Match reports
After two precision semi-finals, it’s time to wrap things up here. We’ll be back tomorrow for the women’s final between Ons Jabeur and the unseeded Marketa Vondrousova, and Daniel will be your guide for Novak Djokovic v Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday. A tantalising weekend menu. Have a lovely evening – good night!
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I’m told that Alcaraz will be the youngest male Wimbledon singles finalist since his compatriot Rafa Nadal in 2006, who was just a month younger. This was the moment he made it:
What a point to seal your place in the #Wimbledon final! 🤯
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 14, 2023
Carlos Alcaraz is incredible! pic.twitter.com/TdNoaZ7PrE
Novak has a way with words!
Novak Djokovic on facing Carlos Alcaraz in Wimbledon Final:
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 14, 2023
“He’s young. He’s hungry. I’m hungry too, so let’s have a feast.” 😂
Cold blooded. 🐊 pic.twitter.com/DyTuzS8xr1
So we have the long-predicted and tennis-dream final between the king and young pretender. The all-round best of all-time against the best 20-year old McEnroe has ever seen. The complete game and the grass court master against a firework forehand and brilliant drop shot, energy, youth and a quick, quick learner who has improved hugely through the fortnight. Where’s your money?
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Now we’re back to Claire and Tim in the studio. Over to Tim in his smart tie: “Some people have a good feel at the net but not a very good technique, but Alcaraz has it all. He has very good geometry. Lots of players these days are one-dimensional, but he has it all.”
“He’s just so complete, mentally, physically and technically.”
McEnroe’s report: “Medvedev looked resigned at some points. He did make a subtle adjustment, got back into it a couple of times but Alcaraz was able to remain relaxed and stay in control. It is unheard of that we have five breaks in a row at this level.”
“Clearly the French Open affected him [Alcaraz]. The second set there was one of the best sets of tennis I’ve ever seen but then suddenly it was all over. I’m not sure why he had the cramp there but I’m sure his camp will have worked with him.”
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Medvedev disappears quickly off court with a smile and a wave and the stage belongs to Alcaraz “A dream for me, and to play a final here at Wimbledon, I can’t believe it. Its an amazing moment for me and time to keep dreaming!
“He’s [Medvedev] is an amazing fighter and I had to be my best and play aggressive, be myself all the time, that was the key to serve the match.
“Everybody knows it is going to be very difficult but I will fight, that is myself, I will believe in myself that I can beat him here. It will be tough time for me, I dream since I started playing tennis to play a final here, It is a final, it is no time to be afraid, to be tired, I will go for it.”
And he quietly packs up his bag and prepares to leave.
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Alcaraz beats Medvedev 6-3 6-3 6-3 to reach the Wimbledon final!
*Alcaraz 6-3 6-3 6-3 Medvedev From 15 all, Medvedev hits cross court into the tramlines, then Alcaraz is beaten. Alcaraz smiles before he serves and it is a beauty which Medvedev can only hit wildly out. And what a finish! After a superb rally, Medvedev comes up to the net to volley but Alcaraz prowls like a tiger and whips a cross court return with a kiss of the racket! He holds his hands to the sky in celebration.
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Alcaraz 6-3 6-3 5-3 Medvedev * I’d like to see Medvedev as Jo’s love interest in Little Women, Professor Bhaer. But perhaps thats just me. From 30-30, Medvedev goes long and then Alcaraz pulls out a killer forehand return. Another break! And Alcaraz serves for the match.
*Alcaraz 6-3 6-3 4-3 Medvedev An hors’ doeuvre of variety shots as Alcaraz fluff a volley between his legs and can’t get his racket out of the way when Medvedev approaches the net with an excocet. Alcaraz hits long to secure the break again. There’s life in this old dog yet!
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Alcaraz 6-3 6-3 4-2 Medvedev * Alcaraz isn’t keen on losing momentum in this match and has two break points. But Medvedez isn’t done yet and holds on in two epic baseline rallies to bring it back to deuce. He double faults to give Alcaraz advantage, saves another break point with an ace, hits a half volley into the net and then survives a fourth break point with a one-legged wild volley into an empty court. But the fifth break point does for him as Alcaraz breaks back straight away.
*Alcaraz 6-3 6-3 3-2 Medvedev A changing wind suddenly blows over Centre Court as Medvedev breaks the Alcaraz serve with a mixture of inspirational shots and Alcaraz falling just fractionally off his game. Now he’s in the set, might he just dare to step towards the baseline?
Catherine, via WhatsApp, says what we're all thinking: "Why isn't Medvedev changing his court position? It's definitely not because he doesn't realise what's happening."
— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) July 14, 2023
I get that he isn't comfortable stepping in, but ... to quote my therapist, "It can't get worse for you."
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Alcaraz 6-3 6-3 3-1 Medvedev* A huge roar as Medvedev beats Alcaraz with a deep smash right into the corner, then aces. A big first serve makes it 40-0 –Alcaraz pulls back -but that’s a bobby-dazzler as he comes to the net and fires the ball like a bullet into the grass and even a flying Alcaraz can’t reach it. He’s on the board in the third set.
