Wimbledon: sinner in the quarterfinals. Eliminated Alcaraz. Now he should take on Djokovic
In the 100 years of the mythical central court
WIMBLEDON – Jannick Sinner enters the history of tennis. On the day when Wimbledon Central Court celebrates its first 100 years, with a parade of champions to give goosebumps, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz give an extraordinary show, proving that they have all the credentials to enter one day in that small club of phenomena. In the end, a great Sinner wins, with an incredible victory in four sets in the sixth match point, after having wasted two in the tiebreak of the third. A Sinner who has shown, however, that he can play on par with the phenomenal Spaniard, Nadal’s designated heir and beyond, and who in the end managed to prevail thanks to a superior game variety.
In the next round, Sinner is almost engaged by the confrontation against the seeded Novak Djokovic, today against the surprising Dutch van Rijthoven. The Serbian champion, six times winner at Wimbledon, has been undefeated on London grass for three years. “I didn’t expect it, I hadn’t won a match on the grass yet. I tried to adapt and the crowd helped me a lot, “said Sinner immediately after the game. The game saw Sinner start off well, dominating the first set 6-1 with two breaks in his favor and a game at times. spectacular. Strangely foul and perhaps nervous Alcaraz, who struggled to keep up with the pace imposed by the blue. It is precisely on the speed of the ball and movement that Sinner tried to surprise the Spaniard, varying the game a lot and attacking more often than his habits.
In addition, supported by an excellent service percentage, Sinner also forfeited the second set 6-4 with a break in the first game. In the match, thanks to a physiological physical decline of the blue and a less effective serving, Alcaraz levels up and at the tiebreak he manages to avoid defeat by canceling two match points and closing in turn at the third set ball. From that moment on, another game begins, with Sinner gradually decreasing even in the rebound shots and the stainless Spaniard slowly gaining the upper hand.
In the moment of maximum difficulty, however, Sinner finds the strength to break Alcaraz again in the fourth set and closes the game at 6-3 after wasting two more match points on the Spaniard’s serve at 5-2 and one on his serve in the following game. . “Carlos is a very difficult opponent and an exquisite person, it was a pleasure with him in front of this audience on a special day in the 100 years of the Centrale”, said the blue again. “It’s difficult to play after having a match point, I tried to do my best. I am happy with how I handled the situation because at the beginning of the fourth set I went into difficulty. I’m happy to have gone to the next round and I hope to play good tennis ”.
Before the challenge among what will probably be the future of the sport, Wimbledon Central celebrated its 100th anniversary with an evocative ceremony perfectly conducted by John McEnroe. On the legendary Center Court some of the champions of yesterday and today who have won the tournament at least once: from Goran Ivanisevic to Martina Hingis; by Stan Smith and Pat Cash; from Stefan Edberg to Rafa Nadal; from Andy Murray to the legendary Margaret Smith Court; by John Newcombe and Chris Evert; from John McEnroe to Rod Laver, the only player to have achieved the Grand Slam twice; from Bjorn Borg recordman with 5 consecutive victories to Venus Williams; by Billie Jean King and Novak Djokovic; up to Federer, eight-time winner of the tournament.
The Swiss champion, on the possibility of returning to play here, said: “I hope to be able to return … once again”. Federer does not play in London this year due to physical problems. “My knee has given me problems,” won the 20-time Grand Slam winner who hasn’t played an official match since losing Wimbledon in the quarterfinals a year ago in his 22nd appearance in the tournament. He was unable to show – although present in London – Martina Navratilova (winner of 9 titles) because she was positive at Covid.
Alcaraz, sinner, Wimbledon