Tennis

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, two of the most formidable forces in tennis, are poised to make history in the 2024 Wimbledon men's championship final on Sunday. Last year, Alcaraz triumphed over Djokovic in an epic five-set thriller at the All England Club, securing his third major championship.Now, Alcaraz aims to capture his fourth Grand Slam title, while Djokovic, at 37, seeks to match Roger Federer's record of eight Wimbledon crowns. The Serbian legend has recently relinquished his world No. 1 ranking to Jannik Sinner after a knee injury forced him to withdraw from the French Open quarterfinals.Former world No. 1 Mats Wilander has weighed in on the impending clash, expressing his belief that Alcaraz may hold a psychological edge. "Carlos Alcaraz has won Wimbledon and beaten Novak there. He knows what to expect and feels he has many more years and chances to win Wimbledon," Wilander told Eurosport.However, Wilander also acknowledges the pressure that Djokovic may be facing as he contemplates retirement. "Novak is starting to feel like his time is coming in a year or two or three. That nervousness may catch up to him in the finals on Sunday," Wilander added.Djokovic, who underwent surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee just over a month ago, is determined to avenge his 2023 loss to Alcaraz. A victory would not only give him his 25th Grand Slam singles title, but also make him the oldest Wimbledon champion of the modern era.The stage is set for an unforgettable showdown between two generational talents. Djokovic's experience and resilience will be tested against Alcaraz's youthful exuberance and relentless determination. The outcome of this epic clash will undoubtedly leave an indelible mark on the annals of tennis history.

Novak Djokovic, the legendary Serbian tennis star, is poised to make history as he aims to reach his 10th Wimbledon final. Standing in his way is the rising Italian star, Lorenzo Musetti, who is making his Grand Slam semi-final debut.Djokovic, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, is seeking to equal Roger Federer's record of eight titles at the prestigious tournament. The 37-year-old has been in impressive form this year, winning the Australian Open and reaching the semi-finals of the French Open.Musetti, on the other hand, has been a revelation at Wimbledon 2024. The 25th seed has upset several higher-ranked opponents, including 13th seed Taylor Fritz, to reach the semi-finals. The 21-year-old Italian is known for his aggressive style of play and powerful forehand.The match between Djokovic and Musetti promises to be a captivating clash of styles. Djokovic's experience and court craft will be tested against Musetti's youthful exuberance and attacking instincts.If Djokovic emerges victorious, he will face either Carlos Alcaraz or Cameron Norrie in the final. A win for Djokovic would set up a rematch of last year's Wimbledon final, where he defeated Alcaraz in four sets.The Lorenzo Musetti vs Novak Djokovic, Wimbledon 2024, Men's Singles Semi-Final will be played on Friday, July 12, at the Centre Court, Wimbledon. The match is expected to start after 9:30 PM IST.Indian viewers can watch the match live on the Star Sports Network. The match will also be streamed live on Disney Plus Hotstar app and website.

Barbora Krejcikova, the former world No. 2, has stormed into her second Grand Slam final at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships. After a thrilling three-set comeback victory over No. 4 seed Elena Rybakina, Krejcikova revealed her passion for LEGOs, a hobby she enjoys during rain delays.In a recent Twitter/X AMA, Krejcikova hinted at her love for the iconic building blocks. During her post-match press conference, she elaborated on her LEGO obsession:"I have many of them actually," Krejcikova said. "I even received some from my team yesterday. I like to do a lot of the architecture sets. I did the Milky Way a couple of weeks ago. I'm a fan of Harry Potter, so I did a couple of those, including the Dobby one."Krejcikova's enthusiasm for LEGOs has endeared her to the tennis world, showcasing her playful and relatable personality. On the cusp of a second major title, she expressed her hope for a LEGO set featuring the Venus Rosewater Dish, the trophy awarded to the Wimbledon women's singles champion."If there's one for me, I'll do it," Krejcikova said with a laugh.Krejcikova's stellar performance at Wimbledon has been marked by her exceptional ball-striking and disarming candor. Her love of LEGOs adds another layer to her charming persona, making her one of the most popular players on the tour.

