Image: (APA/AFP/ADRIAN DENNIS)
The top seeded Alcaraz entered his first quarter-finals at this major on Monday with a 3:6.6:3.6:3.6:3 against the Italian lawn lover Matteo Berrettini, the second-ranked Djokovic had already continued in the afternoon against Hubert Hurkacz from Poland 7:6(6),7:6(6),5:7,6:4. There were also some favorite wins.
“I knew it would be difficult,” said Alcaraz after his success in the “on court” interview. “Matteo was already in the final here (2021, note). It wasn’t easy after I lost the first set, but I had to stay focused.” And the Iberian still hasn’t had enough. “I’m even more hungry. My dream is to play the final and one day win this title.” He took the next step towards that on Wednesday in the quarterfinals against Holger Rune (No. 6), the Dane defeated the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrow (21) 3:6,7:6(6),7:6(4),6:3 .
It will be the first Wimbledon quarterfinals in the “open era” of two players who are not yet 21 years old. Rune is also in the last eight for the first time on Church Road. After losing the first set, it was above all the strength in the tie-breaks that brought about the turnaround in favor of the youngster. Alcaraz on the upcoming duel: “We’ve gone through all categories together since we were twelve. It’s great that we’re now playing a major quarter-final against each other.”
For Djokovic it is his sixth consecutive Wimbledon quarter-final or his 14th time in total. In his 100th Wimbledon match, the defending champion kept his chance at his eighth title at the classic lawn. In the match that was interrupted the day before, Djokovic lost three rounds on the way to his 56th major quarterfinals, but in the end it was his 32nd match win in a row at Wimbledon. The only break against Hurkacz in the tournament was a decisive factor. “I don’t know when I last felt so bad on the return,” Djokovic praised Hurkacz’s service.
The surprising end came for Stefanos Tsitsipas, he lost to Christopher Eubanks in five sets. The Greek first-round conqueror of Dominic Thiem from Lower Austria lost to the 27-year-old American 6: 3.6: 7 (4), 6: 3.4: 6.4: 6. “I feel like I’m in a dream,” said Eubanks, who is 2.01 m tall, about his greatest success to date. “It’s surreal, unbelievable.”
Russia’s Daniil Medvedev benefited from a 6-4, 6-2 lead when Czech Jiri Lehecka retired due to a foot injury. Medvedev now meets Eubanks, these two are also in a Wimbledon quarter-final for the first time. Djokovic and the Russian Andrej Rublew (7) as well as his compatriot Roman Safiullin and the Italian Jannik Sinner (8) will play the first semi-final tickets on Tuesday.
The Kazakh title holder Jelena Rybakina also benefited from a task. The 24-year-old was leading 4-1 against Beatriz Haddad Maia when the Brazilian was unable to continue due to a hip problem. Now it comes to a repeat of last year’s final, after all, the Tunisian Ons Jabeur (6) unexpectedly won against the two-time Czech Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova (9) 6:3,6:0.
The second in the world rankings, Aryna Sabalenka, triumphed 6:4,6:0 against Ekaterina Alexandrowa, and the surprising run of 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva also ended. The Russian qualifier lost 6:3,6:7(4),2:6 to the American Madison Keys after leading the set and 4:1 in the second half and thus missed her seventh win in a row at the major in London. Keys now meets Sabalenka. On Tuesday Iga Switaek (POL-1) will play Elina Switolina (UKR) and Jessica Pegula (USA-4) will play Marketa Vondrousova (CZE).
Source: Nachrichten
