Key events
Second set: Sinner 6-3, 4-1 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
Another green shoot for Djokovic (perhaps): he lost the first sets against Alex de Minaur and Flavio Cobolli in the fourth round and quarter-finals respectively, before coming back strongly. But De Minaur and Cobolli, fine players as they are, aren’t of Sinner’s calibre. Another ace from Sinner, his ninth of the match, and there’s another authoritative hold. Djokovic just isn’t getting a look-in on the world No 1’s serve.
Second set: Sinner* 6-3, 3-1 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
From 15-all, Sinner consolidates the break with a hat-trick of aces. Wow. Not only is he dominating from the baseline, he’s serving supremely too. And Raducanu isn’t the only notable face watching on: Leonardo DiCaprio, Rami Malek and Benedict Cumberbatch are back from their tea (or tennis ball delights) and are in the Royal Box. Wonder if they could script a great escape for Djokovic here. Djokovic does, at least, hold to 15, finishing the game with a much-needed winner, a cross-court forehand. Maybe that’ll spark him into life.
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Sinner breaks: Sinner* 6-3, 2-0 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
“It’s like Djokovic watching a mirror image of himself from the past,” McEnroe says of facing Sinner. And that’s the problem for Djokovic today: they’re both very similar players, but Djokovic’s metronomic consistency and ability to play that extra ball isn’t as good as Sinner’s any more. The Italian machine is basically generation Z’s version of the classic cyborg from Serbia. Sinner isn’t missing anything right now, and after another swift hold, he surges to 0-30 on Djokovic’s serve, as Emma Raducanu watches on, applauding. Wonder what Carlos Alcaraz makes of her switching her loyalties. And at 30-40 Sinner gets break point; cue a wild forehand from Djokovic and another break.
Sinner wins the first set 6-3
Sinner, armed with new balls (though none as tasty as the ones in Wimbledon’s restaurant), rattles through to love, rounding things off with an ace. With the temperature still about 30C, the Italian then turns up the heat on Djokovic’s serve. 0-15 becomes 15-30. And then 15-40, two set points, after the most absorbing rally of the match, complete with drop shots, lobs and smashes, is eventually won by Sinner. The first let-up from Sinner today, as he becomes a little tentative and fails to take either set point. After three deuces Sinner gets a third set point. Djokovic hits a messy backhand long and wearily trudges back to his chair. His task was already tough enough – but it’s now become about 1,000 times harder.
First set: Sinner* 4-3 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Djokovic is in a little danger at 30-all. But edges through from there with the next two points. And speaking of Agassi … look at this! So much for Wimbledon’s usual fare of strawberries and cream. I wonder if everyone who ordered it got given a racket too – or if only the great man did….
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First set: Sinner 4-2 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
Sinner downed Djokovic in their past two grand slam meetings, by the way, at this year’s French Open and last year’s Australian Open, but Djokovic has got the better of Sinner twice at Wimbledon before, in 2022 and 2023. Though we should note that was before Sinner turned into the numero uno Sinner. He’s a totally different proposition now. “Sinner so far looks undeterred by the prospect of facing someone he’s looked up to,” notes John McEnroe, who’s taken over from Andre Agassi on the BBC commentary. Which, no disrespect to Johnny Mac, feels like a bit of a downgrade, for no other reason than he’s not Andre Agassi. On court meanwhile, a couple of straightforward holds and it’s 4-2.
First set: Sinner 3-1 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
15-0, 30-0, 40-0 … Sinner still hasn’t dropped a point on serve. But then the world No 1 gifts the man who’s spent more time at No 1 than anyone else a couple of points by hitting long and then coughing up an early double fault. 40-30. Djokovic can’t make any further inroads in the game though, because he drills his return long. The break has been backed up.
Sinner breaks: Sinner* 2-1 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
The first point against serve, as Sinner sends a sweet forehand winner down the line. And then it’s 15-30. The longest point of the opening exchanges plays out, it’s a real game of cat and mouse, with Sinner sprinting forward to Djokovic’s half-volley and Djokovic then scrambling to the net himself before hurtling back to attempt the tweener from Sinner’s lob, but failing. And that perhaps sums up the task facing Djokovic this afternoon: his 38-year-old legs have got far more miles on the clock than the 23-year-old Sinner’s. 15-40, two break points. And Djokovic nets. Sinner strikes early.
