Wimbledon quarter-finals: Alcaraz v Paul, Paolini v Navarro, Medvedev beats Sinner in five – live | Wimbledon 2024

Paul gets himself in a good position but cannot execute the shot and he is quickly 30-0 down on his serve. Alcaraz has a little chuckle to himself after a shot he has goes too long and a wild hit from Paul gifts Alcaraz break point. He saves the first with a beautiful drop shot and the second with an unreturnable serve, we’re at deuce again in this match. Paul forces a shot long, Alcaraz has yet another break point and it looks like Paul has hit a ball out but he challenges the call – it is a millimetre out and Alcaraz breaks.

Paolini holds and she is 5-2 up, in a great spot.

Navarro looked set to hold but Paolini races to 40-30 and she breaks as she marshals the ball left and right across court. That was astute and clinical from the Italian who leads 4-2 in the first set.

Alcaraz holds and it is 1-1 in the fourth set there. All the action happening!

Paul in under all kinds of pressure on court 1 as he knows he must win the two remaining sets if he is to progress. It is not just the scoreboard that has him under the pump but the ever-growing form of Alcaraz as the Spaniard sends the first game of the fourth set to deuce. Paul has advantage on his serve and he holds as Alcaraz smacks the net.

Paolini travels around the court so well and pounces on a drop shot to go 15-0 up. A powerful forehand is picked up by Navarro but the American can’t get it over the net. An unreturnable serve puts her 40-0 up but she then goes too long to let Navarro into this game. Navarro reads the ball and volleys it into the top left corner to cut the point deficit further but a Paolini drop shot sees her take the game. She is 3-2 up in the first set.

Alcaraz and Paul are underway in the fourth set.

On centre court Navarro has got herself an early break and is 2-1 up before she serves to try and extend her lead. Paolini steps in to return serve and wins the point and Navarro smacks the net after coming close to the net. A smash from Paolini gives her break point and she closes it out – what a response from the Italian after being broken. The two players 2-2 in the first set.

So can Alcaraz serve for this third set? Well he wins the first point and follows it up with a deft drop shot. Paul sends a shot long and Alcaraz has set point which he takes.

Alcaraz now leads 5-7, 6-4, 6-2

Alcaraz has a break point, the 32nd break point over the entire match, and he takes it first time of asking. The Spaniard will now serve for the third set, he raises a fist in celebration to his box.

Abhay Phadnis emails:

Have the rules about coaching from the players’ box been changed? Alcaraz (my favourite current player!) is constantly talking to his box, and they seem to periodically respond to him. Other players do it too, but I haven’t heard a single caution at this Wimbledon.

I believe they are allowed to chat to their box, just not have extensive conversations with them. If someone out there wants to correct me feel free and I will share with the readers.

Paolini served first in her game against Navarro and it was a relatively easy hold. She finished out the game with a spliced backhand. 1-0 up there.

Paul sends an Alcaraz service game to deuce and the defending champion hits a double fault to give the American advantage. It is break point for Paul but he sends a shot long, that will be frustrating for him as he was really putting Alcaraz under the pump.

The American has another break point as Alcaraz can’t return a drop shot cleanly, Paul using Alcaraz’ greatest weapon against him. But Alcaraz saves it once again and then wins his own advantage. Can he close this out now? Not yet. These players absolutely love deuce, I swear this is their 20th, if not higher, so far in this match. Alcaraz then holds and he screams ‘Vamos’. He liked that one. He holds 4-2 in the third.

On centre court Paolini v Navarro is underway.

Paolini and Navarro are both now out on centre court preparing for their quarter-final. The seats look a little empty but hopefully the fans will return after a refreshment following that thriller between Medvedev and Sinner.

Alcaraz is on the precipice of breaking Paul again, racing to a 40-0 lead. Paul saves the first one with Alcaraz hitting the net and the second with a skilful shot. Alcaraz then sends his shot long meaning Paul saved three break points – hugely impressive from the American. A great forehand gives the Spaniard advantage but he mistimes his return and we’re back to deuce. The American then wins two points and holds. Alcaraz leads 3-2 in the third.

For all the action from Daniil Medvedev’s win over men’s world number one Jannik Sinner read the report below. It was an absolute thriller:

Next out on centre court will be Jasmine Paolini v Emma Navarro. I will let you know when they are out on court.

Alcaraz is heading to a hold, currently at 30-15. An unreturnable serve puts him 40-15 up and an ace sees him win the game. He now leads 3-1 in the third set.

So from one battle to another. Court 1, we left them just as Alcaraz had won the second set which balanced out Paul’s first set win. In the third set now and Alcaraz is 2-1 up after breaking Paul.

The defending champion is only growing in this game.

Medvedev said post-match: “I knew if I wanted to beat Jannik it would be a tough match. I felt at one moment he wasn’t feeling good and then he started playing better. I am happy I managed to stay high level, I am happy to win.

“It’s actually very tough, one moment he didn’t move very well so it is always tricky as you want to play more points to make him suffer more but you know at one point he will say I can’t run anymore so he went full power.

“It’s my first time winning two matches on centre court at Wimbledon, usually I would win one or zero so this is record already.”

Sinner waves to the crowd as he leaves centre court, his 2024 Wimbledon is over. Illness and injury influenced him slightly but he fought back to push it to a fifth set, he just couldn’t overcome an in-form Medvedev.

