Daniil Medvedev wins Russian roulette

LONDON, July 9

Fifth seed Daniil Medvedev edged out world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in a grinding five-set battle to reach the Wimbledon semifinals for the second successive year today.

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Jasmine Paolini is the first Italian woman to make the Wimbledon semifinals, eclipsing compatriots Camila Giorgi (2018), Francesca Schiavone (2009), Silvia Farina Elia (2003) and Laura Golarsa (1989)

A strange match full of momentum shifts and lulls was absorbing rather than gripping but Medvedev did not care as he triumphed 6-7(7) 6-4 7-6(4) 2-6 6-3 on a covered Centre Court.

It snapped Medvedev’s five-match losing sequence to Sinner and avenged his bitter defeat by the Italian in this year’s Australian Open final when he squandered a two-set lead.

Carlos Alcaraz won the battle of the two most recent Queen’s Club champions as the Spaniard edged closer to winning a second successive Wimbledon title with an enthralling 5-7 6-4 6-2 6-2 victory over American Tommy Paul.

Vekic puts Sun in shade

Experienced Croatian Donna Vekic ended Lula Sun’s extraordinary Wimbledon journey on a damp Tuesday, battling past New Zealand’s 123rd-ranked qualifier 5-7 6-4 6-1 to reach her maiden Grand Slam singles semifinal on her 43rd main draw appearance. Seventh seed Jasmine Paolini blazed past American Emma Navarro 6-2 6-1, becoming the first Italian woman to make the semifinals where she will meet Vekic. “It’s a dream to be here in this position,” she said — Reuters