Tennis

Carlos Alcaraz, the rising star of tennis, has once again proven his mettle by defeating Daniil Medvedev in the Wimbledon semifinals. The Spaniard rallied from a set down to secure a 6-7 (1), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory, extending his Wimbledon winning streak to 13 matches.Alcaraz's triumph marks a significant milestone in his career, making him only the second Spanish man to reach multiple Wimbledon finals. He joins the legendary Rafael Nadal, who has won the title twice and reached three other finals.The victory also underscores Alcaraz's dominance against the sport's elite. He remains undefeated against Top 5 players this year, with a remarkable 5-0 record. His previous victories include triumphs over Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev, and Jannik Sinner.Alcaraz's success is a testament to his exceptional talent and unwavering determination. He has consistently displayed a remarkable ability to adapt to different opponents and playing styles. His aggressive baseline play, coupled with his exceptional footwork and court coverage, has made him a formidable force on the court.As Alcaraz prepares for the Wimbledon final, he will face either Novak Djokovic or Nick Kyrgios. Regardless of his opponent, the Spaniard will be confident in his abilities and eager to add another Grand Slam title to his growing collection.

In a highly anticipated Wimbledon quarterfinal, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner faced off against fifth seed Daniil Medvedev in a rematch of the Australian Open final. Despite Sinner's recent dominance over Medvedev, the Russian emerged victorious in a thrilling five-set battle that lasted over four hours.The first set was a marathon, with neither player able to break serve. Medvedev eventually took the tiebreaker 7-5, but Sinner responded by breaking early in the second set. However, Medvedev remained composed and leveled the match.In the third set, Medvedev broke again to take a 2-1 lead, but Sinner called for a medical timeout due to dizziness. Upon returning, Sinner struggled physically but managed to break back and force a tiebreaker. Medvedev saved two set points to win the tiebreaker and take a 2-1 lead.Sinner stormed through the fourth set, but Medvedev regained control in the decider. He broke Sinner early and held on to secure a 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 2-6, 6-3 victory.Medvedev's win sets up a semifinal clash with defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, who also overcame a set deficit to defeat Tommy Paul.

Carlos Alcaraz's unwavering self-belief has propelled him to the brink of a historic Channel Slam, despite facing adversity in both Roland Garros and Wimbledon this year.At Wimbledon, Alcaraz overcame a one-set deficit against Tommy Paul, showcasing his resilience and ability to find solutions under pressure. Despite making numerous unforced errors and falling behind early, Alcaraz gradually wore down Paul, dictating the pace and forcing his opponent into mistakes.Paul acknowledged Alcaraz's unique ability to maintain his level and build momentum, even after making errors. "He can play some seriously amazing tennis," Paul said. "When he starts building energy, it feels different than most other guys."Alcaraz's confidence stems from his understanding of the length of Grand Slam matches. "I have more time to recover," he said. "I believe I can be back if I'm struggling a little bit."This belief has been evident in Alcaraz's ability to recover from setbacks. In Paris, he rallied from two sets down in both the semifinals and final. At Wimbledon, he faced a similar challenge against Frances Tiafoe, but managed to turn the match around.Alcaraz's next opponent, Daniil Medvedev, is expected to provide a tougher test. However, Alcaraz remains optimistic, hoping for a similar result to their semifinal encounter last year.Alcaraz's journey to the Channel Slam has been marked by his ability to downshift at the right time, much like Serena Williams. Even when his game falters, he can find his range and elevate his level when necessary."When I'm not playing my best tennis, I'm going to try to find solutions just to be a bit better, just to beat the opponent," Alcaraz said.Alcaraz's unwavering self-belief and ability to overcome adversity make him a formidable opponent. As he prepares to face Medvedev, he remains confident in his ability to achieve one of the sport's most challenging feats.