*Alcaraz 6-3 6-3 3-0 Medvedev Some fallibility in the world No. 1 as he double faults to make it 30-30 but a deft volley wins one point, and Medvedev hits the next serve out. As they change ends, Medvedev sits on his chair and chats away with amused resignation – not sure who he’s talking to, perhaps just one of those conversations we all have with ourselves on one of those days. But up he gets to serve 3-0 down.
Alcaraz 6-3 6-3 2-0 Medvedev* A brilliant drop shot by Alcaraz to go 30-15 up on Medvedev’s serve. A double fault for 15-40 and the body language of his box wouldn’t inspire confidence in Mr Happy. A brilliant first serve by Medvedev but Alcaraz can better it. Medvedev’s serve is broken in the very first game of the third set.
*Alcaraz 6-3 6-3 1-0 Medvedev These games are flying past so quickly. Medvedev has crept forward slightly to receive serve but there isn’t much he can do about such precision. Alcaraz wins to love and the spectators look at each other in awe.
Alcaraz 6-3 6-3 Medvedev * Alcaraz is like a ballet dancer, so incredibly balanced and strong. Suddenly its 40-0 and Alcaraz has three set points. Two big Medvedev serves pull it back to 40-30 but Medvedev can’t cope with the deep return of his second serve and that’s the set! We get the fist pump. And Medvedev, looking altogether like a university professor who has lost his notes, stares aimlessly into space.
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*Alcaraz 6-3 5-3 Medvedev We’ve got new balls. And Alcaraz bounces them, and bounces again. Suddenly its 40-0 with a series of clinical serves and another and that’s the game. McEnroe says Medvedev’s tactic of standing so far back isn’t working.
Alcaraz 6-3 4-3 Medvedev* In five Wimbledon appearances , this is Medvedev’s first semi-final, and he’s got a tricky opponent to experiment on. But he doesn’t help himself by missing a smash to go 0-15 down on his serve. After much to-ing and fro-ing he holds with a whipping forehand.
*Alcaraz 6-3 4-2 Medvedev In the change of ends, Alcaraz munches on something that looks like cooking chocolate, and both drink from their reusable bottles. In the shirts battle, it is Lacoste v Nike . A brilliant drop volley gives Alcaraz the first point, which a sprinting Medvedev can’t’ reach. Is he going to shuffle forward towards the net at any point? Alcaraz wins to love.
Alcaraz 6-3 3-2 Medvedev* Easy service game win to Medvedev, who even comes up to the net with a dinky volley to make it 40-0 and collects the final point when Alcaraz’s return is out.
*Alcaraz 6-3 3-1 Medvedev Medvedev continuing to receive serve somewhere south of the Falkland Islands, and Alcaraz makes the most of it with dreamy delicacy. But Medvedev pulls back with a two-handed backhand return to make it 30-30. Alcaraz snatches a base-line rally to make it 40-30; and another to go 3-1 up. Easy pickings in only his fourth grass-court tournament!
Alcaraz 6-3 2-1 Medvedev * A mega rally at 15-0 finishes when Medvedev hits long. Two more errors from Medvedev hands Alcaraz two break points. But he can’t make the most of them and soon its deuce. Some brilliant volleying in kissing distance of the net hands Alcaraz another break point and he pounces on a second serve to take early advantage in the set. Lots of slow motion fist shaking from his box.
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*Alcaraz 6-3 1-1 Medvedev Alcaraz, neat and tidy in the way that some people just are, no ink stains on his school shirt, plays a drop shot like a butterfly wing but just brushes it into the net to give Medvedev the hint of a chance. Then a double fault as his serve becomes suddenly fallible to give Medvedev a break point. Retorts with an ace. Then Medvedev returns the next serve into the net. A high class rally ends when Alcaraz bunny hops the game into the net. Two drop shots work to give Alcaraz the game.
Alcaraz 6-3 0-1 Medvedev * Thanks Daniel, get well soon! Medvedev, looking sweaty under the roof, makes a good start to the second set holding to love, and with a lucky net cord to boot.
And with that, my watch is over; here’s Tanya Aldred to croon you through the rest of this match. thanks all for your company and comments – sorry I couldn’t use them all – and enjoy the weekend. Shabbat shalom, and go in peace.
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*Alcaraz 6-3 Medvedev I don’t know, what was Medvedev thinking with that drop? It’s like when Rafa Benitez decided to play mind games with Alex Ferguson. Anyway, Alcaraz is quickly at 30-0, Medvedev then sends a return long, and when the same thing happens again, that’s enough for set one! Medvedev is, as we know, rather good, but Alcaraz is better and it’s hard to see how that differential is equalised.
“Re the thread about empty seats,” says Susannah Clements. “We were there on Monday – queue for the ladies between matches was insane. Plus 20 minutes queuing for drinks. Then you have to wait for a break in games to get back in. It took over 45 minutes from rushing for the exit, to settling back in my seat with a drink. Don’t judge those empty seats too harshly!”