Daniil Medvedev beats Jannik Sinner to reach semis

Sinner 7-6, 4-6, 6-7, 6-2 3-5 Medvedev* (denotes first server)

Sinner is serving to stay in the match here and starts well, going 30-0 up. He gets to 40-0 easily and holds. Medvedev will serve for the match.

Sinner* 7-6, 4-6, 6-7, 6-2 2-5 Medvedev (denotes first server)

Holding is no longer enough for Sinner, he must break Medvedev if he is to win this match. Medvedev though is in the mood to see this out and races to 30-0 lead. A delightful read sees the Russian come to the net to tap a shot in. Medvedev then holds and is one game away.

Sinner 7-6, 4-6, 6-7, 6-2 2-4 Medvedev* (denotes first server)

Sinner needs to rally now if he is to remain in this set and match. He wins the first point with Medvedev’s return on serve out. And then a fantastic lob sees him 30-0 up, even more impressive considering Medvedev is 6’6!

An ace puts him 40-0 up but Medvedev whallops a forehand across court to get some daylight in this game. Sinner then holds.

Sinner* 7-6, 4-6, 6-7, 6-2 1-4 Medvedev (denotes first server)

Sinner cannot return the first serve from Medvedev, who must feel he has all the momentum now. But the Italian’s next shot but bounces over the net, he does apologise to Medvedev. The Russian has suffered under the drop shot today and it is a point he loses again to see Sinner 30-15 up in this game but Medvedev levels with an ace. Sinner misses his volley again but an ‘out’ call sends it to deuce. A groan from the crowd rings around the court as Sinner hits the net, he holds his leg too after losing that – hopefully he is okay.

Medvedev had the chance to see out the game but a double fault sends to back to deuce but he soon gets advantage again. A forehand winner from Sinner though and we are back to 40-40.

If anyone is looking in my window I must look like I am really disagreeing with someone the amount I’m shaking my head side to side as we are sent back and forth to deuce. Medvedev, who looks a little tired, gets advantage for the third time but he miscues a return on a drop shot – 40-40 once more. Medvedev then eventually holds.

Elsewhere, Alcaraz has taken the second set against Paul after breaking him twice across the set.

Sinner 7-6, 4-6, 6-7, 6-2 1-3 Medvedev* (denotes first server)

The first break in this set feels key, can Medvedev get the first one in this game? Well he starts well, Sinner slips and cannot return and then Medvedev hits a brilliant shot in the top right corner. A double fault gives Medvedev break point and three of them at that. Sinner saves the first with an ace and the second with a forehand winner but he hits the net with the third. Medvedev has the upper hand in this final set.

Sinner* 7-6, 4-6, 6-7, 6-2 1-2 Medvedev (denotes first server)

Two double faults sees the game tied 30-30, Sinner then sends it long to give Medvedev the opportunity to hold. He does so with an ace, a bizarre service game.

Sinner 7-6, 4-6, 6-7, 6-2 1-1 Medvedev* (denotes first server)

Sinner starts his service game with a point as Medvedev sends his shot long but he then hits the net. The Russian wins a further point before an ace levels it 30-30. Medvedev hits the net but then makes a pinpoint shot from his forehand in the top right corner to send the game to deuce. A lofted forehand shot gives Sinner advantage and he seals it.

On court 1, Paul leads Alcaraz 3-2 in the second set. They have broken once another once again in this set. I could see that match going five hours long.

Sinner* 7-6, 4-6, 6-7, 6-2 0-1 Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Medvedev had a break off of court between sets but he is back and we are underway. The first game is on Medvedev’s serve and it’s quickly up to 15-15. A forehand winner sees Medvedev 30-15 and he adds an ace before sending a shot long. A delectable drop shot from Sinner bamboozles Medvedev and we head to deuce. An unreturnable serve gives the Russian advantage and an ace holds it.

I will of course bring you anything major from the Alcaraz v Paul match but I will be concentrating more acutely on the Sinner v Medvedev match now as we head into the deciding fifth set, score updates at the top of posts coming to keep track of this one.

Alcaraz looked slightly worried when the players had their break between sets. The first set was an absolute battle with Paul breaking Alcaraz twice and the defending champion also breaking Paul. But the American is firing on all cylinders on court 1, Alcaraz will look to hit back quickly. Paul is 1-0 up in the second set after a hold of serve.

Sinner has four points between him and winning this fourth set. An ace gives him his first, he bags two more points in quick succession and he has set point. He has two opportunities to take it and he has it on the first try.

Sinner 7-6, 4-6, 6-7, 6-2 Medvedev. And into the fifth we go.

Paul takes the first set. The first point goes to Paul with a backhand pass but the defending champ hits back with two points. Alcaraz then sends two shots long and Paul has set point. He takes it with a beautiful forehand. WOW.

Elsewhere, Medvedev held his game and Sinner will serve for the fourth set.

Now this will be interesting to see how Alcaraz handles this pressure, Paul has held once again to lead 6-5 in the first set. I’ll bring you all of those updates shortly.

On centre Sinner holds to take a 5-1 lead in the fourth.

Medvedev was shown pretending to play a violin, playing up to the crowd with the cheers with Sinner at the moment.

Sinner once again has break point, the men’s world number one is in complete control at the moment. He had two break points and Medvedev hits the net – a double break in the fourth set. Absolutely huge. Sinner leads 4-1 in the fourth.

We haven’t heard a ‘vamos’ from Alcaraz yet but I think it would be guaranteed if he takes the first set, he has just held to put the set 5-5. It was an impressive hold after Paul, who is playing some of his best tennis, went 30-15 up.