.png?2.1.1 "Vokash")
1 week ago
Key events Show cardinal events only Please move connected JavaScript to usage this feature
Before that we’ve sewage a tremendous Thursday successful store, with Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek bidding to group up a first expansive slam last against each different – what a imaginable that is – arsenic they look nan underdogs Amanda Anisimova and Belinda Bencic respectively. Do subordinate Daniel for sum of those matches, and I’ll beryllium backmost connected Friday. Thanks for your company, arsenic always. Bye!
The men’s semi-finals are set. And Friday can’t travel soon enough:
Jannik Sinner v Novak Djokovic
Carlos Alcaraz v Taylor Fritz
Djokovic’s numbers are ridiculous. It’s a 14th Wimbledon semi-final. A 52nd slam semi-final. Both are records. And of people he’s still chasing that elusive 25th awesome title, which would return him past Margaret Court and into sole possession of nan all-time record.
Tim Henman reckons it’s only a “six and a half aliases 7 retired of 10” for Djokovic today. But he sewage nan occupation done. And, arsenic agelong arsenic there’s nary hangover from that slip, I’d backmost him to crank it up against Sinner. Whether it’s enough, let’s see. But he’ll decidedly request to play amended against nan world No 1.
“Huge congratulations to Flavio for an astonishing tourney and awesome conflict today,” says Djokovic. “He’s specified a talented and skilful player, decidedly 1 of nan guys we will beryllium seeing much successful nan early truthful I wish him each nan champion and his team.”
Of his autumn astatine nan end, he says: “Well I vanished nan match. It was a nasty gaffe and that’s what happens erstwhile you play connected grass. It came astatine an awkward infinitesimal but I managed to adjacent it out. I will sojourn this taxable pinch my physio and hopefully each will beryllium good successful 2 days.”
Djokovic thumps Cobolli 6-7, 6-2, 7-5, 6-4
An unreturned serve, 15-0. An ace down nan T, 30-0. Cobolli offers immoderate guidance pinch a Pete Sampras-style slam dunk. But different ace and it’s 40-15. Djokovic looks fresh to observe connected nan first lucifer constituent … but Cobolli’s crushing return lands conscionable in! And Djokovic slips complete connected nan worn baseline connected nan 2nd lucifer point, arsenic Cobolli unleashes again pinch his forehand! Cobolli comes complete to cheque if Djokovic is OK. He seems to be.
Amid each nan drama, it’s deuce. And soon Djokovic’s advantage, a 3rd MP. Djokovic has nan easiest put distant astatine nan nett and nan seven-times champion sets up that blockbuster against Sinner! Djokovic applauds his beaten force disconnected court; Cobolli’s breakout tally is over. The Italian said earlier nan lucifer he watched videos of his idol each day. He whitethorn not want to watch this again for a small while.
Despite nan impending heatwave, Cobolli looks arsenic if he whitethorn beryllium astir to get his coat, arsenic he slides 30-40 down. Drop service present and Djokovic will beryllium serving for a spot successful nan semi-finals. Djokovic does a fewer splits and stretches arsenic he waits to person … before defending superbly and getting nan break erstwhile Cobolli inexplicably nets his volley! Djokovic leads 6-7, 6-2, 7-5, 5-4.
A corporate Wimblegasp arsenic an unfortunate nett cord puts Cobolli 15-30 down. And a corporate roar arsenic he thunders a forehand victor connected nan adjacent point. They want a 5th set. They whitethorn yet get it, arsenic Cobolli holds from 30-all.
And here’s Gregory Phillips: “Surfaces make nan GOAT point harder successful tennis. Sure, Djokovic has nan numbers. But you can’t telephone him nan GOAT erstwhile he isn’t nan GOAT connected clay, and intelligibly that’s Nadal. I’d reason Djokovic isn’t nan GOAT connected writer either; Federer took him to a last group tie-break astatine Wimbledon successful 2019, erstwhile Fed was a decade past his best. No measurement Djokovic could person lived pinch him astatine Wimbledon successful 2004-05. Federer is nan writer GOAT. But it’s besides unfair to telephone Federer aliases Nadal nan wide GOAT arsenic Djokovic has truthful galore numerical records. I conscionable deliberation of them each arsenic Supreme, Highly Exceptional Event Players (SHEEP). I’ll get my overgarment …”
Cobolli holds contempt giving Djokovic a look astatine excessively galore 2nd serves. He should really past beryllium 0-15 up connected Djokovic’s serve, arsenic he chases down nan driblet changeable pinch comparative ease, but he makes nan incorrect changeable action pinch an attempted lob, which Djokovic pats away. So alternatively it’s 15-0. And very soon 40-0. And game. At 3-3, there’s still thing betwixt them successful this 4th set.
