
Djokovic, Sinner Eye Wimbledon Semis; Swiatek Advances
Djokovic, who has a record 25th Gland Slam singles title in his sights, meets Australia's Alex de Minaur while Sinner faces the talented Grigor Dimitrov.
Five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek is the main attraction in a wide-open side of the women's draw as she takes on Clara Tauson.
'Complete' De Minaur concerns Djokovic
Djokovic was in supreme form as he demolished compatriot Miomir Kecmanovic 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 to the delight of his seven-year-old daughter Tara, who enjoyed a post-match celebratory dance with her dad.
But the seven-time champion is wary of the threat that lies ahead of him in the second week, even before potential meetings with Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who has beaten Djokovic in each of the past two finals.
De Minaur was forced to pull out of a quarter-final meeting at Wimbledon with the Serb last year due to injury but gets another shot at glory against one of the sport's all-time greats.
A two-time winner of grass court titles, the world number 11 has dropped just one set on his way to the last 16.
'He's playing the tennis of his life. He's definitely knocking on the door of the final stages of Grand Slams,' said Djokovic.
'You're not super excited to play Alex de Minaur on grass, that's for sure, because he's so quick and he's a complete player.'
Dimitrov not stressed by dominant Sinner
Jannik Sinner does not have the Wimbledon track record of Djokovic or Alcaraz, but the Italian has been the most dominant player in the men's draw in the opening week.
The US Open and Australian Open champion has matched the men's Open Era record at Wimbledon for fewest games lost -- 17 -- in reaching the fourth round, set by Jan Kodes back in 1972.
Sinner is also yet to lose his serve this year at the All England Club, not that his next opponent appears daunted by that prospect.
'We're in the second week of Wimbledon. Let's have fun,' said 34-year-old Dimitrov, who knows his days on the show courts at Grand Slams are numbered.
The Bulgarian appeared destined to be a future Wimbledon champion when he made the semi-finals in 2014, but has never progressed beyond the fourth round since.
'Smooth' Swiatek finds feet on grass
A rare defeat at the French Open has helped Swiatek finally feel at home on the grass as the former world number one eyes just a second Wimbledon quarter-final on Monday.
Aryna Sabalenka beat Swiatek in the semi-finals at Roland Garros after the Polish player won four titles there in five years, but a slightly earlier exit gave her more time to adjust to the grass.
Swiatek reached her first grass-court final in Bad Homburg last week, after which she said there is 'some hope' for her on the surface.
'This year on grass I had some moments where I just felt comfortable and I didn't have to think much. It was just pretty smooth.'
A flurry of early exits for all of the top six seeds other than Sabalenka also means Swiatek could make the final without having to play another top-10 player.- AFP

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Express
38 minutes ago
- Daily Express
Italy join Spain in Women's Euro quarters
Published on: Sunday, July 13, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jul 13, 2025 By: AFP Text Size: Portugal's forward Ana Capeta (centre) and Belgium midfielder Mariam Toloba (tight) battle for a loose ball at the Stade de Tourbillon in Sion. Portugal's tournament ended with a dramatic 2-1 defeat to Belgium. BERN: Italy reached the quarter-finals of Women's Euro 2025 on Friday despite losing 3-1 to Group B winners Spain, the Azzurre finishing ahead of rivals Portugal whose tournament ended with a dramatic 2-1 defeat to Belgium. Athenea, Patri Guijarro and Esther Gonzalez scored the goals in Bern for Spain who finished the group stage on a perfect nine points, five ahead of second-placed Italy who will face Norway in the last eight on Wednesday. 'We had one key objective and that was to get through,' said Andrea Soncin who has taken Italy to the last eight of the women's Euros for the first time since 2013. 'We can still develop and there is a gap between us and Spain, but you saw that with good organisation we can compete. 'Obviously they have really great players who regardless of how organised you are can mess everything up for you, but we're very happy to have qualified.' Spain meanwhile will take on hosts Switzerland in a week's time as they aim to follow up their World Cup win with a first-ever Euros triumph. Montse Tome's team scored 14 times in three group matches, just four fewer goals they scored in Australia and New Zealand two years ago. 'We will make the most of the time, adapt so that the players have time to rest physically and mentally, and also have some fun,' said Tome. 