The Spanish Carlos Alcaraz, number one in the world, qualified this Friday for his first Wimbledon final, where this Sunday he will face the reigning champion, Novak Djokovic, for the title, who seeks to continue making history.
In a semifinal with the track covered due to rain, the 20-year-old from Murcia defeated the Russian Daniil Medvedev, third racket in the ATP, 6-3, 6-3 and 6-3 in one hour and 50 minutes .
The last set saw the two players exchange up to five breaks.
I kept reading Novak Djokovic qualified for his 12th Wimbledon semifinal and caught up with Federer
It’s very difficult to close the game, you have to be very focused. Daniil is an incredible fighter and runner, the Spaniard later stated, acknowledging that he had to play aggressive to beat him. Being myself all the time was the key to closing the match, he assured.
After having recently won his first tournament on grass at Queen’s, Alcaraz arrived at Wimbledon stating that he wanted to play a final and he has achieved it.*100010 *
On Sunday he will face the 36-year-old Serb, who hopes to lift his eighth Wimbledon title –tying Roger Federer’s record–, clinch his 24th Grand Slam title –beating Serena Williams– and advance in his dream of winning the four major tournaments in the same year after winning the Australian Open and Roland Garros.
Djokovic won 6-3, 6-4 and 7-6 (7/4) in the semifinal the young Italian Jannik Sinner, 21, who in 2022 eliminated Alcaraz in the round of 16 at Wimbledon.
The final against him, everyone knows that it will be very, very hard, said the Spaniard . But this is not the time to be afraid, you have to go for it, he said. I’m going to fight and I think I can beat him here, he assured.
Against the rocky Medvedev, Alcaraz displayed powerful tennis, punctuated by his famous drop shots and some serves and volleys, moving on the grass as if he had done it all his life.
Aware that he had to play 100% against the Spaniard, the Russian ran returning each blow, went up to the net more than usual, walked it from side to side of the court. All in vain.
Medvedev’s first break came in the eighth game, when he misexecuted a drop shot that Alcaraz followed with a tremendous return.
The 36 are the new 26
In the second set , the Russian managed to save two break points in the third game, but the Spaniard’s genius on the volley and another powerful return sentenced him again. At the end of the sleeve he conceded another break.
In an insane third set, number three lost his first serve. Alcaraz fell with a double fault in the fifth game, broke his opponent’s serve in the next, conceded other breaks in the seventh game and scored another break in the eighth.
Looking ahead to the final of the Sunday affirmed that he wants to continue dreaming.
In June in Paris, Djokovic won by beating an Alcaraz who, despite already having a United States Open to his credit, was the victim of cramps caused by the nerves of playing that final against him.
The Spaniard could now claim revenge, although they will play on a surface that the world number two dominates more.
And they have never met on grass, recalled Medvedev.
Djokovic has appeared in eight Wimbledon finals and won seven. Furthermore, he has not lost a game on his center court since 2013.
Against Sinner, the Serb played a one-way game in which the Italian, despite starting off attacking with a lot of energy, soon found himself struggling to keep his head out from the water.
The number eight tried everything, picking up the pace with quick forehands, overwhelming the Serbian’s defense with impossible angles, subtracting with depth and surprising with his passing shots. But Djokovic dominated in all key points despite being 15 years older.
At 36, the Serb would like to believe he is playing his best tennis, he said.
I’d rather not look at the age as a decisive factor, he said, 36 is the new 26. I feel very motivated and inspired to play the tennis that I love (…) as long as I can, he assured.
SOURCE: AFP*100046 *
Note topics
Novak Djokovic
Wimbledon
I shared the note:
