After defeating Jannik Sinner 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 2-6, 6-3 in the quarterfinals of the Wimbledon Championships, Daniil Medvedev entered his eighth Grand Slam semifinal. The Russian was the first-ever male player on the 28th of February 2022 to break the domination of the “Big Four” of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Andy Murray to become the world No. 1 since Andy Roddick in 2003.
Daniil Medvedev is one of six ATP tour players currently active to win 20 titles. 18 of these are on hard courts, one on clay, and one on grass. Daniil Medvedev’s win over Jannik Sinner makes it 36 five-set match wins in Wimbledon.
“I could feel that he doesn’t move that well. It’s always tricky because you want to play more points to make him suffer a little bit more… and in a good way. And at the same time, you know that he at one point is going to say, ‘Okay, I cannot run anymore, so I’m going to go full power.’ And that’s what he did.”
1st Set: Jannik Sinner
At the beginning of the match, Daniil Medvedev would’ve hoped that playing on Center Court would favor him since his lucky Wimbledon court seemed to be Court 1.
Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev had excellent performances in the first set with each player’s serve so strong that there were no breakpoint opportunities for either player.
After 46 minutes, the first set went into a tiebreak. Three minutes into the tiebreak, both players played a 33-shot rally which Medvedev won with Sinner out of breath to lead 3-1. A double fault from Medvedev and solid serving from Sinner helped him lead 4-3 from 1-3 down.
Medvedev led again 5-4. Sinner then increased his advantage with a double fault that gifted Medvedev a set point. A shaky period ensued for Medvedev which ended with a double fault that secured the set for the Italian after 59 minutes.
2nd Set: Daniil Medvedev
In the third game, Daniil Medvedev hit a winner down the line to produce two breakpoint opportunities. A Sinner shot into the tramlines then gifted Medvedev the break of his serve. Medvedev consolidated the lead to a 3-1 second set scoreline.
It was here that Daniil Medvedev was beginning to dictate the tempo of the match. Sinner’s performance had dipped and his movements seemed labored. His first serve had been 45% in his first three service games of the set.
With one hour and 44 minutes on the clock, Medvedev closed out the set with an ace. The Russian didn’t face a single breakpoint from the world No. 1 all set.
3rd Set: Daniil Medvedev
At the beginning of the third set, two shots went long for Sinner and a drop shot hit the net to gift Daniil Medvedev two breakpoint opportunities in the third game. Another Sinner forehand shot into the net then broke his serve.
This was when Sinner called his trainer. The Italian looked sick and the physio checked his temperature. He eventually left the court with the trainer for treatment. Sinner returned 11 minutes later. Daniil Medvedev went on to hold his serve at love to lead 3-1.
A few moments later Sinner got back a bit of his elite performance including a moment when he let out a wry smile after a 93 mph forehand winner. The shot whizzed past Medvedev who was standing at the net at the time.
Three errors from Medvedev gave Sinner three break-back points with Medvedev aiming to serve for the set. Sinner then broke Medvedev’s serve at the second opportunity.
The set went into a tiebreak and Medvedev took advantage of Sinner’s serve to lead 3-2. The Russian went on to lead on serve 5-2. Although Sinner clawed back to 4-5, Daniil Medvedev opened up two set points and closed out the set with an ace.
4th Set: Jannik Sinner
Daniil Medvedev held his serve at love in the first game of the set and Sinner returned the favor immediately. Good play at the net in the next game produced two breakpoint opportunities for Sinner. A sleek drop shot from the Italian secured the break of Medvedev’s serve.
Sinner broke Medvedev’s serve again to lead 4-1 in the set. At 5-2 and Sinner holding two set points, Daniil Medvedev fired long to give Sinner the fourth set.
5th Set: Daniil Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev held his serve in the first game with an ace after being clawed to deuce. Despite hitting his ninth and 10th double faults of the match in the third game, the Russian held firm and closed the third game with an ace.
Sinner seemed to continue to fall apart in the fifth set as a double fault gifted Medvedev three breakpoint opportunities. The world No. 1 saved the first with a 127-mph ace and the second with a forehand winner, but a forehand into the net gifted Medvedev the break of his serve.
With three hours and 40 minutes on the clock, Daniil Medvedev was leading 3-1 in the deciding set. The Russian then held his serve to lead 4-1 after five deuces. Sinner hit a backhand into the tramlines.
Medvedev then held his serve at love to lead 5-2. Jannik Sinner, determined to force Medvedev to serve for the match and buy himself time, held his serve at love quickly. That wasn’t enough as Medvedev served out the match to love.
Daniil Medvedev will face either Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinal of Wimbledon. The victory over Sinner was Medvedev’s second consecutive win on Center Court after defeating Alexandre Muller on Center Court in the second round.
“Everything is well when it ends well, so I’m pretty happy,” the Russian said following his victory.