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Alcaraz 5-3 Medvedev* Alcaraz makes 0-15 but Medvedev is soon at 30-15, an ace down the middle doing the business. But another serve, into a similar area, is returned with interest, a forehand lopping cross-court onto the line, and when Medvedev tries a drop of his own, Alcaraz is onto it like a hyena, flipping a pick-up over the net for break point … converted when a half-courter invites the backhand into the tootsies! Alcaraz breaks, and will now serve for the first set.
*Alcaraz 4-3 Medvedev My browser crashes, returning in time for me to hear Andrew Castle marvelling as how much Alcaraz’s backhand slice has come on this fortnight, as he holds to 15.
“Enjoying your commentary, but have to disagree that it’s fine to pop out to the bar between semis and not return in time for the second match,” writes Gillian Forrester. “Incredible and sad to see how many vacant seats there are on Centre Court in the first set of Alcaraz vs Medvedev; very disrespectful to the players and annoying for us who would love to be there.”
I don’t think it’s an issue to go for drink and a slash between matches, and see how that can take the best part of half an hour; I also don’t think it’s a big deal to miss the walk-out and knock-up, but yes, once the match is well into its first set, I don’t understand why people wouldn’t want to watch, though they can spend their time how they like once they’ve paid for a ticket.
Alcaraz 3-3 Medvedev* Lovely from Alcaraz, the drop-lob combo making 15-all and a punishing forehand down the line 15-30; the world number one is starting to assert himself. But Medvedev gets to 30-all when another weapons-grade forehand hits the net, then challenges, successfully, when Alcaraz strays wide prior to dispensing another winner. A service winner then follows, and that’s a good hold from Medvedev; this is warming up.
*Alcaraz 3-2 Medvedev Alcaraz targets the Medvedev forehand but it’s his that breaks down first, a framed shank handing over 0-15. Then, at 15-all, we see the first drop, beautifully played and disguised with Medvedev stranded somewhere in Southfields, before an exocet forehand whistles wide. No matter, another lovely drop raises game point and, you guessed it, a third seals the deal – which makes me wonder whether he can do it too often as that might encourage a change of tactic, and my guess is Alcaraz is happy with the status quo.
Alcaraz 2-2 Medvedev* Alcaraz makes 0-15 with a backhand winner but Medvedev quickly does likewise. A service winner follows, then another on the backhand as his opponent makes the net, and the game is sealed with a booming forehand down the line. In comms, Mac reckons Alcaraz looks a bit nervous and that he’s not moving properly yet.
*Alcaraz 2-1 Medvedev Medvedev asks a line judge to move along because they’re standing where he likes to return from, but at 15-all Alcaraz catches him again, a slice serve out wide too far away for him to reach – and even if he’d managed, his man was at the net to cut off any return. Still, Medvedev gets to 40-30 then, on the run, spanks a superb flat backhand cross-court for a winner before a net cord delivers him a second deuce. From there, Alcaraz quickly closes out, and neither of these are properly motoring yet.
Alcaraz 1-1 Medvedev* Now Medvedev holds easily, to 15, closing out with a leaping backhand.
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*Alcaraz 1-0 Medvedev A wide delivery to open up and Medvedev, receiving almost in the royal box, can’t get a meaningful racket on it. Alcaraz holds to love.
Righto, off we go again – Alcaraz to serve.
I don’t know who needs to hear this, but for anyone put off their food by illness as is currently the case with me, peanut butter – Skippy, of course – on toast and salted caramel biscuits, not together but there’s an idea, are preventing me from wasting away.
Out come our players, to a sparsely populated Centre Court. Mac isn’t happy that people have left, but it seems reasonable to me that they nip to the bar, and telly schedules won’t allow for a longer break.
“Isn’t it a shame that a player can lose because he fails to act as his own line judge?” wonders Phil Haran. “If a mistake is made it should be automatically corrected by playing a let or awarding the correct point. I’ve seen more ‘missed’ line calls than ever but the technology is there to correct it.”
Yeah, I think this is a fair question: you’d think the technology exists for a quick beep to signal in or out as with foot faults – and if it doesn’t I’m sure it won’t be long – in which case I agree, the ability to see whether a ball is in or out is not what we’re seeking to measure here.
Coming up next: Carlos Alcaraz [1] v Daniil Medvedev [3]. It’s not a bad old life.
Djokovic has now made 35 Grand Slam finals, which is another record – it’s previous holder was Chris Evert.
