Wimbledon 2023: Electric Carlos Alcaraz puts on clinic to dispatch Daniil Medvedev and storm into first SW19 final
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Updated 14/07/2023 at 22:02 GMT+1
The Wimbledon men's singles final has been set after Carlos Alcaraz outclassed Daniil Medvedev to set up a clash with Novak Djokovic for the title. The top seed beat the third seed in straight sets in one hour and 49 minutes to seal his place in Sunday's showpiece match. Djokovic overpowered Jannik Sinner in the other semi-final and will be bidding for a 24th Grand Slam on Centre Court.
'Could be one of the most important players we have ever had' - Wilander on Alcaraz
Video credit: TNT Sports
Carlos Alcaraz stormed into his first Wimbledon final with a stunning performance to blow away Daniil Medvedev in straight sets.
The top seed produced a highlight reel of shots as he sealed a 6-3 6-3 6-3 win in one hour and 49 minutes.
Alcaraz will face seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic for the title on Sunday, following the Serbian’s comfortable victory over Jannik Sinner.
The pair will be vying for the world No. 1 spot as well as the trophy on Centre Court, as Alcaraz looks to clinch his second major title and deny Djokovic a record-extending 24th.
“What can I say about him [Djokovic]? Everybody knows the legend he is. It’s going to be really difficult," Alcaraz said.
“I will believe in myself, that I can beat him here. I saw that he is [unbeaten] since 2013 on this court, so it’s going to be a tough challenge. but I’m grateful for this.
"It’s a final, there’s no time to be afraid or tired. I will go for it, and we’ll see what happens.”
There was nothing to separate the players through the first seven service games, with no break points on offer for either.
But Alcaraz pounced at a crucial moment, with a fizzing return and well-timed net approach earning him the first break point of the match.
He only needed one, as another big return proved too hot for Medvedev to handle, and the Spaniard showed no nerves as he served out to love to take the opener.
Questions were asked of the youngster early in the second when a double-fault left him facing break point, but he responded with an ace on the way to a nerve-settling hold.
In the following game, Alcaraz made the breakthrough. He squandered two break points but then earned a third with some astonishing reactions at the net, leaping left to fend a Medvedev backhand back onto the court, and a superb return helped him seal the break.
Medvedev later crumbled while serving for the set, succumbing to a pounding forehand and backhand slice winner to concede three break and set points and losing the third with an error.
Alcaraz rattled through the first two sets in just 71 minutes without conceding a single break, but faced a tougher battle in the third.
He got off to a dream start, breaking Medvedev once again to take a 2-0 lead, the Russian looking rattled as he saw his Wimbledon dream slipping away.
But out of nowhere, Alcaraz took his eye off the ball and coughed up three break points on serve, losing the second with a double-fault to sacrifice his first break of the match.
The lapse seemed to re-activate the 20-year-old, who immediately went hunting for another break and regained the advantage by seizing his fifth break point with a smash.
He couldn’t make it count as Medvedev broke again, but a third consecutive break for the Spaniard left him serving for the match – a task he completed in style with a whipped forehand winner to finish a thrilling rally.
“It was really difficult to close the match, it’s never easy, you have to be focused," said Alcaraz.
"Daniil didn’t want to lose, he fought until the last ball, he’s amazing fighter, runner, player.
“I had to show my best in that tough moment, play aggressive, be myself all the time. That was the key to closing that match.”
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Stream daily highlights from Wimbledon at 10pm UK time, as well as the two singles finals live on July 15 and 16, on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com
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