Jannik Sinner, once considered an easy opponent for Daniil Medvedev, has faced a dramatic shift in their head-to-head confrontations. In September 2023, Sinner triumphed in Beijing and Vienna, and later at the ATP Final Tournament. He also thwarted Medvedev's Australian Open ambitions and knocked him out of the Miami Masters. With an impressive 42 victories this season and minimal losses, Sinner entered the Wimbledon quarter-final as a favorite.
Despite this, Medvedev remained undeterred. During a press conference, he acknowledged Sinner's prowess but attributed many of his losses to bad luck. Medvedev emphasized the importance of serve, especially on grass courts, where he and Sinner had not previously faced each other outside of training.
The first set saw Medvedev struggling with his serve, recording fewer aces and more double faults compared to Sinner. The set culminated in a tiebreaker, where Medvedev missed key opportunities and lost, signaling a potential defeat. However, he regained composure and dominated the second set with aggressive counterattacks, exploiting Sinner's weaknesses.
Sinner's performance deteriorated in the third set, prompting a medical timeout due to malaise. Although he returned to the court, his form was inconsistent. Medvedev seized the opportunity, winning the set after a series of errors from Sinner.
The fourth set saw Medvedev falter, losing his serve and the set to a rejuvenated Sinner. However, Medvedev's resilience shone in the fifth set. He broke Sinner's serve and maintained his advantage through intense pressure, ultimately securing a hard-fought victory.
Medvedev's win marked his first triumph over Sinner since March 2023 and earned him a spot in the Wimbledon semi-finals for the second consecutive year. He now awaits the winner of the quarter-final between Carlos Alcaraz and Tommy Paul, potentially setting the stage for another challenging match against Alcaraz.