Djokovic is on for five in a row, a calendar year grand slam, and who knows how many more majors. He’s playing better than ever, and explains that it was a hard match, the scoreline not reflecting the reality of what went down on the court. Sinner might’ve won the breaker but let him in with a few loose shots, though he’s proved himself a leader of the next generation and is a very good player. “It’s great to be part of this new generation, I love it,” he says, and would like to believe he’s playing better than ever. In an individual sport, you need to be in the best possible physical, mental and emotional state, not seeing his age as a “hindrance” – “36 is the new 26” – and wants to give back to the sport everything it’s given to him, his family and his team by playing as long as he can. Asked about the “hindrance” situation, he says the call might’ve changed the game and he had to regroup; he didn’t think it was an issue and usually he doesn’t extend his grunts, so there might’ve been an echo off the roof or something. He’ll now enjoy the second semi from his massage table, and it’s just unbelievable how brilliant and brilliantly articulate he is. It’s going to take something unfathomably brilliant to stop him.
Novak Djokovic [2] beats Jannik Sinner [8] 6-3 6-4 7-6(4)! He reaches a ninth Wimbledon final!
Sinner nets, and Djokovic has won a 45th straight match on Centre Court! It’s just totally ridiculous how incredible he is because sinner is a fine player who played well, and yet he didn’t even get close. as the man himself said, there are those who are good, who want to supplant him, but “it ain’t happening”.
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Sinner 3-6 4-6 6-6 (4-6) Djokovic Now it’s Djokovic who slips, as sinner dematerialises a forehand winner for 4-4; Sinner approaches the net to check he’s OK while, in comms, Todd Woodbridge gives us an Aussie metaphor for being flat on one’s face as Djokovic is, “like a lizard drinking”. And, well, Sinner nets a backhand, then another, and Djokovic has two match points…
Sinner 3-6 4-6 6-6 (3-2) Djokovic Now then. Djokovic has something in his eye, but he’s still struggling to see the backhand return Sinner sends past him, punishing a second serve to secure an immediate mini-break. He cements it with a service winner and looks good, but as we know, lots of people do until suddenly they don’t and, as I type that, a double restores order.
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Sinner 3-6 4-6 6-6 Djokovic* Djokovic goes wide for 15-all, so retorts with an ace, but when sinner changes the direction of the next rally with a cunning backhand down the line, his squash shot drops long; 30-all. But the last thing Djokovic needs is help, and he sort of gets it, landing a serve on the sideline – he aimed for it – and the ball dies – he didn’t expect it to. A forehand winner follows, and that means we’ll have a tiebreak, Djokovic’s uncanny ability to win these increasing of late – at the French he was six from six, without a single unforced error.
*Sinner 3-6 4-6 6-5 Djokovic An ace gives Sinner 40-15 and a forehand into the corner guarantees him a breaker; he’s played his best tennis in this set, though he also played some good stuff in the third. In comms, they think Djokovic is annoyed with the crowd, supporting sinner partly because they want a contest and partly because they don’t love him, showing displeasure then repurposing it as fuel. He’ll now serve to stay in the set.
Sinner 3-6 4-6 5-5 Djokovic* I remember watching Wimbledon years ago and Connors, coming to the end of his career, was losing. “Come on Jimmy!” shouted someone from the crowd – because of course they liked him once he started losing, as was the case with Martina and Steffi too – and he replied “I’m trying!” That feels like where Sinner is now, but then he lands a huge forehand return for 15-30 … after which Djokovic swipes a forehand wide! Is God fallible? Is there a glitch in the matrix? Two set points for Sinner! Djokovic serves a fault then takes a moment as the umpire asks for quiet, and the way this match has gone, as ace down the T will soon be upon us. But no, instead Sinner goes long then, after landing a return onto the line, has a chance at a forehand, inside court, and with loads at which to aim! But he goes wide with it, and as he contemplates deuce will know that he’s not made the most of that opportunity because, for what feels like the first time, Djokovic didn’t confiscate it from him. And that’ll hurt Sinner even more than watching the aces go by, all the more so when he accelerates through deuce to secure yet another hold.
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*Sinner 3-6 4-6 5-4 Djokovic Er, Jannik Sinner for one. He races to 40-0, then Djokovic creams a gorgeous return down the line as Sinner comes in – which he does behind his next serve too, his volley too good. I can’t overstate this point: Sinner is playing and has played well, but he’s still not landed a punch.
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Sinner 3-6 4-6 4-4 Djokovic* Oooh yeah! A glorious forehand winner down the line gives Sinner 0-15, but a forehand return just misses the baseline – I think. Like Tim, I’m surprised there was no challenge there, all the more so when a serve out wide is good enough for 30-15. Soon after, it’s 4-4, and who’d be surprised if Djokovic broke next game?
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*Sinner 3-6 4-6 4-3 Djokovic For the first time in a while, Sinner holds to love, but can he tax Djokovic when he serves 90 seconds from now?
Sinner 3-6 4-6 3-3 Djokovic* Sinner does more complaining about the slipperiness at change of ends, and he needs to make sure this doesn’t get into his head. It doesn’t seem to be – he smokes a forehand for 15-all, only to then thwack another into the net immediately afterwards. From there, more ridiculous serving finishes off the game, and Sinner is struggling to make an impression in this set, though he’s actually playing pretty well.
