Daniil Medvedev of Russia plays a backhand return to Jannik Sinner of Italy during their quarterfinal match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Tuesday, July 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
In a captivating quarterfinal clash at Wimbledon, Daniil Medvedev, the fifth seed, emerged victorious against the world number one, Jannik Sinner, in a grueling five-set encounter on Tuesday. The match, filled with momentum shifts and dramatic moments, saw Medvedev claim victory with scores of 6(7)-7(9), 6-4, 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-3 under the Centre Court roof.
The victory marks Medvedev’s second consecutive trip to the Wimbledon semi-finals, ending a five-match losing streak against Sinner. This win also served as sweet revenge for Medvedev, who had previously lost to Sinner in the Australian Open final after holding a two-set lead.
Reflecting on the match, Medvedev acknowledged the challenge of facing Sinner, saying, “I knew if I wanted to beat Jannik it needed to be a tough match. He’s not any more a guy you can beat easy.” Despite Sinner’s apparent fatigue and health issues, he fought valiantly, displaying bursts of aggressive play that kept the match on a knife edge.
Sinner, who struggled with health issues throughout the match, said, “Already this morning I didn’t feel great. Had some problems. Then with the fatigue, it was tough. But take nothing away from Daniil. I think he played very smart. He played good tennis.”
The match featured a dramatic ebb and flow, with Sinner winning the opening set in a tense tiebreak and dominating the fourth set to force a decider. However, Medvedev’s resilience and early break in the final set proved crucial as he secured the win in exactly four hours.
Medvedev now sets his sights on the defending champion, Carlos Alcaraz, in the semi-finals, hoping to reverse last year’s defeat. When asked about his strategy, Medvedev emphasized the importance of serving well on grass, saying, “I have to serve better. That’s still the most important thing on grass. You serve aces, you serve on the line, you’re less in trouble, and you feel better.”
As Medvedev continues his quest for a second Grand Slam title, his victory over Sinner serves as a testament to his tenacity and skill on the court.
