Had to work hard to win: Carlos Alcaraz © APA / afp / GLYN KIRK
Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev lost a set for the first time in the third round of Wimbledon on Saturday, but the tennis major’s numbers one and three ultimately reached the round of 16 safely.
July 08, 2023
From: apa
The Spaniard defeated Chilean Nicolas Jarry (ATP 25) 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3, 7-5, the Russian defeated Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics 4-6, 6-3, 6: 4, 6:4. “Permanent player” Stefanos Tsitsipas was finally able to look forward to a smooth win on the same day.
The Greek, seeded number 5, has played daily in his five-set matches against Dominic Thiem and Andy Murray since Tuesday due to rain and darkness shifts. On Saturday he only let the Serbs Laslo Djere sniff at 6: 4, 7: 6(5), 6: 4 to win the set. Against Chris Eubanks, Tsitsipas is the favorite in the round of 16 for his first quarter-finals on Church Road.
Stefanos Tsitsipas celebrated a smooth victory. © ANSA / TOLGA AKMEN
“You know, it took Noah 14 days to build the ark and it feels like the first two matches were similar,” said Tsitsipas, happy about his second round of 16 in the grass “Mecca”.
Alcaraz had to stretch himself for the first time, after all he was already 0:3 and 15:40 behind in the fourth set. After almost four hours he was through, like Medvedev after a bumpy start. The Russian, who was only allowed to watch Wimbledon last year, is like Alcaraz in the round of 16 for the second time. Fucsovics injured his ankle at the beginning of the fourth set and was only able to finish the game with a handicap. Medvedev won set four 6: 4 and made it 3: 1 head-to-head with the Hungarian after losing the only duel at Grand Slam level in Paris to date.
Lehecka continues to surprise
In the round of 16, Medvedev now meets the Czech Jiri Lehecka, who knocked out the American Tommy Paul, who was number 16. He needed 4:04 hours for the 6:2, 7:6(2), 6:7(5), 6:7(9), 6:2 victory.
One round further: Aryna Sabalenka © APA / afp / SEBASTIEN BOZON
In the women’s game, number two seeded Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus defeated Anna Blinkova from Russia 6-2, 6-3. Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova booked her ticket to the round of 16 with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Serbian Natalija Stevanovic.
2023-07-08 17:43:19
#Alcaraz #Medvedev #struggling #reach #tennis