But backmost to nan matter astatine hand. Cobolli gives Djokovic a glimmer astatine 15-30 but nary more. Djokovic zips done to love. It’s 2-2.
Djokovic holds to 30, aft a nosy crippled of feline and rodent connected nan last point, arsenic my mind wanders to nan thought of Djokovic v Sinner successful nan semi-finals. Sinner has beaten Djokovic successful their past 2 expansive slam meetings, astatine this year’s French Open and past year’s Australian Open, but Djokovic has sewage nan amended of Sinner doubly astatine Wimbledon before, successful 2022 and 2023. But that was earlier nan Italian turned into a winning instrumentality and numero uno. With Sinner adjacent nan highest of his powers (as agelong arsenic his elbow holds up) and Djokovic seeing this tourney arsenic his top chance to get that elusive slam #25, it could beryllium an absolute cracker.
Cobolli is nan first to service successful nan 4th set, and this is surely a crippled that he can’t spend to lose, arsenic Fabio Fognini, his chap Italian who announced his status from tennis today, looks connected from nan box. Only 10 days agone Fognini was connected nan court, taking Alcaraz each nan way. How quickly life tin change. Fognini is applauding his protege erstwhile Cobolli survives from deuce; Djokovic is ramming his racket into his foot. He wanted nan break.
And present are nan highlights:
Fancy a lucifer study connected Sinner? Sure you do.
Djokovic wins nan 3rd group 7-5
15-0, 30-0, arsenic Djokovic drags Cobolli astir nan tribunal connected a portion of string, earlier reeling him successful pinch a driblet changeable that nan Italian can’t reach. 40-0. Djokovic opts to serve-volley connected group constituent but plants his volley into nan net! But an ace settles matters. Djokovic leads 6-7, 6-2, 7-5. This is nan first clip Cobolli’s been down successful sets this fortnight. And it’s a long. way. back. from present against nan seven-times champ.
Djokovic, ne'er 1 to beryllium outdone, replies pinch a emotion clasp of his own. It’s 5-5. Cobolli dealt truthful good pinch nan clutch moments successful nan first set, but possibly he’s mentally tiring present successful his first expansive slam quarter-final (it’s Djokovic’s 63rd!!!), because it’s soon 15-40, 2 break points, arsenic Cobolli goes for a low-percentage changeable down nan statement and misses. Cobolli past flings a forehand good wide and Djokovic, nan coolest man successful nan stadium, strides backmost to his chair to drawback an crystal towel. He’ll soon service for nan 3rd set.
Cobolli nudges up to 5-4. Though nudge possibly isn’t nan correct connection fixed he’s conscionable held to love. The 23-year-old has sewage a outpouring successful his measurement arsenic he runs backmost to his chair astatine nan changeover; nan 38-year-old Djokovic is trudging to his and has a look of thunder, moreover though there’s still a scatter of evening sun connected Centre Court. Djokovic, having been a break up successful this 3rd set, must clasp service to enactment successful it.
“Novak GOAT talk is recency bias, really tin each sports successful nan world person a goat wrong nan past 20 years, hmmmm,” ponders Jeff Peters. I work together it tin beryllium easier to acclaim what’s astir caller successful our memories, but I deliberation nan only adjacent measurement to settee nan statement is pinch numbers. Everything other seems excessively subjective. So personally I’d springiness Novak his GOATness, pinch his 24 (maybe 25 pending) slams … but that doesn’t mean he’s nan top successful my eyes successful position of nan emotions stirred, nan beauty of his play etc. For maine that would beryllium Federer. But you could telephone that recency bias too. Meanwhile, from 3-2 Cobolli, it’s now 4-4, pinch Cobolli serving astatine 15-0.
After Cameron Norrie’s exit yesterday, here’s Tumaini’s appraisal of nan British players’ performances this fortnight:
Cobolli is seeing nan tennis shot for illustration a shot now. Perhaps nary surprise, fixed he’s besides a good footballer and was erstwhile successful Roma’s academy. He rattles done his service to love, pinging 3 winners past Djokovic successful nan process.
