Carlos Alcaraz knocks out Daniil Medvedev after umpire controversy to reach another Wimbledon final
REUTERS
Carlos Alcaraz is through to the Wimbledon final where he will face either Novak Djokovic or Lorenzo Musetti.
Carlos Alcaraz will get a chance to defend his Wimbledon title on Sunday after coming from a set down to beat Daniil Medvedev in their semi-final clash.
The Spaniard came into this year's Wimbledon Championships with some doubt over his fitness having picked up a forearm issue a few weeks prior.
He withdrew from the Italian Open with the fitness problem, but he was back to win his third major title in Roland Garros before the start of the grasscourt season.
A surprise loss to Jack Draper at Queen's raised some questions on Alcaraz's Wimbledon chances and he looked rusty in his opening two matches of the tournament.
Carlos Alcaraz is through to the Wimbledon final
REUTERS
However, a five-set thriller against Frances Tiafoe sparked Alcaraz into life and he's begun showing the kind of tennis that saw him win Wimbledon 12 months ago.
Standing in his way of reaching a second-consecutive Wimbledon final was Medvedev in a repeat of last year's semi-final.
Alcaraz dominated the Russian in their previous meeting at Wimbledon, winning in three sets.
But this was a Medvedev riding high on the back of an impressive win over world No 1 Jannik Sinner.
It set up a tantalising match on Centre Court and the first set didn't disappoint with long rallies getting the crowd off their feet.
Both players broke serve twice in a topsy-turvy set with Medvedev originally in control having opened up a 5-2 lead.
But Medvedev blew his commanding lead and appeared to take his frustration out on umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore, who called referee Denise Parnell and supervisor Wayne McKewen to the court before issuing a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct.
A tiebreak was needed to separate the two, but Alcaraz wasted chances on his own serve with some untimely unforced errors with Medvedev taking the first set tiebreak.
Alcaraz has made a slow start to matches throughout this year's Championships, dropping the first set in wins over Frances Tiafoe and Tommy Paul.
But that seemingly helps focus the 21-year-old and it was a similar story against Medvedev as he levelled the match with ease in the second set.
Eva Asderaki-Moore gave Daniil Medvedev a code violation in the first set
BBC
The third set - as ever - was always going to hold huge significance in this match and both players stepped up their level with the crowd on the edge of their seats.
However, it was Alcaraz once again who was able to find that extra gear with some stunning winners and a near-perfect record when his first serves landed in to take the third set.
Medvedev's head appeared to drop going into the fourth set as he went off for a long break before returning.
Alcaraz appeared to have got the job done early with an immediate break of serve to start the fourth set, but Medvedev wasn't going anywhere as he broke back in the very next game.
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Carlos Alcaraz will face either Novak Djokovic or Lorenzo Musetti
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But Medvedev was struggling to cause Alcaraz any real danger on serve before the reigning Wimbledon champion took advantage of another break opportunity in the seventh game.
The writing was on the wall for Medvedev from that point on as Alcaraz refused to allow any opportunities for his opponent.
The young tennis superstar then showed his nerve to serve out for the match before letting out a huge roar as he booked his spot in Sunday's final.