Tennis-Alcaraz blazes past Norrie into Wimbledon semi-finals
LONDON (Reuters) -Carlos Alcaraz said ahead of his Wimbledon quarter-final against Cameron Norrie that playing the left-handed British player can be a nightmare and for a few minutes it looked as though the defending champion might be in for a fright on Tuesday.
The Spaniard fell 0-40 down in his opening service game against the unseeded Norrie on Centre Court, but quickly snapped out of his slumber to seal a 6-2 6-3 6-3 victory that should send shudders down the spine of anyone hoping to de-throne him.
There were hundreds of empty seats at the start as fans sought refreshment after watching women's top seed Aryna Sablaneka's protracted last-eight victory.
By the time most of them returned to cheer on the underdog, Alcaraz was in full flow having blazed through the opening set in 28 minutes with a barrage of brilliance.
The tone was set and although Norrie tried his best to dig in, raising his fist in mock triumph as he held serve late in the third set, Alcaraz mercilessly extended his current match winning streak to 23.
Alcaraz, 22, reached his eighth Grand Slam semi-final and will continue his quest for a third successive Wimbledon title against American Taylor Fritz.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Ed Osmond)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
3 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Djokovic warns Sinner he's ready to go the distance in Wimbledon semi-final
LONDON, July 10 — Novak Djokovic has warned world number one Jannik Sinner that he is ready to go the distance in their blockbuster Wimbledon semi-final tomorrow. Djokovic beat Italian 22nd seed Flavio Cobolli 6-7 (6/8), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 in the quarter-finals yesterday to reach a record 14th men's semi-final at the All England Club. The 38-year-old is bidding to win a record 25th Grand Slam title and a record-equalling eighth men's Wimbledon crown. But Djokovic will have to overcome two huge hurdles to make history, with top seed Sinner lying in wait in the last four before a potential final showdown with Carlos Alcaraz, who has beaten the Serb in the last two Wimbledon finals. Djokovic will be facing Sinner for the 10th time, with the Italian holding a 5-4 edge after four successive wins. Sinner won in straight sets in the French Open semi-finals recently, although Djokovic triumphed in their two meetings on grass at Wimbledon in 2022 and 2023. 'I lost in straight sets to Jannik in the semis of Roland Garros. I think I played a solid match. I could have played better, but he was just better player when the moments were important,' Djokovic said. 'So I get another opportunity. For me, this is what counts actually the most. Being in the last stages of Grand Slams and playing against the best player in the world right now. 'Him and Alcaraz are the leaders of the tennis today. I couldn't ask for a bigger challenge, for sure. I look forward to it.' 'It's going to take the best of me' At an age when his contemporaries have largely retired, Djokovic still relishes the chance to prove himself against the next generation, insisting he is in good enough shape to go five sets against Sinner if needed. 'I just try to focus on my recovery right now, getting my body in shape for very physical battle, so I can fight with him for as long as it's necessary,' he said. 'Hopefully I can deliver the level and be able to stay with him for potentially five sets, because it's going to take the best of me at the moment to beat Jannik.' Djokovic suffered an injury scare when he tumbled in the closing stages of his win over Cobolli, but he is confident of recovering in time to face Sinner. 'It was a nasty fall. It was very awkward. That happens on the grass. I've had quite a few of those throughout my grass court career,' he said. 'Obviously, my body is not the same today like it was before, so I guess the real impact or effect of what happened I will feel tomorrow. So let's see. 'I'm hoping the next 24, 48 hours that the severity of what was happening on the court and what happened is not too bad, that I'll be able to play at my best and free of pain in two days.' Djokovic hasn't won a Grand Slam since the US Open in 2023. But he has appeared in every Wimbledon final since 2018 and the All England Club grass offers him the best chance to win that elusive 25th title. 'It is and it has always been my greatest goal to do well in Slams. I'm, again, in another great position,' he said. 'Sinner and Alcaraz, we know they're the dominant force right now in the tennis. If I want to at least go step further, I have to beat the number one in the world and eventually play Alcaraz in the final. 'I think game-wise the way I'm feeling the ball when I'm fit and ready, I feel like I can go toe to toe with those guys and even beat them if I'm playing my best.' — AFP
Free Malaysia Today
4 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Swiatek gets ‘goosebumps' after reaching first Wimbledon semi-final
Former world No 1 Iga Swiatek has gone under the radar at this year's Wimbledon. (AP pic) LONDON : Iga Swiatek said she had 'goosebumps' after reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals for the first time in her illustrious career with a 6-2, 7-5 win against Russia's Liudmila Samsonova today. The Polish eighth seed will face Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva or former Olympic champion Belinda Bencic for a place in Saturday's final. Swiatek has won four titles on the clay at the French Open, as well as the US Open in 2022, but has struggled on the lawns of the All England Club. Her previous best result at Wimbledon was a run to the quarter-finals in 2023. Swiatek dominated the first set against 19th seed Samsonova on Court 1 but was made to battle in the second set before wrapping up victory in one hour and 49 minutes. 'It feels great. Even though I'm in the middle of the tournament I've already got goosebumps after this win. I'm super happy and super proud of myself and I'll keep going,' she said. 'Honestly, I've really enjoyed playing this year and hopefully it's going to last as long as possible. 'For sure I feel like I really worked hard to progress here on this surface.' Swiatek broke twice in the opening set to take a firm grip on the match, benefiting from a flurry of unforced errors from her opponent and winning 100% of her points on first serve. Two double faults from the Russian 19th seed handed Swiatek an early break in the second set and she snuffed out a clutch of break points in the following game to go 3-0 up. The 24-year-old was pegged back as her level dipped and Samsonova pulled level at 4-4. But Swiatek regrouped and broke again to seal the win, finishing off her opponent with a fierce forehand winner. The former world No 1 has gone under the radar at this year's Wimbledon as most of the other top women's seeds have tumbled, though world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka is still standing. After slipping down the rankings, she is now back in the world's top four having reaching the Bad Homburg final on grass last month. Swiatek, a former Wimbledon junior champion, lost in the semi-finals of both the Australian Open and the French Open this year.
Free Malaysia Today
4 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Swiss Bencic through to her first Wimbledon semis
Belinda Bencic today became the first women's semi-finalist from Switzerland since 1998. (AP pic) LONDON : Switzerland's Belinda Bencic won two tiebreaks to beat Russian seventh seed Mirra Andreeva 7-6(3), 7-6(2) today and reach the Wimbledon semi-finals for the first time. The only mother left in the singles draw smashed her first of four match points to win the second tie-break of the contest and become her country's first women's semi-finalist since Martina Hingis in 1998. Poland's five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek now stands between her and a place in the final. Andreeva, 18, fired four aces in the opening set to none for Bencic and there was next to nothing between the pair until the Russian netted a couple of forehands in the tie-break. Bencic had two break points at 4-4 in the second set, Andreeva saving one and then hitting long to go 5-4 down and leaving the Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion to serve for a place in the last four. Andreeva refused to follow the script, however, and broke straight back to 5-5 before going to 6-5 with 28-year-old Bencic then serving to take the match to another tie-break.