First set: Sinner 1-1 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
Sinner, with his arm still heavily strapped after that fall in his great escape against Grigor Dimitrov in the fourth round, replies to Djokovic’s love hold with one of his own. Djokovic has got his own injury worries too, of course, after that nasty slip when he was serving for the match against Flavio Cobolli in the quarter-finals. He cancelled his practice session yesterday, but looks OK in the opening exchanges. But it’s hard to truly tell given the points have been so short and sharp.
First set: Sinner* 0-1 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Thanks Daniel. Phew, it’s hot in this Wimbledon sauna. But no time to cool down after Alcaraz’s latest masterclass, because Sinner and Djokovic are already under way, with Djokovic sending the world No 1 a message of defiance from the off with a hold to love. Not that most of the Centre Court spectators saw it, because they’re still catching their breath after the first semi-final.
I am in awe of that man. He’s everything I want a sportsperson to be – exciting, improvisational, attitudinous and a mensch, a total one-off who is spreads joy and love wherever he goes. I cant wait to see him on Sunday, but who will he play? Katy Murrells will be here shortly to croon you through … Jannik Sinner v Novak Djokovic! Oooh yeah! But that’s it from me for now, so thanks for your company and peace out!
It’s alway hard to face Taylor, he says, especially in this heat, and he’s really happy with everything he’s done today. it’s not easy to deal with the nerves, but he’s happy to have saved set point and he’s really proud with how he stayed calm and thought clearly; he’s happy with level today. I’ll bet, old mate, I’ll bet.
Asked how he’s able to find the joy in his tennis having won 24 matches straight, not thinking about stuff like that is his answer. he’s focused on playing on a beautiful court in the most beautiful tournament in the world and for now, he’s not thinking about Sunday, he’s enjoying the moment and today’s win. He’ll have time to play and think on Sunday, but for now he’ll watch the second semi and see. Djokovic v Sinner is one of the most exciting matches they have on tour right now, so he’ll watch as much of it as he can after doing press and so on. He’ll have to play one or other, so he’ll work out his tactics and come back on Sunday.
Real talk, we felt like we knew how it’d end, but that was so enjoyable and intense. Alcaraz is like nothing I’ve ever seen before, in any sport, a bristling bundle of goodness, and here he is.
Carlos Alcaraz (2) beats Taylor Fritz (5) 6-4 7-5 3-6 7-6(6)
This boy is a genius, what else do you want to know?! Fritz played what might be the match of his life, but every timer he got near Alcaraz pushed him away, his confidence and creativity like nothing we’ve ever seen before – Johnny Mac is closest, and there’s no greater compliment than that. We are privileged to be living in his time, and he’ll face Sinner or Djokovic on Sunday as he bids to win a third Wimbledon in a row. Currently, he’s 5-0 in major finals.
Fritz 4-6 7-5 3-6 6-6 Alcaraz (6-7) Tentative from Alcaraz, when a massive second serve is returned with interest. But the champ conjures a remarkable forehand pass to raise match point, genius that he is….
Fritz 4-6 7-5 3-6 6-6 Alcaraz (6-6) But he’s playing Carlos Alcaraz, who finds a big boy’s return, changes momentum with a backhand on to the baseline, and saves set point when Fritz can’t respond to a drop. shortly afterwards, we’re back level at 6-6, and both these freaks of nature of giving us everything.
Fritz 4-6 7-5 3-6 6-6 Alcaraz (4-6) A service winner takes Fritz a point away! he’s now won five in a row!
Fritz 4-6 7-5 3-6 6-6 Alcaraz (4-5) A deft +1 volley makes Alcaraz 4-1, but two holds from Fritz keep him in the hunt. Can he snatch back the mini-break? Well, he gets a look at a second serve, hits a decent return and we go backhand to backhand, corner to corner, until he switches up to coax a winner down the line! Hold tight Taylor Fritz! he’s playing as well as he can, and we’re back on serve … then a brutal forehand means he’s two hodls awa from forcing a fifth set! This is fantastic stuff!
