Author: Barkha Roy
Alcaraz makes history as the fourth youngest male Wimbledon finalist. Djokovic extended his winning streak to reach his fifth consecutive championship match.
In a historic achievement, Carlos Alcaraz became the fourth youngest men’s singles finalist at Wimbledon in the Open Era (since 1968). He secured that milestone on Friday with an imposing 6-3, 6-3, 6 -3 victory over Daniil Medvedev, setting up a title clash against Novak Djokovic. The upcoming final will not only determine the Wimbledon champion, but will also decide the player who will claim the coveted top spot in the ATP rankings on Monday.
In the previous semi-final, Djokovic demonstrated his mastery by overcoming Jannik Sinner‘s powerful shots. The Serbian maestro put in a performance that showed off his exceptional all-round skills, resulting in a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4) triumph over the Italian. Djokovic extended his remarkable winning streak on grass to 34 matches in a row, making it his fifth match in a row at Wimbledon.
Alcaraz showed exceptional concentration from the start of the match on Centre Court, hitting shots with impressive depth and precision that deprived Medvedev of time to react. He skilfully exploited Medvedev’s deep positioning, demonstrating his skills at the net and winning an astonishing 77% (27/35) of the points when he advanced. With finesse, he often executed delicate volleys that left his 27-year-old opponent helpless and unable to recover the blows. Despite the setbacks of losing his serve twice in the third set, Alcaraz raised his game on the return and finally sealed victory with a breathtaking forehand winner.
Sealed in extraordinary fashion 🤯@carlosalcaraz‘s incredible match point is Play of the Day presented by @BarclaysUK #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/Ss79HIFEKi
– Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 14, 2023
Djokovic, the second seed, demonstrated his exceptional return skills by consistently hitting clean and deep returns, posing a constant threat to Sinner’s serve. Despite the pressure, Djokovic stood firm and remarkably saved all six break points he encountered during his two hour and 46 minute win. In reaching his 35th Grand Slam championship match, Djokovic set a new record for the most major finals reached, surpassing former WTA star Chris Evert’s mark of 34.
Sinner showed promise with powerful shots, winning two break point chances. However, Djokovic took advantage of the only break point of the set. Djokovic’s precise redirection of his groundstrokes led to a comfortable victory in the first set. The pattern continued in the second set, with Djokovic’s consistent play increasing the pressure on Sinner, who struggled with errors and faced a break of serve. Sinner’s strong serves saved him from a 0/40 deficit in the third set, but he failed to convert two set points at 5-4. Djokovic remained resilient, winning the next tie-break to secure the win.
The streak continues...@DjokerNole defeats Jannik Sinner 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4) to reach his ninth #Wimbledon final pic.twitter.com/mAGLUmVhOr
– Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 14, 2023