Daniil Medvedev proved to be disruptor-in-chief last time out to eliminate world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and set up a mouth-watering Wimbledon semi-final rematch with Carlos Alcaraz on Friday.
The Russian took advantage of a seemingly ailing Sinner to win a thrilling five-setter 6-7(7), 6-4, 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-3, snapping his losing run to this year's best player on Tour to face Alcaraz, who overcame an underwhelming start to defeat Tommy Paul four sets.
Match preview
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Nearly everyone not named Medvedev wanted an encore of Sinner taking on Alcaraz after the pair's last-four tussle at Roland Garros that went the distance, only for the Russian to do what no player on the ATP Tour had managed this year.
Except in Madrid, where the Italian had to withdraw due to a hip injury before his quarter-final, the 22-year-old had advanced to the semi-finals in every tournament he had played, and he was favoured to keep that run going despite the undoubted quality of the 2021 US Open champion.
However, Medvedev exploited an unwell Sinner by extending rallies, even if he was forced to refocus after the top seed's extended medical timeout in the third set and a fourth-set recovery that forced a decider.
Nonetheless, the 28-year-old had enough in the tank to outdo his opponent and prevent a sixth straight loss in their head-to-head, going some way to exorcising the demons from his Australian Open collapse and chastening loss in Miami.
Now the supreme disruptor seeks to defeat the defending champion and deny observers a possible final rematch with Novak Djokovic.
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A consecutive Wimbledon semi-final was uncertain for Alcaraz last time out, with the three-time Grand Slam champion down a set and a break before roaring back from 7-5, 2-0 down to notch the last-eight meeting with Paul 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.
That triumph ended the American's nine-match winning run on grass, which began with a successful run in Queen's in the lead-up to the Championships to make him his nation's top-ranked player.
Fresh off producing some of his best tennis in his Wimbledon title defence, the No. 3 seed aims to sustain those high levels against his Russian opponent.
That is easier said than done with Alcaraz, whose tendency to suffer dips in execution means another oscillating performance is expected for the French Open champion, who became the second-youngest player (21 years and 65 days) after Rafael Nadal (21 years and 33 days) in the Open Era to reach back-to-back semis at Roland Garros and Wimbledon in successive years.
Now, the precocious Spaniard aims to reach another final in his career, keen to have another shot at adding to his growing collection of majors.
Tournament so far
Daniil Medvedev:
First round: vs. Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-3 6-4 6-2
Second round: vs. Alexandre Muller 6-7[3] 7-6[4] 6-4 7-5
Third round: vs. Jan-Lennard Struff 6-1 6-3 4-6 7-6[3]
Round of 16: vs. Grigor Dimitrov 5-3 ret
Quarter-final: vs. Sinner 6-7[7] 6-4 7-6[4] 2-6 6-3
Carlos Alcaraz:
First round: vs. Mark Lajal 7-6[3] 7-5 6-2
Second round: vs. Aleksandar Vukic 7-6[5] 6-2 6-2
Third round: vs. Frances Tiafoe 5-7 6-2 4-6 7-6(2) 6-2
Round of 16: vs. Ugo Humbert 6-3 6-4 1-6 7-5
Quarter-final: vs. Tommy Paul 5-7 6-4 6-2 6-2
Head To Head
Wimbledon (2021) - Second round: Medvedev 6-4 6-1 6-2
Indian Wells (2023) - Final: Alcaraz 6-3 6-2
Wimbledon (2023) - Semi-final: Alcaraz 6-3 6-3 6-3
US Open (2023) - Semi-final: Medvedev 7-6(3) 6-1 3-6 6-3
ATP Finals (2023) - Round Robin: Alcaraz 6-4 6-4
Indian Wells (2024) - Final: Alcaraz 7-6(6) 6-1
The imminent semi-final between Medvedev and Alcaraz is not only a rematch of last year's battle but also their third match-up on the lawns of Wimbledon and seventh overall — the Spanish player leads 4-2.
Each player has a victory apiece, strikingly in straight sets, and it remains to be seen how this year's encounter plays out, with the No. 3 seed undoubtedly grown since that 2021 loss and the Russian seemingly on a mission at this year's Championships.
Medvedev claimed their last Grand Slam meeting in four sets at the 2023 US Open semi-final — ending the Spaniard's title defence in New York — but Alcaraz has notched the next two encounters without dropping a set.
We say: Alcaraz to win in five sets
Medvedev was taken to five sets for the first time at Wimbledon, not unusual for the Russian, who typically plays drawn-out matches.
The outcome of Friday's semi-final depends on Alcaraz sustaining his stratospheric level for extended periods against the No. 5 seed who lives to rain on his opponents' parade.
We back Alcaraz to win this one in five, thus extending his run of claiming such matches at the Slams.