“Is it too much to ask of an opponent to put up some resistance,” wonders Mohammed Yasser. “Could’ve broke first game but gets broken himself. I’m guessing a reverse of last year is off?”
I think that’s harsh, Sinner’s going everything he can, problem being the lad he’s playing is alright at this.
*Sinner 3-6 4-6 3-2 Djokovic Djokovic directs Sinner about the court and Sinner obliges, haring from a get in one corner to another in the other, before a drop shot leaves him stranded – though he makes a laudable effort to reach it, sliding like Sol Campbell. Sinner, though, soon plants a forehand onto the line for 30-15 and secures his hold to 30.
Sinner 3-6 4-6 2-2 Djokovic* Again, Sinner gets to 30-all on the Djokovic serve, and when he’s handed a second delivery at 30-40 he doesn’t miss out, a leaping backhand return fizzing down the line for a winner and deuce. For all the difference it makes. Djokovic closes out easily, an almost dismissive volley at the net clinching the game while, before the next, Sinner cleans his shoes pointedly, looking at the umpire who he knows will not and cannot intervene.
*Sinner 3-6 4-6 2-1 Djokovic Ach, at 0-15, Sinner finds a decent first serve, so Djokovic returns it well then sends a gorgeous backhand slice down the line and curling away, for a clean winner and another example of a shot he’s honed in recent years. More slicing follows, then Sinner nets a backhand and complains to the umpire that the surface is slippery and losing footing on a forehand earlier in the rally. Three break points to Djokovic, who burns the first with an overhit backhand to end the longest rally of the match and loses the second with a colossal ace out wide. Again, credit to Sinner who hasn’t panicked, faded or lost temper – OK, I can’t lie, I’m totally there for him totally losing it – and another booming serve, out wide again, is good enough for deuce. Yet another service winner and another ace follow, and that’s serious behaviour from the youngster. He’s got some work to do snd it won’t be soon, but of the players on tour who’ve yet to win a major, he looks the most likely to at some point.
Sinner 3-6 4-6 1-1 Djokovic* I guess Djokovic reminds me a little of Jimmy Anderson, both in terms of his lithe, athletic build, and his total devotion to improvement. For the wobble seam read the serve we’re looking at now, and as I type that, a second-serve ace onto the T underlines the point; he’s having an absolute laugh here, sending another ace out wide as Jelena, his wife, chuckles to herself.
*Sinner 3-6 4-6 1-0 Djokovic “He’s weirdly become one of the best servers of all time,” says Calv Betton of Djokovic. “It’s the accuracy.” And the ability to deliver it under pressure. But Sinner’s quite good too, and he holds to 30; it’s worth noting that he’s played well and consistently today, nor has he taken a backward step; he’s just not been able to find a way at the big moments because who is?
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Sinner 3-6 4-6 Djokovic* An ace down the middle then a service winner; what can you do? Then a serve out wide and a clean-up wrongfooting forehand to the same corner; nothing whatsoever. Sinner does, though, plant a forehand onto the baseline to which Djokovic can’t respond, saving the first of three set points; can you guess what happens next? You can and you can’t: Djokovic does serve an ace, but it’s out wide. He’s such a tease, and he leads by two sets to love appearing to have levels in reserve if he needs them. This is brilliance so natural, expected and understated as to be deeply unsettling.
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*Sinner 3-6 4-5 Djokovic Sinner’s looking to get to the net now, daring Djokovic to pass him – he’s got to try something new – and quickly makes 40-15. A booming serve and backhand to the corner follow … so Djokovic pastes a backhand winner down the line! Ridiculous behaviour. Sinner, though remains unfazed, another serve-volley point forcing Djokovic to serve for the set.
Sinner 3-6 3-5 Djokovic* Sinner will know he’s running out of road in this set – and, therefore, in this match – and with new balls in play, I’d expect him to really go after this game. In a rare case of me being right, that is indeed what happens – he properly attacks Djokovic’s serve, coming to the net early having already hit two shots that’d rally-enders against anyone else. He does make the putaway, but shortly afterwards it’s 40-15 … though Djokovic shouts towards his box when an error gives Sinner a sniff. He’s tossing the ball too far in front, he reckons … so then ends the game with another service winner, and needs just one more for a 2-0 lead.
Meantime, Calvin Betton returns on my point that Sinner is holding easily. “Djokovic does that on purpose when he’s a break up. He throws games away so the opponent has no rhythm. It’s risky but works.”
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*Sinner 3-6 3-4 Djokovic Eeesh, is the pressure and disappointment telling? Down 0-15, Sinner drags a forehand wide – Djokovic has been playing to that flank – then at 15-30, a backhand sails over the tramlines. Sinner, though, is nobody’s expletive, an error from Djokovic preceding a forehand winner down the line for deuce – he’s found first serves when he needs them – and another, followed by an ace, keeps the second set alive.
“How can anyone like salad cream but not sandwich spread?” wonders Simon McMahon. “I don’t understand. They’re like Borg and McEnroe. You can’t have one without the other.”