Barbora Krejcikova, the 2021 French Open champion, has reached the Wimbledon 2024 women's singles final after a thrilling three-set victory over Elena Rybakina in the semi-finals on Thursday.Krejcikova, seeded 15th, dropped the first set 3-6 to the 20th-seeded Rybakina, who was making her first appearance in a Grand Slam semi-final. However, the Czech player showed her resilience and determination, fighting back to win the second set 6-3.In the deciding set, both players traded breaks early on. Krejcikova eventually broke Rybakina's serve in the seventh game and held on to her own serve to take a 5-3 lead. Rybakina saved two match points in the ninth game, but Krejcikova sealed the victory on her third match point with a forehand winner.Krejcikova's victory marks her second Grand Slam final appearance, and she will now face the winner of the other semi-final between Ons Jabeur and Tatjana Maria.Rybakina, who was playing in her first Wimbledon semi-final, showed great promise and will be one to watch in the future.

With the Wimbledon 2024 tournament reaching its climax, the highly anticipated men's singles semi-final clash between Daniil Medvedev and Carlos Alcaraz is set to captivate tennis enthusiasts worldwide.Alcaraz, the rising Spanish star, secured his place in the semi-finals with a hard-fought 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Tommy Paul in the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Medvedev, the reigning US Open champion, overcame a spirited challenge from Jannik Sinner, winning 6(7)-7(9), 6-4, 7(7)-6(4), 2-6, 6-3.In terms of head-to-head encounters, Alcaraz holds a slight edge over Medvedev, leading 4-2. Their most recent meeting was in the 2024 Indian Wells final, where Alcaraz emerged victorious. The Spaniard also defeated Medvedev in the 2023 ATP Finals. However, Medvedev has notched wins in the 2023 US Open semifinals and the 2021 Wimbledon tournament.Medvedev's path to the semi-finals has been relatively smooth, with straight-set victories in the first three rounds. He faced a tougher challenge in the fourth round against Grigor Dimitrov, who retired due to an injury. In the quarterfinals, Medvedev overcame a spirited performance from Sinner to secure his place in the last four.Alcaraz, on the other hand, has faced more adversity in his Wimbledon campaign. He dropped a set in his first-round match against Miomir Kecmanovic and was pushed to five sets in the third round by Frances Tiafoe. However, the Spaniard has shown resilience and determination throughout the tournament, showcasing his exceptional talent and fighting spirit.The Daniil Medvedev vs Carlos Alcaraz Wimbledon 2024 semi-final promises to be a thrilling encounter between two of the most exciting players in the sport. Medvedev's experience and consistency will be tested against Alcaraz's youthful exuberance and aggressive style of play.The match is scheduled to take place on Friday, July 11, at Centre Court. The time of the match is yet to be determined. Fans around the world will be eagerly anticipating this highly anticipated clash, which is sure to produce memorable moments and determine who will advance to the Wimbledon final.

Wimbledon 2024 has witnessed the emergence of several unheralded players eager to make their mark on the hallowed grass courts. Among them, Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and New Zealand's Lulu Sun have captured the attention of tennis enthusiasts with their remarkable performances.Perricard, a lucky loser in the qualifying rounds, defied the odds to reach the fourth round. His journey was marked by a series of impressive victories, including a stunning upset over 2024 Australian Open finalist Qinwen Zheng.Sun, a 23-year-old qualifier, also made history by becoming the first New Zealander to reach the women's quarterfinals at Wimbledon since Chris Lewis in 1983. Her run included a memorable victory over 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu in the fourth round.Sun's global upbringing has shaped her unique perspective on the game. Born to a Chinese mother and Croatian father, she was raised in Switzerland and attended college in the United States. Her diverse experiences have instilled in her a deep appreciation for the global nature of tennis."It wasn't an easy decision [to choose New Zealand]," Sun said after her victory over Raducanu. "But I'm grateful for everything that Swiss tennis has done for me. I'm also grateful for Tennis New Zealand for their support."Sun's success at Wimbledon has not only been a personal triumph but also a source of inspiration for her home country. Her journey has ignited a renewed passion for tennis in New Zealand and has shown that anything is possible with hard work and determination.