The longest rally of nan lucifer – 20 shots – and Cobolli emerges victorious! Centre Court rises to salute nan Italian underdog. He’s 0-30 ahead. But Djokovic’s service is stinging and Cobolli can’t respond. On nan adjacent constituent Djokovic rolls successful a slow 2nd service but Cobolli is punished for being excessively passive. 30-all. 40-30. And different lung-busting rally, to rival nan 1 earlier successful nan game, again ends successful Cobolli’s favour! Even elastic (or plastic?) man astatine afloat agelong tin scope breaking point. And Cobolli clobbers a return victor connected break constituent to break back! It’s 2-2.
Djokovic asserts his authority pinch a clasp to love. Cobolli, commendably, steadies himself to do nan same. But it’s Djokovic who still has nan break, starring 6-7, 6-2, 2-1.
Djokovic wins nan 2nd group 6-2
While each this was going on, Djokovic collapsed Cobolli again connected his measurement to a 6-2 2nd group – which took not moreover half nan clip of that 68-minute opener. Cobolli walks disconnected tribunal – but erstwhile he returns he looks alternatively lost, instantly dropping service to 15. Djokovic could beryllium astir to do to Cobolli what he did to De Minaur successful nan erstwhile round: springiness his force a caput commencement and past predominate from there.
“The feelings are decidedly different [to nan awesome flight against Dimitrov],” says a smiling Sinner. “I’m very happy pinch this performance, playing against him is truthful difficult. We play each different much and more, we get to cognize each different a small spot better, and I’m looking guardant to these benignant of battles. My elbow has improved a batch from yesterday to today.”
So it’s a 4th consecutive expansive slam semi-final for nan US Open and Australian Open champion, and a 2nd semi astatine Wimbledon. Sinner said aft Dimitrov’s status successful nan 4th information that it didn’t consciousness for illustration a win. This will. He’s made nan astir of his reprieve and that lucifer now looks for illustration a little blip. And contempt nan dense strapping to protect his elbow injury, he didn’t look excessively troubled physically. He’ll beryllium fresh for Djokovic aliases an all-Italian matter pinch Cobolli successful nan past four.
Sinner thumps Shelton 7-6, 6-4, 6-4
Djokovic has surgery Cobolli for 3-2 successful nan second. Not that I really saw immoderate of it; I’m excessively engaged watching Sinner v Shelton. The perils of unrecorded blogging concurrent quarter-finals. At slightest it’s nan correct determination connected my part, because Shelton rams into nan nett and Sinner has a lucifer constituent astatine 30-40. A immense service from Shelton retired wide … and a winning forehand to t’other side! What a measurement to prevention a lucifer point. Shelton’s dada Bryan, who reached nan Wimbledon 4th information 31 years ago, looks impressed. But here’s a 2nd lucifer constituent astatine Sinner’s advantage. Shelton’s woman Trinity Rodman can’t carnivore to watch. Shelton saves it again, but here’s a third. He conscionable can’t shingle Sinner off. And Sinner completes triumph erstwhile Shelton’s forehand goes good long!
A last fling from Shelton – aliases is this nan commencement of something? He’s sewage 0-30 connected Sinner’s service astatine 4-4. But Shelton fires a forehand long, Sinner jams him pinch a assemblage serve, and here’s different correction from Shelton’s racket. Sinner rounds disconnected his mini revival pinch a backhand walk down nan line. The world No 1 leads 7-6, 6-4, 5-4 and Shelton must clasp service to enactment successful this quarter-final.
Djokovic surely isn’t playing for illustration nan GOAT correct now, moreover though successful my humble sentiment he is, because GOATness tin really only beryllium measured connected numbers; everything other feels excessively subjective. But Djokovic does regroup aft letting that opening group gaffe done his fingers, holding service astatine nan commencement of nan 2nd for 1-1.
Richard Hirst has an email for Daniel, moreover though he’s now departed. As I ideate Shelton will soon be, moreover though he’s refusing to activity nan achromatic emblem successful nan 3rd set, trailing 7-6, 6-4, 3-3 against Sinner. “Are you being deliberately provocative pinch your repeated GOAT references to Djokovic? Well, you person succeeded, I americium provoked. I’d reckon connected Rod Laver being his lucifer pinch today’s instrumentality and fittingness regimes. And counting nan number of victories successful nan slams doesn’t do it, fixed nan amateur/open hiatus. Just saying.”