I think it’s probably OK in lieu of butter and with another filling, but I’d not enjoy a sandwich that was just bread and it. I’d also be ravenous after scranning it.
Sinner 3-6 2-4 Djokovic* Excellent de-fence from Sinner, a squash-shot on the stretch keeping him in the rally before a backhand down the line makes 0-15; Djokovic responds with another service winner. At 30-15, though, Sinner reads a ball into the forehand corner, looping a winner down the line, but then can’t control his response to serve directed out wide to the forehand. No matter, a forehand into the corner facilitates an overhead putaway and once again Djokovic must serve at deuce … but facing a second delivery, though Sinner picks the right backhand return, it’s wide, just, then a superb Djokovic get prompts a forehand error, and another decent situation evaporates.
*Sinner 3-6 2-3 Djokovic Sinner is holding easily, apart when he’s broken; Djokovic is holding with aggravation, without being broken. That’s the difference here.
Sinner 3-6 1-3 Djokovic* The crowd are desperate for Sinner to make a match of this, and they go wild when the two men face off at the net, a rat-a-tat-tat exchange won by a rasping backhand from sinner that makes 15-all. But then, controversy! Djokovic grunts mid-point, having already cracked a backhand down the line that Sinner stretches to return; “Hindrance!” intones the umpire; “15-30”. Djokovic approaches but doesn’t really unburden, Henman says he’s never seen that before, and Sinner did play his shot, but on the other hand, rules are rules and who doesn’t want their moment in the sun. Oh man, imagine the chinwag at change of ends if there’s a break here; Djokovic quickly makes 30-all, killjoy that he is, then finds a gorgeous response after Sinner sends his drop back across the net. It’s incredible really, I’m absolutely certain Djokovic wants the umpire to be wearing his racket as a necklace, but instead he’s davka using it for shots of delicate beauty … though as I type that, Sinner punishes a backhand winner down the line for deuce! Relief as our set-to remains in prospect, and after a succession of groundstrokes thunked down the middle, Djokovic goes long to cede advantage! It’d surely be too pretty for that hindrance call to alter the flow of the match and shonuff Djokovic quickly yanks us back to deuce, then the umpire reminds us he exists, chastising the champ for taking too long serving … just before he disburses a service winner. It’s incredible how he’s maintaining composure here, and when Sinner nets, you can’t help but think that Djokovic has actually been helped by that intervention, because he now has a sense of injustice while Sinner has again been shown the apparently infinite extent of what he’s up against.
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*Sinner 3-6 1-2 Djokovic Oh dear. Djokovic redirects a forehand down the line for 0-15, then two unforced errors and all of a sudden it’s 0-40; such is life. Sinner, though, saves the first break point when his opponent drops long, the second with a forehand winner inside-out into the corner, but in a microcosm of the match, he then slams a flat forehand long, and gets what he deserves. It’s hard enough playing the best of all time without handing over gimmes like that, but that’s the difference really; everyone does that apart from him.
Sinner 3-6 1-1 Djokovic* How do we feel about dominant champions? On the one hand, it doesn’t feel healthy to see Djokovic cruising through majors at 36; on the other, Alcaraz was on top in Paris till the stress of it all took its toll and that won’t happen again; on a hard court, he’ll be even more of a handful; and people tune in to see if someone can beat the man. Darts isn’t the same since Phil Taylor retired and Michael van Gerwen dropped a few levels, snooker exploded when it boasted consecutive unbeatable champions, and Roger Federer was pretty good for our game. Anyway, Sinner makes 15-all with a lovely sliced drop, only to shank a backhand at 30-all; “a poor miss,” says Tim in comms. Djokovic hasn’t made a first serve in this game, then he does, but Sinner challenges and it’s out – decent peepers – but it makes no difference, because the Italian then frames one. He’s still making an impression when returning though; he just needs to, as the abovementioned Van Gerwen likes to say, “do the right things at the right times”.
*Sinner 3-6 1-0 Djokovic Nice from Sinner, underarming a big forehand from corner to corner for 30-15. Neither he nor our match can deal with the concession of a break at this juncture, so the ace he finds at 30-all is crucial, and from there he closes out.
Sinner 3-6 Djokovic* Sinner stretches to reach a return – that’s a fantastic get – and Djokovic errs long for 0-15! Then serves an ace. Then serves another ace. He is not human. Then serves another ace. He does well not to laugh, I told you he wasn’t human, then he serves a service winner. He’s an absolute disgrace, the best player under pressure there’s ever been in men’s tennis and perhaps only Chris Evert and Serena are his equal in women’s. He leads by one set to love, of course he does, but Sinner is in this match.
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*Sinner 3-5 Djokovic At change of ends we see that both Felicity Kendall and Floella Benjamin are in the house, two staples of an 80s childhood. It’s a while since anyone asked me what my favourite shape is, but in my Play chool days, I always hoped they’d go through the square window – to my eternal shame as, at the age of 44, I’ve realised that the circle is better. Sinner holds to 15, and is moving through his serice games really easily, problem being he’s ceded one break point and Djokovic being Djokovic, he seized it so will now serve for the first set.
