Carlos Alcaraz kept his bid for a repeat title at Wimbledon alive on Friday, overcoming a slow start against Daniil Medvedev to produce a 6-7 (1), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory into his second consecutive final.
The Spaniard will await a Sunday opponent from 25th-ranked Italian surprise packet Lorenzo Musetti and seven-time champion Novak Djokovic.
Alcaraz defeated Medvedev at the semi-final stage a year ago on his way to the title.Medvedev won in the series in the US Open semis last September.
He also equalled the four Grand Slam final appearances of compatriot Manuel Santana through his three-hour victory comprising 55 winners and 37 unforced errors.
“I started really nervous, he was dominating and playing great tennis,” Alcaraz said. “But when I broke for 3-1 in the second set, the nerves went away.
“I could play my own game and enjoy the match more. In general, I played really well.”
The Spaniard, who dared to mention Sunday night’s Euro football final between England and Spain and got the Centre Court crowd slightly riled up, spelled out his winning strategy in the semi-final.
“I tried different things during the match. I did not want to play long rallies, I tried to go to the net as much as I could.
“I tried not to play his game, but it was difficult to break down his wall.”
Alcaraz said he will prepare well for the final; “I’m not new anymore, I know how I’m going to feel, I’ve been in this position before.”
Medvedev twice lost a break in an opening set which took nearly an hour to complete. The fifth seed served for the set l3ading 5-4 but was broken on a fourth chance from Alcaraz.
Medvedev received a warning from the chair after a foul-mouth outburst, which British tabloid media speculated could have – in the worst case – led to a disqualification as the referee and supervisor were both called to the court..
The ensuing tiebreak was one-way traffic as the two-time Wimbledon semi-finalist quickly recovered poise to win the set.
In the second, Alcaraz recovered, using a break of Mevedev for 3-1 to best advantage; the third seed double-faulted on his first set point but delivered a serve winner on his second to level the match at a set apiece,
Medvedev was broken for 2-1 in the third set but stayed within touching distance before landing a return long to hand Alcaraz a two-set-to-one lead.
The pair exchanged breaks in the opening two games of the fourth set before Alcaraz closed the door with a 4-3 lead; the third seed earned victory three games later as Medvedev drove wide on match point. ,
Main photo:- Carlos Alcaraz celebrates winning semi-final – by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
