensive in her court position but still able to go for those down-the-line shots and step up when needed. I really, really, really like Angie on grass.

13:30pm: OK trying to settle down for the next set of matches on court. Angelique Kerber and Belinda Bencic are on No.1 Court where Kerber has just broken Bencic back to 2-3. A really bright start from Belinda. Julia Goerges and Donna Vekic are on Court No.3 and tied at 2-2 on serve. Daria Kasatkina and Alison Van Uytvanck are out on Court 18 where AVU is already up a break.

13:28pm: Kiki’s reaction to winning the match on the Hawkeye challenge was wonderful!

13:24pm: Take a bow, Kiki Bertens! Bertens lost her break in the second set but stayed in front on serve as the second set vs. Pliskova went into the tiebreak. It was a tiebreak of fine margins as balls went in for Bertens and not so for Pliskova. Bertens pushes a forehand drive volley on MP veryyy close to the line. Pliskova challenges, Bertens prays with her racquet! It was in! Bertens wins, 6-3 7-6(1). I’m so happy for Kiki who looks visibly moved and almost in tears at the end.

13:14pm: We’ve got our first time Slam quarter-finalist of the day and it’s Camila Giorgi! Giorgi beats Ekaterina Makarova, 6-3 6-4 on her fourth match point. Makarova gritted hard to stay in the match at the end and got a break point when Giorgi served for the match. Giorgi saved it with a rather bold forehand winner! On the fourth match point, Giorgi plays another super aggressive point with the angled forehand to get Makarova out wide and eventually the overhead winner.

13:05pm: It’s all happening right now! Ostapenko will play Dominika Cibulkova in the quarter-finals as Cibulkova beats Hsieh Su-Wei, 6-4 6-1. After that controversial call at the end of the first set which Hsieh won, it’s actually Cibulkova who focuses better and powers her way through with another aggressive display. Another straight sets win for Cibulkova! She’s understandably thrilled and falls to the ground in celebration. That’s going to be a cracker of a match between Cibulkova and Ostapenko!

13:01pm: Jelena Ostapenko is the first player into the 2018 Wimby quarter-finals with a 7-6(4) 6-0 win over Aliaksandra Sasnovich. A great effort from Ostapenko to rally back from 2-5 down in the first set and to stay focused after getting a code violation from coaching at 2-5* 15-0*. Back-to-back QFs at Wimby for Ostapenko.

12:55pm: Eek Bertens backing off and a frustrated, Pliskova manages to break back. A bit worried about this one for Bertens. She’s been in control but that roar from Pliskova shows that she is still fighting hard. Bertens leads 6-3 4-3*.

12:49pm: First time tuning into Giorgi-Makarova. Giorgi looks fantastic, controlling the rallies and her willingness to come forward is key. A set a break for Giorgi at 6-3 3-1. Cibulkova, Bertens and Ostapenko are all looking in the ascendancy…

12:39pm: Goodness me, Bertens is rolling up 6-3 3-0 with one break in the second set. Pliskova was down in a similar position against Buzarnescu. Can Bertens hold her nerve?! The call drama at the end of the first set has intensified Cibulkova even more if that is at all possible! Cibulkova holds early in the second set.

12:33pm: Cibulkova is clearly rattled on the first few points but regains her composure and breaks for the set with two fab forehands. Very exciting right now! Just to be clear, it was RIGHT that the point was replayed as Hsieh did put the ball back into court. Giorgi has taken the first set against Makarova, 6-3 and Ostapenko has come back from 2-5 down in the first set to take it on the tiebreak, 7-6(4). Very impressive effort from Ostapenko.

12:28pm: OMG scenes! The crowd is chanting for the point to be replayed. The referee is out and now ordering for the point to be replayed. Now it’s Cibulkova’s turn to complain. The point will be replayed! This is quite extraordinary.

12:24pm: Drama again! A ball on Hsieh’s baseline is called out but hawkeye shows it to be in. Cibulkova is given the point. Hsieh is furious and rightly so as the replay shows she put the ball back in court. It looks like this may require the referee…

12:20pm: A dreadful game from Pliskova with a drive volley miss and groundstroke into the net as Bertens breaks for the first set to love, 6-3. A really great set from Bertens who is returning well, playing aggressive from the baseline and looking more convincing in the rallies. Bertens is less than 50% on her first serves in play but 6-3! Cibulkova has scored the first hold of serve vs. Hsieh who will now have to serve at *4-5 to stay in the opener.

12:12pm: Drama in the Ostapenko-Sasnovich match as Sasnovich serves for the first set at *5-2. One of the linespersons goes up to the umpire to tell her that Ostapenko is getting coaching advice. Interesting timing! It doesn’t affect her though as Ostapenko broke to love.

12:09pm: Pliskova levels up at 3-3… but not for long! Bertens forces the game to deuce and then breaks. She is generally the stronger player once the rally gets going. Bertens 4-3 first set. Cibulkova-Hsieh has still yet to see a hold of serve. 3-3 first set. Fascinating start.

11:59am: Bertens has started extremely well and returning impressively. Pliskova manages to save a break point and then finds a decent out wide to stay in touch and just the one break down. We’ve yet to see a hold in Cibulkova-Hsieh as Hsieh is unable to convert on a *40-0 lead on serve. There’s a pome from Domi to level up to 2-2. Sasnovich had points for a 4-0 lead over Ostapenko but the Latvian player is now on the board.

11:54am: Three games, three breaks in Cibulkova-Hsieh! Cibulkova throws in a double fault and a rather tame drop shot that Hsieh comfortably gets to. Bertens has the early break over Pliskova and has managed to consolidate to lead 3-1 first set.

11:50am: Cibulkova firing on the forehand side as she breaks Hsieh straight back to love. 1-1 first set.

11:47am: A great atmosphere on Court 18 where Hsieh has scored the early break over Cibulkova. Pliskova and Bertens exchange early holds to 1-1 first set.

11:35am: The players are coming out on court! I’m starting with Pliskova-Bertens on the TV and Cibulkova-Hsieh on my small screen. I’m sure there will be plenty of flicking as the matches develop.

11:10am: There will be four matches up first at 11:30am. We have Pliskova vs. Bertens on Court No.2, Ostapenko vs. Sasnovich on Court No. 3, Makarova vs. Giorgi on Court 12 and Cibulkova vs. Hsieh on Court 18. At the time of writing, MTB readers have Pliskova, Ostapenko, Makarova and Cibulkova winning on the match polls.

11:00am Happy Manic Monday! We are 30 minutes away from the first matches of the day. All eight matches are previewed on MTB across two posts – one for the top half and one for the bottom half.

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