'I hope we manage to keep doing what we are doing because we won three games from three, and it's the first time Spain have done this.' Italy, who took the lead through Elisabetta Oliviero in the 10th minute, ended the group stage one point ahead of third-placed Belgium who snatched a last-gasp win in Sion through Janice Cayman. Belgium were already eliminated before kick-off and only Portugal had a chance of overtaking Italy heading into the final round of Group B fixtures. But Soncin's Italy started the game knowing that a defeat would have likely been enough for a spot in the quarters even if Portugal beat Belgium due to the significant goal difference gap between the two teams. Three points separated Italy and Portugal at kick-off and Italian fans were able to relax when Tessa Wullaert stuck out her left leg to guide home Jill Janssens' low cross and put Belgium ahead in the third minute. Shortly afterwards Elena Linari thumped a header against the crossbar from Manuela Giugliano's corner, and then Oliviero gave Italy a shock lead by pouncing on a loose ball in the penalty area after some poor defending from Spain. But Spain soon began to assert their dominance and four minutes later Athenea brought them level with a wonderful goal, dribbling towards the edge of the area before exchanging passes with Alexia Putellas and curling home a superb finish. The Spanish continued to have the lion's share of possession but Italy were dangerous on the break, with Martina Piemonte, up front in place of Cristiana Girelli, shanked wide when clean through on goal. And Barbara Bonansea headed over Sofia Cantore's cross two minutes before the break as Italy pushed ot retake the lead. But Spain were deservedly in front three minutes after the break through Patri whose sliced first-time finish crept past Italy goalkeeper Laura Giulinani. Spain poured forward and added a third in stoppage time through Esther Gonzalez. But it mattered little by that point as even though Telma Encarnacao levelled late for Portugal, Cayman lashed home a loose ball in the 96th minute to give Belgium a thrilling win after they had two goals chalked off by VAR. Italy's players jumped and hugged once Belgium's success was confirmed, before basking in the applause of their travelling support. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia

Malay Mail
2 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Alcaraz faces Sinner in blockbuster Wimbledon final as new tennis rivalry takes centre stage
LONDON, July 13 — Carlos Alcaraz takes on Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon final yoday — the latest chapter in an absorbing rivalry at the pinnacle of men's tennis. The two players have shared seven of the past eight Grand Slams between them, evenly splitting the six on offer since the start of 2024. The sport is relishing a gripping new rivalry as it moves on from the storied era of the 'Big Three' of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Alcaraz is the flashy showman who has stolen the hearts of the Centre Court crowd while world number one Sinner is Djokovic 2.0 — a ruthlessly efficient operator who rarely misses. Two-time defending Wimbledon champion Alcaraz will start as the marginal favourite on Sunday but knows he has to bring his best to keep Sinner at bay. The Spanish world number two has won eight of his 12 matches against his Italian rival, including the past five. Their most recent clash was in last month's phenomenal five and a half hour French Open final, when Alcaraz rallied from two sets down and saved three match points to defend his clay-court title. The 22-year-old, who has five majors under his belt, is on a career-best winning run of 24 matches and is unbeaten at the All England Club since 2022. But three-time Grand Slam winner Sinner, into his first Wimbledon final, will take heart from the fact that he was the last man to beat Alcaraz at Wimbledon, in the fourth round three years ago. The Spaniard, who beat US fifth seed Taylor Fritz in the semi-finals, does not believe his remarkable comeback in Paris gives him the mental edge. 'I'm pretty sure he's going to take a lot of things from the French Open final,' he said. 'He's going to be better physically, he's going to be better mentally. He's going to be prepared to give 100 percent.' Both men have shown vulnerabilities during their runs to the final. Alcaraz was taken to five sets in his opener against Italian veteran Fabio Fognini and has dropped sets in three of his other matches. Sinner, 23, was rock solid for three rounds but had an almighty scare — and a huge slice of luck — when his fourth-round opponent, Grigor Dimitrov, retired when leading by two sets. But he swept past US 10th seed Ben Shelton in straight sets and demolished an under-par Djokovic in the semi-finals. Mental edge The Italian top seed played down the lingering impact of his defeat at Roland Garros. 