Wimbledon: Medvedev to face Sinner in last eight after Dimitrov retires

By Sports Desk July 07, 2024

Daniil Medvedev will face Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon quarter-finals after his last-16 opponent Grigor Dimitrov was forced to retire due to injury on Sunday.

Dimitrov was 5-3 down in the opening set when he was forced off, having slipped five games into the contest.

The Bulgarian received treatment on his knee during a medical timeout but moved awkwardly when he attempted to continue and only lasted 35 minutes on No.1 Court.

While the 10th seed's tournament ended in frustrating fashion, fifth seed Medvedev advances to the last eight for the second time, having made the semi-finals last year.

He will face a huge test against Sinner, who beat Ben Shelton in straight sets in his own round-of-16 match.

The world number one has won 42 of his first 45 ATP Tour-level matches of the year, becoming just the fourth player to achieve that feat this century after Roger Federer (2005-06), Novak Djokovic (2011, 2015-16) and Rafael Nadal (2013, 2018).

Data Debrief: Medvedev out for revenge

Medvedev has won six of his previous 11 meetings with Sinner, but each of the Italian's five victories over him have come in their last five meetings.

The 2021 US Open champion will be eyeing revenge on Tuesday.

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  • Sinner battles back again to progress in Shanghai Sinner battles back again to progress in Shanghai

    Jannik Sinner came from a set down to overcome Tomas Martin Etcheverry to progress at the Shanghai Masters.

    Sinner, who came from behind in both of his first two matches at the China Open, where he eventually lost in the final to Carlos Alcaraz, had to showcase his fighting spirit once more on Sunday.

    The world number one eventually prevailed 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 6-2, requiring two hours and 39 minutes to get the job done.

    Standing in the way of Sinner and a place in the quarter-finals will be either Roberto Carballes Baena or Ben Shelton.

    Earlier on Sunday, Daniil Medvedev also came from behind to claim a 5-7 6-4 6-4 victory over Matteo Arnaldi.

    "It was a very tough match, a very close one," said Medvedev. "I actually felt like that’s where tennis is funny. I felt like in the first set, I was probably the better player, had more opportunities. I didn’t manage to [win] it, played a bad game at the end of the set.

    "In the other sets, I thought it was closer. Maybe even he had the edge on some of the moments, but that's why tennis is crazy.

    "You can win when you don’t expect it, and lose when you expect to win, so I’m happy to be here again in two days."

    Data Debrief: Master of the Masters 

    Moving to a record 74-26, only four players since the format's introduction in 1990 have claimed more wins from their first 100 ATP 1000 matches than Sinner (74).

    Sinner is behind only Rafael Nadal (83), Stefan Edberg (77), Pete Sampras (76) and Jim Courier (75).

  • Djokovic relieved to pass Michelsen test in Shanghai Djokovic relieved to pass Michelsen test in Shanghai

    Novak Djokovic was relieved to edge past Alex Michelsen at the Shanghai Masters as his quest for a 100th career title got up and running. 

    Djokovic, who has won the tournament in China on four occasions, needed almost two hours to overcome his American opponent on Saturday, eventually doing so 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (11-9).

    The Serbian's slow start was punished by Michelsen, who raced into a 4-1 lead in the opening set, with Djokovic managing just three points from the first three games. 

    But the 24-time grand slam champion rallied to take the first set to win his 11th tie-break from the 15 he has played this season.

    "It was the first match against Alex and I also hadn't played in a while, so it took me a little time to get the rust off," said Djokovic after his first match sine the US Open.

    “He started off terrifically; big serves and an aggressive style of tennis, he's not afraid to step it up and take it to his opponent."

    Djokovic then led 4-1 in the second, only to allow Michelsen back into the contest, but the Serbian held his nerve in the decisive tie-break, saving two set points to advance. 

    The 37-year-old has now won 35 of the 40 matches he has contested at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Shanghai - more than any other player.

    Djokovic is also the only player in history (since 1990) to win all nine ATP Masters 1000 titles, a feat he has achieved twice on his way to a record 40 titles at this level.

    He is yet to reach a final in the series this year, with the Serbian acknowledging the difficulties he faced against his American opponent. 

    "I was 4-1 up, 15/40, and he hit the net-cord that went over. It could easily have been 6-1 for me in the second,” Djokovic said.

    "But at this level, things can change very quickly.

    "It was a very close encounter and I thought a high level of tennis in both sets. I'm just glad to keep calm when it mattered in the second-set tie-break.

    "I'm glad to really be challenged by a young player, and I'm looking forward to the next one."

    Up next for Djokovic is either Italian Flavio Cobolli or wildcard Stan Wawrinka.

  • Djokovic recovers from slow start to move past Michelsen on Shanghai return Djokovic recovers from slow start to move past Michelsen on Shanghai return

    Novak Djokovic marked his Shanghai Masters return with a hard-fought straight-sets win over Alex Michelsen.

    The four-time champion, who is appearing in this event for the first time since 2019, required two tie-breaks before prevailing 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (11-9) in just under two hours.

    Djokovic, still donning a protective sleeve over his right knee, made a slow start in only his second match since losing to Alexei Popyrin in the US Open third round, winning just four points in the first three games as he fell 4-1 behind.

    However, the 24-time major winner broke back in the seventh game before dominating the tie-break for first blood.

    Roles were reversed in the second set as Michelsen cancelled out an earlier break in game seven.

    However, the American squandered two set points to level and was eventually punished by Djokovic, who will play either 28th seed Flavio Cobolli or three-time major winner Stan Wawrinka in the next round.

    Data Debrief: Djokovic continues American dominance

    Djokovic was given an early scare, but his experience eventually showed as he came through.

    Including team events, the Serb has now won his last 33 ATP-level matches against American opponents, with his last such defeat coming against Sam Querrey at Wimbledon in 2016. 

    The 24-time major winner also demonstrated his determination when the pressure intensified, and he has now come through 12 of his 16 tie-breaks played this season.

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