Wimbledon (United Kingdom) (AFP) – The Spanish Carlos Alcaraz, number one in the world, qualified on Friday for his first Wimbledon final, where on Sunday he will face defending champion Novak Djokovic for the title, who seeks to continue making history .
First modification: 07/14/2023 – 22:12
4 min
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 tennis players trade up to five breaks.
“It’s very difficult to close the game, you have to be very focused. Daniil is a fighter and an incredible runner,” the Spaniard said later, acknowledging that he had to “play aggressive” to beat him. “Being myself all the time was the key to closing the game,” he said.
Having recently won his first grass court tournament at Queen’s, Alcaraz came to Wimbledon stating that he wanted to “play a final” and he has achieved it.
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 his dream of winning the four major tournaments in the same year after winning the Australian Open and Roland Garros.
Djokovic prevailed 6-3, 6-4 and 7-6 (7/4) in the semifinal against the young Italian Jannik Sinner, 21, who in 2022 eliminated Alcaraz in the round of 16 at Wimbledon.
The final against him, “everyone knows it’s going to be very, very tough,” 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 said.
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.
Russian Daniil Medvedev during his loss to Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon semifinals. In London on July 14, 2023 © Glyn KIRK / AFP
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 track. 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.
“36 is 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, the 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 on Sunday, he stated that he wants to “keep dreaming”.
In June in Paris, Djokovic won by beating an Alcaraz who, despite already having a US 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. He also hasn’t lost a match on Center Court to him since 2013.
Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates his victory over Jannik Sinner of Italy in the Wimbledon semifinals. In London on July 14, 2023 © Glyn KIRK / AFP
Against Sinner, the Serb played a one-way game in which the Italian, despite starting out attacking with a lot of energy, soon found himself struggling to keep his head above water.
The number eight tried everything, picking up the pace with quick forehands, overwhelming the Serbian’s defense with impossible angles, subtracting deep and surprising with his passing. But Djokovic dominated in all the key points despite being 15 years older than him.
At 36, the Serb “would like to believe” he is playing his best tennis, he said.
“I prefer not to look at age as a deciding factor,” he said, “36 is the new 26.” “I feel very motivated and inspired to play the tennis that I love…for as long as I can,” she said.
© 2023 AFP
2023-07-14 20:38:22
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