Wimbledon 2023: Djokovic faces Sinner in the men's semifinals and Alcaraz plays Medvedev

W460

The only two people standing in the way of a potential Wimbledon final between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz are Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev.

Sinner will try to upset Djokovic in the first semifinal Friday on Centre Court. Then Medvedev takes on top-ranked Alcaraz.

"It's interesting to play someone like Carlos," the third-seeded Medvedev said. "He is an amazing, amazing player. What he continues to do is just unbelievable. ... But I played a lot of great players in my career. I managed to win many times. So I'm going to try to do my best. If I show my best, I'll have my chances."

Medvedev and Alcaraz have one Grand Slam title each — both at the U.S. Open. Medvedev won in 2021; Alcaraz last year.

No. 8 seed Sinner lost to Djokovic in last year's Wimbledon quarterfinals after taking the first two sets.

"It's going to be a completely different match than last year," the 21-year-old Italian said.

Seven of Djokovic's 23 Grand Slam titles — the men's record — have come at the All England Club. He's won four straight trophies at Wimbledon and is trying to tie Roger Federer's men's record of eight.

The matchup between Sinner and the 36-year-old Djokovic represents the largest age gap between two men's semifinalists at Wimbledon in the professional era, which began in 1968.

The men's final is Sunday.

WHEN ARE FRIDAY'S MATCHES?

The Djokovic-Sinner semifinal is scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. local time, which is 8:30 a.m. EDT. That will be followed by the Alcaraz-Medvedev match.

WHAT WERE THURSDAY'S RESULTS?

No. 6 Ons Jabeur reached the title match at Wimbledon for the second straight year by beating No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3 in the women's semifinals. The Tunisian is 0-2 in Grand Slam finals, including a loss at Wimbledon to Elena Rybakina in 2022. Jabeur's opponent on Saturday will be Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic. She eliminated Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-3 on Thursday to become the first unseeded women's finalist at Wimbledon since Billie Jean King in 1963.

Comments 0