Cobolli wins nan first group 7-6 (6)
Djokovic holds. Cobolli holds. They’re into a tie-break. Though Hugh Grant looks arsenic if he’s falling dormant successful nan Royal Box. Not judge astir Queen Camilla, she’s not successful nan camera shot, though this is Djokovic’s clip to clasp court. The seven-times champion is surely going to measurement it up now against nan Italian upstart? Cobolli has different ideas, charging to 5-2 and past 6-5, group point. Djokovic reigns ultimate pinch a darting backhand victor down nan line, but a fizzing forehand walk from Cobolli and it’s a 2nd group point! Cobolli clobbers down a service and Djokovic can’t get it back!
Shelton must perfectly dislike nan show of Sinner, who’s good connected people for a sixth triumph connected nan rotation against nan 10th seed. Sinner looked truthful susceptible against Dimitrov successful nan erstwhile information earlier his unexpected reprieve, but Dimitrov had much variety/spin to problem Sinner; Shelton is trying to conflict powerfulness pinch powerfulness present and it’s not working. In nan conflict of nan composed Italian’s metronomic consistency v nan charismatic American’s unpredictability, location looks to beryllium only 1 winner.
Sinner wins nan 2nd group 6-4
Sinner holds to emotion for 5-4, and erstwhile again is piling nan unit connected Shelton’s service astatine 30-40. Djokovic besides has a group constituent astatine 30-40, arsenic he attempts to make amends for dropping service successful nan past game. While Sinner seals nan group arsenic Shelton’s backhand misfires – it’s the 14th consecutive set he’s won against nan American – Djokovic can’t get nan occupation done. Cobolli holds from deuce and they’re level astatine 5-5.
Everywhere I look location are break points. There’s 1 for Sinner astatine 4-3, 30-40, but Shelton perfectly smokes a 93mph forehand to prevention it. And nan American holds from there. Meanwhile Djokovic, serving for nan first group aft breaking Cobolli successful nan erstwhile game, veers distant from nan book arsenic he falls 0-40 down, pinch Cobolli crunching a mates of winners to get there. Djokovic rams a forehand wide and he’s surgery to love! They’re backmost connected service pinch Djokovic starring 5-4.
Thanks Daniel. Before I get stuck into nan men’s quarter-finals, here’s a recap of what happened earlier successful nan women’s matches, successful lawsuit you, for illustration me, are conscionable getting started today:
Back connected Centre, Cobolli again finds himself down 15-30, but Djokovic lands his return conscionable beyond nan baseline. An ace follows, but a backhand down nan statement goes into nan net, taking america to deuce, past a backhand shovelled wide intends break constituent Djokovic. Cobolli, though, handles it well, only to past look advantage a 2nd time, doing brilliantly to enactment successful nan rally then, erstwhile nan chance arises to whip a forehand down nan statement – really, he’s forced into it by Djokovic’s excellence – he curls conscionable wide, and astatine 5-3, nan top of each timewill now service for nan first set. That’s really quickly it tin beryllium taken from you against nan best; here’s Katy Murrells to fto you now really things proceed from here.
I’m not judge what Shelton tin do to discomfit Sinner, but he mightiness want to effort and shorten nan points – against a hitter arsenic accordant and powerful, it makes nary consciousness to thrash away, particularly erstwhile you see his expertise to create angles. He’s playing solidly enough, conscionable not really displaying nan flair that took him to this point. Of course, that partially reflects nan level of his opponent, but seeing really this is going, he’s sewage to forcer nan issue. Sinner leads 7-6 3-3.
Superb activity from Cobolli, who wins 3 points successful a statement from 0-30. But he past nets a forehand down nan line, past another, and nan first break constituent of nan lucifer goes to Djokovic, whose return – of a really bully service nether unit – goes wide. From there, nan youngster closes out, and he’ll consciousness overmuch amended now, having survived his first due scare. It’s 3-3 successful nan first, arsenic it is successful nan 2nd connected No 1, Sinner up connected Shelton by a set.
Shelton’s worked difficult connected his background, but it’s nary astonishment erstwhile we’re shown sketch telling america that Sinner is targeting it. We’re still connected service successful group two, but different emotion clasp is further grounds that nan world nary 1 is successful control.
A sumptuous forehand return, hammered cross-court, gives Cobolli 15-30; naturally, Djokovic finds 2 nasty first serves, quickly sealing a clasp for 3-2 successful nan first.
English (US) · 
Indonesian (ID) ·