Sinner 2-5 Djokovic* This is a really fun match so far, one of the highest-standard I’ve seen this fortnight – though, for it to be a sustaining contest, Sinner could really do without falling behind. And again he gets into the game, banging a forehand winner down the line for 15-all only to net when he shouldn’t for 30-15. From there, Djokovic mooches to within a game of the first set, again sealing one with an ace down the middle.
“Salad Cream? Just thinking about makes me want to be violently sick,” advises John Windmill, our pictures man. “Oh, Daniel.”
But John, it’s so deliciously tangy – though just to be clear, I do not like sandwich spread.
*Sinner 2-4 Djokovic In the interests of sharing the wealth, this is the best and most nostril-invading chrayne I’ve found; back on court, Sinner holds to love, and in some ways this is a classic Djokovic set, much closer to being broken than breaking, apart from the time he actually broke.
Sinner 1-4 Djokovic* Further to Zack’s mayonnaise point, let me say here, very clearly, that salad cream is by far the superior condiment, thanks principally to the presence of taste. It’s not fashionable, no – though, last summer, Anya Hindmarch turned it into an ice cream – but still. Anyroad up, Sinner lets Djokovic off the hook at 15-all, hitting man not space so passed at the net, but then a slice drops fractionally long and this time yerman pounces, swinging a majestic inside-out backhand onto the line for break point. Djokovic has served fantastically this year but Sinner is creating opportunities … burning this one when on top in the rally, going cross with line open. He knows it too, indicating the shot he should’ve played, and seconds later it’s 4-1, an exclamation mark added to it with the ace down the T that clinches it. Sinner might worry that he won’t get many chances and he’s already missed four, but he’ll be telling himself there’s no reason he won’t keep making them.
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*Sinner 1-3 Djokovic Sinner quickly makes 30-0 before slamming an ace down the T. He needed that, though he’s actually playing pretty well, and a canny high-kicking second serve sets up a 40-15 rally which he finishes with yet another sizeable forehand. He’s on the board.
The votes are in… 🗳
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 14, 2023
Christopher Eubanks is your 2023 @oppo Breakthrough Inspiration Award winner!
Congratulations to Christopher and all of this year's nominees on a memorable Championships 🍓 pic.twitter.com/3YJofkZIGo
I cannot wait to see Eubanks play again.
Sinner 0-3 Djokovic* A terrific backhand cross-court, dug out almost from behind him, gives Sinner 0-15. But from there, Djokovic consolidates convincingly, and already the match looks within his command.
“Challah Sandwich??? That’s borderline apikorsus!” writes Zack Dzialowski, who for those unfamiliar with the term, just called me a heretic. “Challah must never be eaten with anything besides mayonnaise or chrayne (possibly allowed to toast the leftovers on Moitze Shabbos!).
A friend of mine is rather keen on toasted challah on Shabbat morning, but otherwise, chrayne – a glorious meld of beetroot and horseradish, the most beautiful shade of mauve, is tremendous, likewise hummus, but challah is also very good slapped around liver sausage or viennas.
*Sinner 0-2 Djokovic (*denotes server) Sinner is the first player since Henman in 2002 to make the semis without facing a seed, but so far he looks fine with that, so of course as I type those words he sticks another forehand into the top of the net for 30-all. It’s amazing the power he generates off his chicken legs, but a swiped forehand drops wide and now it’s Djokovic with break point. Sinner really can’t afford to cede the advantage so early … but he does, a forehand sent wide; response required.
Sinner 0-1 Djokovic* (*denotes server) In the process of losing the first point, Sinner slips – one on which to keep an eye – then at 30-0, he finds a decent pass, Djokovic unable to reach his volley at the net. Already, the world number one is looking to stick Sinner on his bike, hitting towards corners, but when he goes wide, he finds himself serving at 30-all, and facing a second delivery Sinner steps in then runs around his backhand to send as winner cross-court for break point! But another forehand towards the line is more accurate, making deuce, whereupon we enjoy the best rally of the match so far, Sinner ending it abruptly with a brutal forehand that isn’t even close to the corer, and we learn that, during this tournament, only Alcaraz has hit a bigger ball. This time, though, break point vanishes with a netted forehand, and from there, Djokovic closes out. That was a helluva start to the match.
“I was there!” tweets Robert Walnut of the 2001 final.
Just found in a book, my ticket stub to the 2001 Wimbledon men's final. "The People's Final", as it was called. Still the best sporting event I've seen live, so intense. Oh, Goran... #Wimbledon #tennis #goran @TennisPodcast pic.twitter.com/1aIaJN0zkQ
— Robert Walnut (@bobbywalnut) October 28, 2022
And off we go! Djokovic to serve.
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“Challah is like brioche,” reckons Mark Woldin, “to be lathered with butter, eaten with a hot coffee nearby. A fresh hot bagel with cream cheese and lox is one of the glories of the Western World. Get on board, Daniel!”
