Unstoppable Alcaraz dismantles Medvedev to reach maiden Wimbledon final in sublime fashion
Carlos Alcaraz was brilliant in every department as he breezed past Medvedev. He will face Novak Djokovic on Sunday in a seismic match to decide both the title and the No. 1 ranking
Carlos Alcaraz through to his first Wimbledon final Antoine Couvercelle / Panoramic
Carlos Alcaraz put on yet another dazzling display of tennis virtuosity to dismantle Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 and reach his first Wimbledon final.
In a one-sided and dominant showing, Alcaraz needed only an hour and 50 minutes to see off the world No. 3.
This 20-year-old from Murcia who is captivating audiences worldwide with his unique and breathtaking brand of attacking tennis gave his Russian opponent absolutely no room to breathe, as everything Medvedev tried against the Spaniard ultimately came up short.
A superb display from Carlos Alcaraz
The first set began competitively enough, with both players settling into the contest and feeling each other out throughout the early exchanges.
But it didn’t take long for the first breakthrough to emerge. Alcaraz broke Medvedev’s serve in the eighth game, after an ordinary-looking game from the Russian. It was the first dip in quality from Medvedev, who had started brightly and looked impressive early on, but it was all Alcaraz needed as he pounced on the first sign of weakness to move 5-3 ahead and serve out the set in the next game.
Medvedev responded well at the beginning of the second set, maintaining his sense of composure for a confident hold, before creating a break point opportunity of his own.
However, the world No. 1 quickly snuffed that out with an ace, before holding serve and instantly applying pressure back on Medvedev’s serve in the next game.
Two loose balls from the Russian in that third game handed Alcaraz two more break points. Medvedev showed his iron resolve and mental resilience to save both, but the Spaniard generated a third with some superb cat-and-mouse volleying that drew sharp intakes of breath from an enthralled Centre Court crowd. Alcaraz then took the resulting break point to earn his second service break of the match and take a commanding grip of the middle set.
All went on serve for the rest of the set until the ninth game, when more mesmerising tennis from the man from Murcia brought up 0-40 and three set points for Alcaraz. Medvedev fought valiantly to save two and bring the score back to 30-40, before the Spaniard took the third break point – and with it the set – with a brilliant return that forced the Russian to push a backhand wide.
Topsy-turvy third set hands Medvedev a lifeline
That momentum continued into the third set as Alcaraz broke in the second game.
Such was the level of the Spaniard that it led Medvedev to gesticulate sarcastically – and somewhat dejectedly – to his box at 3-0 down, clearly asking his team for advice on how to handle the relentless barrage of sheer quality coming at him from across the net.
But it was far from a straightforward march to the finishing line for Alcaraz as the final stanza proved to be a topsy-turvy affair in which both players struggled to hold serve.
Indeed, in the very next game, Medvedev was offered a lifeline. With some fine returning, and by mixing up the pace of the elongated rallies with a few sliced defensive backhands, Medvedev generated three break points. Alcaraz saved one of those, before a double-fault handed Medvedev the break back.
Yet Alcaraz came straight back at him, breaking for a fifth time in the match on his fifth break point of a lengthy game to restore the one break lead and move 4-2 ahead, only for another loose game from the Spaniard to hand parity right back to his opponent.
Remarkably, Medvedev lost serve for a third consecutive service game to see Alcaraz move 5-3 up for an opportunity to serve for the match in rather bizarre circumstances.
The final game of the match was close, and Medvedev ensured that his young opponent was pushed to the very last ball. The final rally was a fitting end to a contest of real quality, with Alcaraz sealing the match with a wonderful passing forehand winner. With it, the Spaniard earned his rightful place in his first ever Wimbledon final.
Carlos Alcaraz played an insane point to close out the match against Daniil Medvedev
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 14, 2023
His ability to defend this well on grass is unbelievable
This was a guy who looked lost on this surface not too long ago.
Not lost anymore. He looks right at home.
pic.twitter.com/9C4FhOakUT
“It’s time to keep dreaming” – Alcaraz savours his place in a maiden Wimbledon final
“It’s a dream for me playing in a semi-final here,” Alcaraz said during his on-court interview.
“To play a final at Wimbledon, I can’t believe it. It’s an amazing moment for me, it’s time to keep dreaming.”
When asked about winning the third set, he replied, “It was really difficult to close the match, it’s never easy, you have to be really focused.
“Daniil didn’t want to lose, he followed until last ball, he is a fighter, a runner.
“I had to show my best in that tough moment, I had to play aggressive and be myself all the time. I think that was the key to close that match.”
While most in the tennis world have already become accustomed to this young man surpassing all expectation, it cannot be stressed enough quite what an remarkable achievement this is for Alcaraz, who has only this year got to grips with a surface that last summer still felt very alien to him.
The No. 1 entered Queen’s last month with little idea of what to expect from his grass-court season, having only ever played two grass-court tournaments in his young career (both at Wimbledon). Yet Alcaraz proved that he is a man for all surfaces, as well as an impressively quick learner.
He took the title in Queen’s, before soaring through to a first Wimbledon final with a brand of tennis that few in the UK who do not regularly follow the sport will have witnessed.
“No time to be afraid” for Alcaraz as seismic Wimbledon final awaits
Wimbledon has got the final that everyone in the sport wanted to see – Novak Djokovic versus Carlos Alcaraz. No. 2 against No. 1. Arguably the greatest player of all time going up against the greatest of the next generation.
Sunday 16 July. Centre Court. No.1 vs No.2.#Wimbledon | @carlosalcaraz | @DjokerNole pic.twitter.com/DWTjbrwr1u
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 14, 2023
“What can I say. Everyone knows the legend he is,” Alcaraz said of his seismic upcoming encounter with the Serb.
“He is going to be really difficult. I will fight. That’s myself. I will believe in myself, I will believe I can beat him here.
“I saw that he is unbeaten here since 2013 on this court so it’s going to be challenging but I am ready for this. It will be special playing against Novak but it is a final.
“There’s no time to be afraid, no time to be tired. I will go for it and lets see what happens.”
Not only is the Wimbledon title on the line, but also the world No. 1 ranking.
For Djokovic, it also means the continuation of his bid for the calendar Grand Slam, while also equalling Roger Federer’s eight Wimbledon titles and extending his own men’s Grand Slam title record.
For Alcaraz, a first Wimbledon title, his second Grand Slam title, and just the second Spanish man ever to win the hallowed Wimbledon crown.
In short, Sunday’s showpiece event at SW19 should be nothing short of a truly stunning sporting spectacle.
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