Fritz 4-6 7-5 3-6 6-6 Alcaraz (1-3) A well-placed – and bloody fast – second serve sees Fritz’s return fly just long, but when he tries some finesse with a drop, Alcaraz fools him by responding with a lob, the slams away the resultant overhead for a mini-break at 2-1. Alcaraz is so, so good at doing whatever is necessary, and that body-serve earns him 3-1.
*Fritz 4-6 7-5 3-6 6-6 Alcaraz Alcaraz gets his first return in, but a monstrous inside-out forehand, followed by a service winner, make 30-0. Another follows, but Alcaraz then dashes in to flip a gorgeous pick-up across the face of the net, then Fritz can’t respond to a drop, and at 40-30, Fritz will be wondering. So he astonishes an ace out wide, that has Alcaraz vaulting sideways in its pursuit, and here comes our fourth-set breaker. Bring it on!
Fritz 4-6 7-5 3-6 5-6 Alcaraz* With the whole court at which to aim, Alcaraz sends a volley wide, but he makes no such mistake playing the next point, larruping a mahoosive forehand into the corner. “I love it, I love it … it’s like he wants to tell you he’s about to do it,” kvels Agassi, pondering the pre-winner grunt. A drop-winner follows, then an ace, eliciting further purring from the commentary box, then when he serves long, a beautiful catch of the ball on the strings has the crowd marvelling, and high-leaping second-serve ace secures a memorable and yet entirely routine hold. Fritz must again serve to stay in the match.
*Fritz 4-6 7-5 3-6 5-5 Alcaraz Terrific behaviour from Fritz, holding to love. He’s brought his A-game today, and though there’s been no point at which Alcaraz hasn’t seemed the likely winner, this set will now be settled by a point or two, and he’s more than capable of winning it or them,
“Me again, Daniel!” returns Chris Page. “Whoever wins between Hewett and De La Puente on Court 1 – a repeat of last year’s Gentlemen’s Wheelchair final – will meet Tokito Oda, who’s just sent Argentina’s Gustavo Fernandez packing in straight sets 7-5 6-1. Come on, Alfie!”
Fritz 4-6 7-5 3-6 4-5 Alcaraz* Alcaraz makes 30-0, a service winner and drop combo takes him to within a point of another convincing hold, and a wide return – to an admittedly nails kick-serve – means Fritz must shortly serve to stay in the championships.
*Fritz 4-6 7-5 3-6 4-4 Alcaraz Fritz opens the game with a double, but Alcaraz can’t return his next serve and an ace makes 30-15. From there, he closes out, and is this set inching towards a tiebreaker? I thought we’d have had one before now, I must say, but there’s work for both men to do yet.
Fritz 4-6 7-5 3-6 3-4 Alcaraz* Fritz must wish he was playing at this level when Lleyton Hewitt or Jim Courier were winning slams – he’s played really well today, yet he trails and, as I type, finds himself forlornly pursuing a drop that earns Alcaraz 30-0. Naturally, the love hold is promptly secured, and the scoreboard pressure ramps up yet further.
*Fritz 4-6 7-5 3-6 3-3 Alcaraz A double donates Alcaraz 0-15, and is this his moment? Well, he has a chance to send a backhand return down the line …only to overhit … but we wind up at 30-all, whereupon the champ forces a a return back into play and Fritz makes a mess of the clean-up! Break point that feels like match point … and Fritz finds a big first serve, this time making no mistake with his +1. And from deuce he secures a vital hold, an ace out wide underlining his solidity.
Fritz 4-6 7-5 3-6 2-3 Alcaraz* Oooh, Alcaraz misses a backhand then sends down a double, and at 15-30, Fritz has a sniff. Another superb body-serve, though, levels the game, a surprise drop makes 40-30 – Fritz’s lob falls long – and another lovely fake allows the drop-winner. Alcaraz’s feel for game and ball are absolutely wondrous.
“The commentary for the tennis matches may fall short,” emails Krishnamoorthy V, “but have you read Strokes of Genius: Federer, Nadal, and the Greatest Match Ever Played by L. Jon Wertheim? I still can’t decide which one I enjoyed more, the match or the book.”
I haven’t, but I’ll have a look.
*Fritz 4-6 7-5 3-6 2-2 Alcaraz A long backhand donates 15-0; an ace restores parity and another secures an advantage. A third in a row follows, and a fourth ends the game. Rrrridiculous behaviour from Fritz.
