The first half of the quarter-finals took centre stage, once again requiring the roof on Centre Court and Court 1 as horrendous conditions continued to impact the All England Club.
Men’s Results:
Daniil Medvedev [5] d. Jannik Sinner [1]
6-7(9), 6-4, 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-3
Carlos Alcaraz [3] d. Tommy Paul [12]
5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2
Considered by many as a favourite to claim his maiden Wimbledon crown, Jannik Sinner was sent packing in another five-set epic against Daniil Medvedev - a replay of January’s Australian Open final.
Clutch serving in the first set resulted in a predictable tiebreak, with Medvedev failing to convert a set point on his serve to offload the advantage to the world No.1 - making it nine straight tiebreak wins for Sinner.
However, the tables turned after that when Sinner did not look 100 percent, as Medvedev stepped up the intensity to claim a two-set-to-one lead, saving a set point of his own before the third set tiebreak.
Despite Sinner prolonging the match into a fifth set with a couple of breaks in the fourth, Medvedev persevered to reach his first Wimbledon semi-final and snap a five-game losing streak against the top seed.
After the match, Sinner confirmed he was not feeling himself before stepping out on Centre Court.
“This morning I already didn’t feel great. I had some problems and then with the fatigue. It was tough. Nothing to take away from Daniil. I think he played very smart, good tennis,” he said.
“I went off the court. I actually didn’t want to go off. The physio told me it was better to take some time because he watched me and I didn’t seem in shape to play. I was struggling physically. It wasn’t an easy moment. I tried to fight with what I had today. That’s it.”
In the other semi-final, reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz survived a nervy first few games, getting the better of American Tommy Paul after conceding the first set.
A staggering 27 break point chances were gifted for the Spaniard, converting eight of them - providing too consistent against the former Australian Open semi-finalist.
“He has been playing great tennis on grass, he won Queen's, he's been doing great stuff and today was a really difficult match for me,” Alcaraz said.
“The first set and the beginning of the second set it was kind of like I was playing on clay, big rallies, 10 or 15 shots every rally.”
Women’s Results:
Donna Vekić d. Lulu Sun (qualifier)
5-7, 6-4, 6-1
Jasmine Paolini [7] d. Emma Navarro [19] 6-2, 6-1
As the rain pelted down throughout the day session, the last glimmer of sunshine happened to be New Zealand qualifier Lulu Sun, as her unforgettable Wimbledon campaign ended.
Having saved match point during qualifying, Sun has announced herself, moving up 70 places to a career-high world No.53 while playing a fearless and aggressive brand of tennis.
However, 28-year-old Donna Vekić’s experience shone through after dropping the opening set, serving as if her life depended on it in a clinical display from the baseline.
21 aces between the pair and some powerful hitting on both ends was nothing but captivating, but Vekić found another gear in the decider to reach her first Grand Slam semi-final.
she will face recent Roland Garros finalist Jasmine Paolini, who continues her rapid rise after dropping three games against 19th seed Emma Navarro.
Recently ousting one of the favourites for the tournament in Coco Gauff, Navarro struggled to neutralise the ferocious power of Paolini who could not problem-solve her way out of trouble.
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