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner will face Daniil Medvedev in a highly anticipated Wimbledon quarterfinal on Tuesday. The match is a rematch of the 2024 Australian Open final, where Sinner rallied from a two-set deficit to claim his first Grand Slam title.Since then, Sinner has continued to play exceptional tennis, including a dominant 6-1, 6-2 victory over Medvedev in Miami. This marked Sinner's fifth consecutive win over the Russian.Despite Sinner's recent dominance, experts believe Medvedev has a chance of taking at least one set. Medvedev's last performance against Sinner was disappointing, but he has a strong record on grass and is known for his ability to hold serve.While Sinner has been impressive at Wimbledon, he has also shown some vulnerability. He dropped a set against Yannick Hanfmann in the first round and against Matteo Berrettini in the second round. He also faced a few set points against Ben Shelton in the fourth round.Medvedev, on the other hand, will be well-rested after Grigor Dimitrov retired against him in the first set of their fourth-rounder. Medvedev's health issues prevented him from winning another Grand Slam title in Melbourne.Experts believe that Medvedev may have found a strategy to challenge Sinner by playing more aggressively and coming to the net more often. This could help him gain an advantage in rallies and put pressure on Sinner's serve.Overall, while Sinner is the favorite, Medvedev has the potential to make this match competitive and take at least one set.

Tenth-seeded Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov's Wimbledon campaign came to an abrupt end on Sunday when he was forced to retire injured in the first set of his fourth-round clash against fifth-seeded Daniil Medvedev.Dimitrov, who had been in impressive form throughout the tournament, started the match strongly, racing to a 3-0 lead. However, Medvedev fought back to break Dimitrov's serve and level the set at 3-3.Disaster struck for Dimitrov in the sixth game when he slipped on Court One. He attempted to continue playing but was clearly hampered by the injury. After losing the next two games, Dimitrov took a medical timeout.Upon returning to the court, Dimitrov struggled to move effectively. He managed to win one more game before Medvedev served three aces to take the eighth game and seal the set. Dimitrov then decided to retire from the match, handing Medvedev a place in the quarterfinals.Medvedev will now face top seed Jannick Sinner in the last eight. The Russian has a 6-5 head-to-head record against the Italian world No. 1, but Sinner has won their last five encounters.Dimitrov's injury is a major blow to his Wimbledon hopes. The Bulgarian had been playing some of his best tennis in recent months and was considered a potential contender for the title. However, he will now have to focus on recovering from his injury and preparing for the upcoming hard-court season.

Daniil Medvedev, the former world No. 1 tennis star, has channeled his inner John McEnroe in a hilarious new video for Pepperstone, the ATP Tour's rankings sponsor. Known for his fiery personality and epic meltdowns, Medvedev has drawn comparisons to the American tennis legend.In the video, Medvedev is practicing on grass courts when McEnroe, a three-time Wimbledon champion, interrupts with an "idea" to elevate Medvedev's game. Medvedev, known for his deadpan humor, responds with a quip about feeling "ridiculous."The next scene reveals Medvedev transformed into McEnroe's signature attire: a polo shirt, tiny shorts, red sweatband, and wooden racquet. While Medvedev's style may have been retro, his performance on grass has been anything but.Despite admitting to feeling less comfortable on the lawns of Wimbledon, Medvedev has reached the fourth round for the second consecutive year. He defeated Jan-Lennard Struff in a hard-fought match, showcasing his resilience and determination.Medvedev's best result at Wimbledon remains his semifinal run last year, where he lost to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz. However, he remains optimistic about his chances this year, stating, "I'm looking forward... It's going to be a tough, tough road. I will try to go all the way."Medvedev's transformation into McEnroe is not only a nod to the tennis legend but also a testament to his willingness to embrace his own unique personality. Like McEnroe, Medvedev is known for his outspoken nature and fiery on-court demeanor.

Defending Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz and fifth seed Daniil Medvedev overcame early challenges to advance to the third round, while eighth seed Casper Ruud suffered a disappointing exit on a rain-affected Wednesday.Alcaraz faced a stern test from Australian Aleksandar Vukic, narrowly escaping a first-set loss before finding his rhythm to secure a 7-6(5) 6-2 6-2 victory. The Spaniard expressed confidence in rediscovering the form that propelled him to the title last year.Medvedev also encountered difficulties against Alexandre Muller, ranked 102nd in the world. The Russian struggled on Centre Court but eventually prevailed 6-7(3) 7-6(4) 6-4 7-5.Second seed Coco Gauff displayed signs of improvement despite a shaky start against Anca Todoni. The American acknowledged the need to minimize errors after winning 6-2 6-1.Wild card Emma Raducanu showcased her dominance with a 6-1 6-2 victory over Elise Mertens. However, former U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka's Wimbledon journey ended with a 6-4 6-1 defeat to American Emma Navarro.Rain disrupted play on the outer courts, leading to the early elimination of Ruud. The Italian Fabio Fognini upset the Norwegian 6-4 7-5 6-7(1) 6-3. Ruud expressed disappointment but acknowledged his limitations on grass courts.Later in the day, world number one Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini will face off in a highly anticipated Centre Court clash.