If I’m totally honest, I find what I know to be a classic sandwich somewhat bland. Put me in cheirem.
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Out come our players, Sinner leading the way.
“On the important note of bagels v challah,” emails Edan Tal, “I have conducted similarly lengthy research. I think it all depends on the quality and a good quality bagel trumps challah for a closed sandwich as challah tends to crumble. But a good bagel should be ashamed of its hole and be nearly closed at the point of consumption, as seen at Beigel Bake. A holy bagel is no match for challah though. Also, do you not think Grodzinski’s in Stamford Hill is a fair match for Daniel’s?”
It’s years since I went to Grodz in N17, but I’ll have a shy next time I’m visiting my wife’s dressmaker – Tiferes in Dunsmure Road for anyone wanting a top bloke and craftsman. I find the challah sandwich can be prevented from crumbling by rapid insertion into facehole.
“On court I try to do the right things, but off court I can be a classic one,” Sinner tells BBC when explaining he’s not as serious as he seems and is actually quite funny. He’s from northern Italy near the Austrian border, and in general, folk from there are said to be more stereotypically Austrian than Italian in temperament, but on a very basic level he seems sound. He’s also a tremendous all-round athlete, good enough to have been a pro skier and footballer, such that even if he wasn’t an interesting bloke, which he is, he’d still have the personality proxies we all wish for.
Tim Henman is in the BBC studio, wondering how on earth this tournament ever got finished playing one day fewer and with no roofs, noting that rallies are shorter these days. I’d not thought of that, but I guess if points are serve, return, putaway volley, it makes perfect sense. It’s funny, though, that two of my all-time favourite finals were completed on Monday, Edberg beating Becker in 1990 and Ivanisevic finally getting his title in 2001 by seeing off Rafter – coincidentally, Henman’s one that really got away.
Regular readers will, no doubt, be wondering where on earth Coach Calvin Betton has got to with his pithy tactical breakdowns, and I’m pleased to report that the answer is right here: “Can’t see anyway Djokovic is troubled. He’ll make too many balls and keep Sinner moving so he never has a set base to hit his big shots out of. Medvedev and Alcaraz could be interesting. If Medvedev serves well then it will be really tight. Alcaraz probably just has enough to hit through him. Medvedev doesn’t have much to hurt with if his serve isn’t happening. The key shot will be Alcaraz’s drop shot cos Medvedev stands so far back.”
I wonder if he’ll adjust there. I imagine he’ll stick with his usual position to return, but he must know he needs a plan to combat one of the best and, increasingly, most renowned shots in the game.
Real talk: bagels do not, in my opinion, make for any kind of decent sandwich. No give, hard to arrange a decent filling to bread ratio, and just not that tasty. Challah is far, far better in every aspect, and the extensive, decades-long research I’ve undertaken in this important area tells me that the best in London can be found at Daniels – or, indeed Daniel’s, depending on where you look – in Temple Fortune.
I’m not sure whether to thank or blame Oli Goldman for bringing this monstrosity to my attention. I guess you might argue that anything is improved by its insertion between two slices of bread, but you might also contact The Hague.
It’s minging in London today, so I’m almost certain these matches will take place with the roof on. I doubt it’ll make much difference to Djokovic, but Sinner will probably be pleased as indoors tends to favour the harder hitter, and against the greatest, you need every advantage you can get.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to Wimbledon 2023 – day 12! Our women’s final is set and now it’s time for the men.
We begin with the defending champion, playing his 12th semi-final at the All England Club – he’s won nine – a venue at which he’s not been beaten since 2017. And it’s hard to see that changing here, given his earth-shattering ability, spectacular form, and sense of mission. He is not on course for a calendar-year Grand Slam – rather it seems almost inevitable.
However, there’s always a however. Jannik Sinner comes from the third generation of players bested by Novak Djokovic, but unlike most, he knows he can beat him – not because he has, but because he nearly did, losing from two sets to love up in last year’s quarter-finals. Sinner can easily rationalise that he’s a much better player now, more settled in his game, more at home in these surroundings and better able to negotiate the big moments – plus he can hit anyone, and I mean anyone, off the court. He’ll need to play better than ever before, but of all the men on the tour bar Carlos Alcaraz, he has the game and coldness most suited to ruining Djokovic’s day.
Talking of Alcaraz, he has again been brilliant through this tournament, his explosive forehand not just the most thrilling shot in the game but one of the greatest sights in all sport. But Daniil Medvedev is an opponent who’s seen it all, gradually growing into the fortnight with a serve big enough to trouble anyone and a tactic of standing beyond the baseline that might just neutralise his opponent’s power.
Of course, that opponent is not underfurnished in the guile department, but this is only his third major semi and in his last one, just a month ago, he succumbed to cramp. So, though Alcaraz has unshakeable confidence that he’s good enough to win this, now, he doesn’t know for sure, and Medvedev will be doing all he can to make him live that uncertainty. This is going to be good!
Play: 1.30pm BST