'I think if it was to much in my head, I would not be in the situation to play a final again,' he said. 'I'm very happy to share the court with Carlos once again. It's going to be difficult, I know that. 'But I'm looking forward to it. I always try to put myself in these kind of situations that I really love. Sundays at every tournament are very special.' Alcaraz is attempting to join an elite club of players in the Open era who have won Wimbledon three years in a row — Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, Federer and Djokovic. But if there is one man who can stop him it is Sinner, the reigning US Open and Australian Open champion, who has made an impressive return from a controversial three-month doping ban in May. The match is too close to call, though seven-time champion Djokovic just gives the edge to Alcaraz. 'I think I will give a slight edge to Carlos as a favourite because of the two titles he's won here and the way he's playing and the confidence he has right now,' he said. 'But it's just a slight advantage because Jannik is hitting the ball extremely well. I think it's going to be, again, a very close match-up like they had in Paris.' — AFP


Malay Mail
2 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Swiatek stuns Wimbledon with historic 6-0, 6-0 demolition of Anisimova in shortest final in 114 years
LONDON, July 13 — Iga Swiatek demolished Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 in the most one-sided women's Wimbledon final for 114 years to win her sixth Grand Slam title. The Polish eighth seed was in charge from the first point and wrapped up victory in just 57 minutes in a brutal display of precision hitting on Centre Court. It is the first time a woman has won a final at Wimbledon without dropping a game since 1911, when Britain's Dorothea Lambert Chambers triumphed by the same scoreline. And Swiatek, 24, is just the second player in the Open era to win a major without losing a game in the final since Steffi Graf humbled Natalia Zvereva at the 1988 French Open. 'It seems super surreal,' said Swiatek, who is the first Wimbledon singles champion from Poland and has now won majors on all surfaces. 'I didn't even dream, for me it was way too far. I feel like I am already an experienced player after winning the Slams before but I never expected this one. 'This year I really, really enjoyed it and feel I improved my form here. 'I am always going to remember the opening of champagne bottles between serves. It is a sound that will keep me awake at night.' Swiatek lost just one set during the entire tournament as she won her first trophy on grass, two weeks after reaching the final of the grass-court event at Bad Homburg. Demolition job US 13th seed Anisimova was expected to prove a stern test after ousting world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals, but Swiatek performed a demolition job. Anisimova made a nervous start in hot conditions on Centre Court, with Catherine, Princess of Wales, watching from the Royal Box. She was broken in the first game, soon slipping 2-0 behind and the signs looked ominous. The American appeared to have found her feet in her next service game but the merciless Swiatek refused to give ground and recovered to move 3-0 ahead when Anisimova double-faulted. At 4-0 down Anisimova was facing a first-set wipe-out but she was powerless to halt the rampant Swiatek, who sealed the opener 6-0 in just 25 minutes. The American won just six points on her serve in the first set and committed 14 unforced errors. An increasingly desperate Anisimova could not stem the tide in the second set, double-faulting again in the third game to give her opponent game point and then netting a backhand. The crowd got behind her but to no avail as Swiatek kept up her level, serving out to win and celebrating before consoling her devastated opponent. Anisimova made 28 unforced errors in the 12 games. Swiatek is Wimbledon's eighth consecutive first-time women's champion since Serena Williams won her seventh and final title at the All England Club in 2016. She has won all six major finals in which she has competed. Swiatek, who now has 100 career Grand Slam match wins, has won the French Open four times and also the US Open, in 2022. Her previous best performance at Wimbledon was a run to the quarter-finals in 2023. The distraught Anisimova left court briefly before returning for the trophy presentation. The American, who lost in qualifying last year, broke down in tears again during her speech on court, calling Swiatek an 'incredible player'. 'I know I didn't have enough today but I'll keep putting in the work,' she said. 'I keep believing in myself and I hope to be back here one day. Thank you everyone.' — AFP