Carlos Alcaraz, the third-seeded Spaniard, stormed into the Wimbledon third round with a dominant 7-6 (7/5), 6-2, 6-2 victory over Aleksandar Vukic. Alcaraz's triumph sets up an intriguing clash with fellow crowd favorite Frances Tiafoe, who defeated Borna Coric in straight sets.Alcaraz, who is aiming to become the sixth man to win the French Open and Wimbledon titles back-to-back, expressed his eagerness for the challenge against Tiafoe, whom he defeated in the 2022 US Open semifinals.Meanwhile, eccentric Italian Fabio Fognini stunned eighth-seeded Casper Ruud 6-4, 7-5, 6-7 (1/7), 6-3 in a thrilling encounter. Fognini, known for his unpredictable style, twice served for the match before sealing victory in the fourth set.Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, overcame a slow start to defeat Alexandre Muller of France 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/4), 6-4, 7-5.In the women's draw, world number two Coco Gauff cruised into the third round with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Romanian qualifier Anca Todoni. Gauff, who made her Wimbledon breakthrough as a 15-year-old qualifier in 2019, will face British qualifier Sonay Kartal next.Four-time major winner Naomi Osaka returned to Centre Court for the first time in five years, securing a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Diane Parry. Osaka, who is ranked 113th, will face America's Emma Navarro in the third round.In an all-Italian clash, world number one Jannik Sinner will take on former Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini. Italian men's tennis has been on the rise, with five players in the top 50 and a Davis Cup victory last season.Chinese tennis could also have a memorable day, with teenager Shang Juncheng facing 10th-seeded Grigor Dimitrov and 32nd seed Zhang Zhizhen taking on Jan-Lennard Struff.

Aleksandar Kovacevic's Wimbledon journey came to an end on Monday, as he fell to fifth seed Daniil Medvedev in straight sets. Despite a spirited challenge, Kovacevic's hopes of upsetting the Russian were dashed in a rapid one hour and 46 minutes on No. 1 Court.Kovacevic, making his main-draw debut at Wimbledon, had never defeated a Top 10 player and entered the tournament on a four-match losing streak. However, his impressive one-handed backhand and comparisons to Roger Federer had raised expectations.Despite facing break points in just one game, Kovacevic struggled to make an impact on Medvedev's serve. The Russian won 65 percent of Kovacevic's second-serve points and delivered an ace on a second serve after Kovacevic had successfully challenged his first.Kovacevic's struggles on tour have been well-documented. Despite achieving a Top 100 ranking in January, he has found the relentless nature of the tour challenging. The 25-year-old, who delayed his arrival to the pro tour to attend the University of Illinois, admitted that the constant setbacks have taken a mental toll."It's been tough to be in Europe for a while and not winning much," said Kovacevic. "You try to find the things in practice that are positive and things to be excited about for the next week. But then you go and lose first round again and then you are like, 'Now I got to find things to be positive about again and try to be excited about the next week.'"Despite the disappointment, Kovacevic remains optimistic. He believes he has turned a switch and is setting himself up for success in the near future. The return to hard courts after playing on grass in Newport is expected to help his cause."At least I feel like I set myself up for some success in the near future," he said. "It's felt like I've turned a switch a little bit."Kovacevic's coach, Dante Bottini, believes that gaining more experience is crucial for his development. He also identified areas of Kovacevic's game that need improvement, such as his return and slice."The return side can be one of the areas to improve a lot," said Bottini. "The slice and how to play certain points. I think the most is to be a little more organized in his head and, 'I need to play this type of moment with a bit more decisions,' or, 'I cannot give him an easy mistake on this specific point.' I think that's the biggest part."Kovacevic's Wimbledon experience, despite the early exit, has provided valuable lessons. He hopes to build on the positives and continue his journey towards success on the ATP Tour.