In a gripping display of resilience, fifth seed Daniil Medvedev overcame the world number one, Jannik Sinner, in a marathon five-set showdown to secure his spot in the Wimbledon semi-finals for the second consecutive year.
The match, characterized by intense momentum swings and moments of brilliance, captivated tennis fans globally. Medvedev's victory, with scores of 6(7)-7(9), 6-4, 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-3, under the iconic Centre Court roof, marked the end of his five-match losing streak against Sinner and served as retribution for his earlier loss to the Italian in the Australian Open final.
As Medvedev eyes adding to his 2021 U.S. Open title, he is set to face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in his ninth Grand Slam semi-final. This matchup not only promises high-stakes action but also an opportunity for Medvedev to rebound from last year's straight-set defeat to Alcaraz at Wimbledon.
Reflecting on his performance, Medvedev shared, \"I knew if I wanted to beat Jannik it needs to be a tough match. He's not any more a guy you can beat easy. It's actually very tough. One moment I could feel that he doesn't move that well so it's always tricky because you want to play more points to make him suffer a bit more. In a good way. But you know at one point he was like 'OK I can't run anymore and I'll go full power' and that's what he did.”
Sinner, who reached the semi-finals last year before falling to Novak Djokovic, started strong by taking the first set in a tight tiebreak after saving a set point. However, his performance faltered as errors mounted, leading to a second set loss and a brief exit from the court due to illness.
Despite a late surge in the third set, Sinner couldn't capitalize, ultimately succumbing to Medvedev's strategic play. The fourth set saw Sinner dominate, dropping only 12 points and seeming poised to take the match. However, Medvedev's steady nerves and early break in the final set sealed his victory after an exact four-hour battle.
Looking ahead, Medvedev is focused on refining his game, particularly his serve on the grass courts, to challenge Alcaraz and vie for another Grand Slam title. His dedication and tactical prowess continue to make him a formidable contender on the global tennis stage.
Reference(s):
Medvedev outlasts No. 1 seed Sinner to reach Wimbledon semifinals
cgtn.com