Fritz 4-6 7-5 3-6 1-2 Alcaraz* Alcaraz makes 40-15 in short order, but Fritz finds a lovely angle to force a backhand return down the line, catching the champ coming in. But it’s in vain, as a return falls long, the hold secure.
*Fritz 4-6 7-5 3-6 1-1 Alcaraz A straightforward hold for Fritz levels the set, but can he attack the Alcaraz serve?
“Isn’t it great to have a world class expert (Andre Agassi) on comms?” asks Chris Collinson. “Love his drawl delivery and insights into the game of tennis. You can always learn something new from the best. He reminds me a bit of David Millar on ITV4’s peerless TDF coverage in the sense he can tell you what’s going to happen before it has, and why. Class.”
Agree, he’s a great addition. Tennis coverage lags behind pretty much every other sport in terms of analysis, but this Wmibledon has been much better – Todd Woodbridge was excellent on Jack Draper’s defeat, for example.
Fritz 4-6 7-5 3-6 0-1 Alcaraz* Oooh, Alcaraz shanks a forehand long for 0-30, and has he lost focus having taken the third set? Er, no. It’s soon 30-all, Fritz going long when he didn’t need to, and from there, the game disappears.
Carlos Alcaraz takes the third set to lead Taylor Fritz 2-1
*Fritz 4-6 7-5 3-6 Alcaraz At 0-15, Alcaraz finds just enough on a backhand cross; Fritz sends his response long, and he’s in trouble. But following a great get from Alcaraz, he finds a terrific pass for 15-30 when under pressure in the rally … only to send down a double, in the process raising two set points for the champ. He saves the first with a service winner, but after a second serve is sent back close to the baseline, he can only loop a backhand long. That’s a tame concession and, as we surmised earlier, it just doesn’t look like he can play well enough for long enough to win this.
Fritz 4-6 7-5 3-5 Alcaraz* Fritz is running out of opportunities in this set, but a double hands him 0-15; he then blocks back a return … into the net. He’ll know that’s a missed opportunity, likewise a more aggressive second-serve return into the tape, and when he nets a backhand – having been allowed a look at a third second delivery – he’s a point away from 5-3, having failed to take advantage of decent chances to make something happen. And Alcaraz duly serves out, meaning he’s a game away from a 2-1 lead.
*Fritz 4-6 7-5 3-4 Alcaraz Fritz makes 40-0 in under 40 seconds, and though a double follows, a serve out wide facilitates the backhand clean-up, and he lets Alcaraz know he’s not giving up on this set.
Fritz 4-6 7-5 2-4 Alcaraz* Alcaraz has the goldfish memory characteristic of the best sportsfolk, able to forget mistakes and recapture his best form just like that. He holds to love, and it’ll take something special to prevent him from snaffling this set.
*Fritz 4-6 7-5 2-3 Alcaraz A double hands Alcaraz 0-15, and this is the thing: Fritz is excellent, but is he good enough to play well enough for long enough to dethrone the champ? Well, he wins his first point in 13, a start, reaches 40-15 with an ace, and though he secures the hold, he’ll be feart that little drop in standard will wind up costing him the set.
Fritz 4-6 7-5 1-3 Alcaraz* Alcaraz quickly makes 30-0 then Fritz, whose level has dropped a little, goes long on the forehand, making it 11 straight points he’s lost … 12 when a service winner seals the consolidation.
*Fritz 4-6 7-5 1-2 Alcaraz Alcaraz makes 0-15, then directs a monstrous backhand return cross-court, cleaning up with a brutal forehand, and with the ante upped, he’s responding; the cry of “Vamos!” tells us he knows this is a chance, another fine return prompts the error, and a drop followed by a lob secures the break to love. All it took was Fritz missing a few first serves and Alcaraz, whose tennis genius is not just creativity but timing, was there to take full advantage. That is a proper message.
Fritz 4-6 7-5 1-1 Alcaraz* Now it’s Alcaraz holding to love, and this is now exactly the kind of match Fritz would’ve wanted it to be, coming down to a point here and there with breaking opportunities few and far between.
