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London: Title holder Jannik Sinner continues to leave behind the ghosts of his failed Roland Garros as he reaches the Wimbledon semi-finals with a narrow victory over Jan-Lennard Struff.
Scheduled in the height of the London heat, Sinner had to bide his time against the powerful German but the result was never in doubt as the world number one cruised to a 7-5, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 win in a relatively comfortable two-and-a-half hours.
Jannik Sinner’s Wimbledon title defense has reached the semi-finals.Getty Images
The 24-year-old dropped serve just once – and only after he had already had a break in the second set – and played a clean match with 32 winners, including 16 aces, to earn his third career semi-final with the All England Club.
“I thought I served pretty smart today even though I had a break. In the second set my concentration dropped again (but) I tried to stay there mentally in every serve,” Sinner said.
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“(I was also happy with) how I handled the big moments in that match because if you lose the second set anything can happen, especially on big servers – you have less control. That’s certainly something I can be proud of.
“I felt like I was a little step better again today because I was facing a completely different opponent so far.”
Sinner awaits the winner between seven-time champion Novak Djokovic and third-seeded Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, who battle it out on Center Court.
The second men’s winner was German second seed Alexander Zverev, who survived several tense moments (including a third-set loss) in the restarted match on Monday to beat tough Czech Jiri Legecka 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (8-6).
Wimbledon’s strict 11pm curfew meant they had to settle at three-all in the third set, and Lehecka took advantage to see off the first three games on Tuesday and force a fourth set.
There was little between them in the fourth set, and the result could have been different if Zverev had not polished his marathon techniques in the first and seventh games. Zverev led 4-1 in the tie-break and never trailed, but unexpectedly double-faulted, leaving the door ajar at six-all.
Alexander Zverev reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon for the first time.Getty Images
However, it was a disappointing ending.
On Zverev’s second match point, Lehecka fired a straight backhand into the net to seal his fate and his first Wimbledon quarter-final, where the German will renew his acquaintance with American Taylor Fritz.
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“It’s nice to complete the quarter-final series for the (four) majors, but of course I want to go further,” Zverev said. “I want to hopefully play three more matches here. I’m glad I made it to the quarter-finals, but the tournament doesn’t end there.”
Two-time Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff and Czech 10th seed Karolina Muchova topped the women’s semi-finals.
Seventh seed Gauff is now the highest-ranked player remaining in the draw after he rallied from a set down to beat American No. 4 seed Jessica Pegula, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. This was already the best Wimbledon of his career for Gauff, who had not won a match on grass for two years before this tournament.
“It’s a really special feeling considering the results I’ve had lately, especially on this surface,” Gauff said.
“I think I can relax a little bit because I just feel, no matter how the rest of this tournament goes, (that) I found some kind of breakthrough on the grass. I’m proud of myself. Obviously I’m not satisfied – I want to go all the way – (but) also, at the same time, I’m just looking at the match in front of me.”
Muchova has long been considered one of the most talented players on the tour, but due to injuries she has yet to realize her potential. That could change after she ended Naomi Osaka’s Wimbledon breakthrough in straight sets, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.
Cruz Hewitt advanced to the third round of the men’s singles.Getty Images
Meanwhile, Cruz Hewitt advances to the third round of the men’s singles by beating French 14th seed Mathis Domenc 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 as Roger Federer’s twin daughters, Maila and Charlene, cheer him on from courtside.
Hewitt’s power play again impressed, scoring 86 percent of his first serve points and scoring 13 winners. Domenz took a medical timeout with a left ankle problem after the fifth game of the second set and did not win a game after that.
The 17-year-old Australian will next face German second seed Jamie McKenzie, who grew up in New Zealand, to reach the quarter-finals.
Australia’s Storm Hunter and Mark Polmans will compete in the mixed doubles final after beating Fanny Stollar and Mate Pavic 7-6 (7-5), 6-3. They will face second-placed Jelena Ostapenko and Marcelo Arevalo for the title.
Even more to come
Mark McGowan traveled to London with the support of Tennis Australia.
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