2024-07-08 12:33:43
LONDRA. For the first time, Italy takes two Italians to the quarter-finals of Wimbledon: first the 28-year-old Tuscan Jasmine Paulinin.7 Wta, then Jannik Sinner23 years old on August 16, the king of the ATP from Pusterese as n.1, overcomes the eighth-finals on the first Sunday of the Championships, reaching the second week at the All England Club. Paolini wins, but not as she wanted, becoming the fifth Italian ever to reach the last eight on the London lawns. The American paves the way for her Madison Keysn.13 of Illinois, who injured her left thigh, retiring at 6-3 6-7 (6-8) 5-5, after two hours and 23′ of play. A forfeit that came immediately after serving for the match. Bittersweet epilogue for the Tuscan coached by Renzo Furlan: «I’m a little happy, but also sad for her, winning a match like that is not nice» commented Jas, the first Italian in the Open Era to reach the quarterfinals at Roland Garros and then at Wimbledon in the same year.
A 2024 that no one could have ever predicted: without a single victory on the London lawns, she has collected four in a row in the last week. “It was a very tough, difficult match, with many ups and downs. I’m happy for me, but also a little sad for her: it’s not easy to win like this. It was like being on a rollercoaster: I was very focused but she is a great champion who played great tennis. I love this court, I love the support of the public: a special thanks to the Italians who are here, I know there are many”.
Now Jas challenges the Spanish No.17 Emma Navarro who ousted the USA Coco Gauff, the n.2, 6-4 6-3! Still on court n.1, in the next match, with some jolts at the end of the match, Sinner’s success arrived. Against the American Ben Shelton, 21 year old left-handed from Atlanta, one of the few to have beaten him in the last year (at the 1000 in Shanghai after Jannik’s triumphs in Toronto and Beijing, before swallowing cheers in Vienna and in Malga for the Davis Cup), the South Tyrolean won in three sets (6-2 6-3 7-6 for 10-8). After two sets controlled without a hitch, the third match was a continuous up and down: first Shelton had the chance to drag the match to the fourth set (with Sinner cancelling four set points), then the world n.1 wasted a match point before closing the contest.
“It was a very tough match, especially in the third set. This type of match can also get complicated and go on for a long time. The atmosphere was extraordinary, I’m happy to have closed it in three” the satisfaction of the student of Cahill and Vagnozzi, for the third time in a row in the quarterfinals on the grass, the first Italian ever. The best response to the feat of Carlos Alcarazalso capable of winning matches that he didn’t play at his best (his Spanish rival, king in Paris, and who Jannik should meet in the semi-final on grass, beat the French left-hander in 3 hours Ugo Humbert for 6-3 6-4 1-6 7-5): «It is always a privilege to play a Slam quarter-final, especially – said Jannik – on a court like this, I can only be happy. We players also want to put on a show, we have to be happy on the court. I am a solid athlete, not always sparkling but concrete». The next challenge will be with Daniil Medvedevwho has not won a tournament since May 2023 at the 1000 in Rome, and who advances thanks to the retirement after just 40 minutes of play of Grigor Dimitrov: the Bulgarian leaves the court limping after the intervention of the physiotherapist for a problem in his leg with the score at 5-3 in favor of Medvedev. And now Sinner and the Russian will face each other again for the 12th time: the first six were won by Medevdev, the last five by Sinner. Tomorrow, however, will be the first on grass, the second in the Slams after this year’s final in Australia won by the Italian champion coming back in the 5th set after the challenges resolved at the 500 in Beijing and Vienna. In the evening, the winner of the Queen’s 500, Tommy Paul from the USA, also reached the quarter-finals, having no problems with the 37-year-old Spanish veteran Roberto Bautista Agut, who executed Lorenzo Sonego and Fabio Fognini in the tournament, knocked out 6-2 7-6 (7-4) 6-2.
“Me and Jasmine… it’s historic, but let’s hope we’re three! – Jannik speaks as a leader, in the ‘theater’ of the press conferences at Church Road – It’s very nice but tomorrow (today at 12, live on Sky) we have another chance with Lorenzo. We’re all happy, she’s having a great season, Lorenzo has raised the level again, Matteo (KO after a great match with Jannik who won 3 tiebreaks and lost a set with the revived gladiator) is coming back”. Today Musetti faces the 20-year-old Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, a 2.11 cm French giant: Italian golden arm against a devastating bomber.
2024-07-08 12:33:43