Novak Djokovic, the second seed at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, has once again overcome a shaky start to reach the round of 16. On Saturday, he faced Alexei Popyrin in the third round, losing the opening set before rallying to claim victory.This win marked Djokovic's 50th Grand Slam match victory after turning 35, making him only the third player in the Open Era to achieve this feat after Ken Rosewall (64) and Roger Federer (62).The match was interrupted by a sudden eruption of cheers and applause from the Centre Court crowd, who had learned that England had reached the semifinals of the ongoing Euro 2024. Djokovic was initially startled, while Popyrin pulled out of his service routine.Both players saw the humor in the situation, with Djokovic mimicking taking a penalty and Popyrin acting as goalkeeper. The crowd's enthusiasm for England's success momentarily overshadowed the tennis match.After the match, Djokovic inquired about the score of the England game and joked about his mock penalty attempt. "I assumed it was a penalty shootout between England and Switzerland," he said. "I tried to shoot a penalty, I'm left-footed but Alexei defended it well."Despite the interruption, Djokovic remained focused and ultimately secured his place in the next round. His resilience and ability to overcome adversity once again proved his status as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.

Wimbledon 2024: Previewing the Quarterfinal MatchupsThe Wimbledon quarterfinals are set to feature some thrilling matchups, with top seeds Jannik Sinner and Coco Gauff facing off against rising stars Ben Shelton and Emma Navarro, respectively.Jannik Sinner vs. Ben SheltonShelton, despite losing twice to Sinner in the past, remains optimistic. He acknowledges the Italian's power but believes his own all-around ability can pose a challenge. However, Sinner's consistency and return game, as showcased in his victory over Matteo Berrettini, may prove too much for Shelton to overcome.Coco Gauff vs. Emma NavarroThis highly anticipated matchup pits the top-ranked American against the breakout star of 2024. Gauff, known for her athleticism and serve, will face a tough test in Navarro, who has impressed with her all-court game and recent victory over Naomi Osaka. Gauff's experience and physicality may give her the edge, but Navarro's versatility and rising form could make this a close encounter.Madison Keys vs. Jasmine PaoliniKeys and Paolini share similar aggressive styles, but Keys' height and powerful serve may prove decisive. Paolini, coming off a strong performance at Roland Garros, will need to find a way to neutralize Keys' serve and exploit her backhand.Predictions:* Jannik Sinner* Coco Gauff* Madison Keys

Wimbledon 2024 has witnessed a star-studded affair, with celebrities gracing the hallowed grounds of the Grand Slam event. Among them, Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar stole the limelight during Alexander Zverev's third-round victory over Cameron Norrie.Tendulkar's presence at Centre Court elicited a thunderous standing ovation from the capacity crowd. Dressed in an elegant beige suit, he acknowledged the warm welcome with a wave of his hand. The camera also captured the presence of other sporting icons, including Ben Stokes and Joe Root.Meanwhile, tennis legend Roger Federer was also in attendance, and a photo shared on Wimbledon's social media handles showed him catching up with Tendulkar. The caption read, "You never know who you'll bump into at #Wimbledon."After his victory, Zverev expressed his admiration for Tendulkar. "It was an honor to play in front of such a legend," he said. "He's an inspiration to all of us."Zverev also revealed that he had a message for Pep Guardiola, who was present for the match. "When I saw Pep, I got so nervous for a few games there," he joked. "Bayern Munich needs a coach, man. And if you're tired of football, you can coach me on the tennis court anytime."The presence of these legendary figures added to the grandeur of Wimbledon 2024, showcasing the enduring appeal of sports and the camaraderie among its icons.