*Fritz 4-6 7-5 1-0 Alcaraz Alcaraz’s concentration looked to dip at the end of that second set, and I’m sure Fritz’s plan was to be in touch when that happened; he was, and he seized the moment really well. And he’s still hitting that same level, securing a love hold with an ace; he’ll be starting to believe.
Fritz nicks off for a break, so Alcaraz waits, standing, desperate to exorcise the end of that set.
Taylor Fritz wins the second set against Carlos Alcaraz 7-5, levelling the match at 1-1
Fritz 4-6 7-5 Alcaraz* A backhand into the net gives Fritz 0-15, and a fine return allows him to run around his backhand to punish a winner cross-court; he’s two points away from the set! And he then gets a second serve to attack … or he would were it not dumped into the net! Three set points to the American! And he only needs one, Alcaraz overhitting a forehand down the line, and do we got ourselves a ball-game? We got ourselves a ball-game! Fritz kept himself in front and built a bit of scoreboard pressure, so was there to advantage when the errors came! Alcaraz will be rueing those missed backhands in the previous game.
*Fritz 4-6 6-5 Alcaraz When Alcaraz makes 0-15 you fear for Fritz, but given a go at a second serve, the champ sends his backhand return long; that’s quite an oversight, all the more so when he does it again next point, then again. In fairness, these serves are being hit hard – Fritz is taking care to play with conviction – but an error leaves him facing 40-30, a service winner guaranteeing him a tiebreak, at least.
Fritz 4-6 5-5 Alcaraz* Alcaraz makes 15-0, but Fritz plays a very smart next point, nailing his return, then banging a forehand to the line and coming in to put away a backhand volley; he’s in the game, all the more when the champ nets, put under pressure by the amped-up pace on Fritz’s groundstrokes. Alcaraz, though, then feints the drop only to slice to the corner, and quickly making 40-30, he wallops a what-was-the-fuss-about ace down the T.
*Fritz 4-6 5-4 Alcaraz Fritz sends a backhand wide for 15-all, but from there he holds easily, and Alcaraz must now serve to stay in the second set.
Fritz 4-6 4-4 Alcaraz* Off we go again, Alcaraz sending a high-kicking second serve that’s almost an ace. But when it comes back, he picks the wrong side for his putaway, the ball comes back with interest, and caught at the net, he’s passed; break point. So Alcaraz disburses a body-serve, the cunning so-and-so, Fritz unable to free his arms; he then makes advantage with a drop and pataway, before forcing a forehand to the corner, Fritz just unable to keep the riposte in the court. So Alcaraz comes through his first serious threat, but that’s encouraging for the American who, notes Andre, has turned up the volume on his rally backhand.
Fritz 4-6 4-3 Alcaraz* Agassi is so interesting to listen to; most recently, he explains that he liked to receive first, not because of the potential breaking opportunity, but because if he was trailing he’d have to be focused on every point, none taken for granted. Anyroad up, Fritz gets a look at a second serve … and guides a sumptuous backhand return, inside-out and cross-court, to make 0-15. By the standard, this is a chance, but someone in the crowd has a situation, so there’s a brief pause while the medics get involved, then we go again. Naturally, Alcaraz gets us going again with a service winner, and follows it with an ace, but when Fritz coaxes a backhand down the line, at 30-all, he has a chance. Someone else, though, has been taken poorly, so at a crucial moment in the game, we take a breath. Godspeed.
*Fritz 4-6 4-3 Alcaraz Fritz hits a backhand into the tape, ceding 15-all, but Alcaraz then goes long, unable to increase pressure. From there, Fritz secures his hold, and he’s pretty much doing everything he can.
Fritz 4-6 3-3 Alcaraz* How many of these do we think Alcaraz can win? The record is nine, held by the wonderful Martina, but if he okays as long as Djokovic, there’s a pretty decent chance he beats that. A peculiar thing to say of someone who only has two, but Alcaraz is a peculiar individual – in the best possible way. Another straightforward hold levels the set again, and this is intensifying.
*Fritz 4-6 3-2 Alcaraz Another straightforward hold for Fritz, who’s starting to enjoy himself. If he can make it to a tiebreaker, he can turn this set into one that’s decided by a shot here or there, his best chance of winning as per Stich v Edberg in 1991.