Posted: 2024-07-10 00:04:28

Daniil Medvedev got past an ill Jannik Sinner in five sets to set up a meeting with defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals, while Donna Vekić moved through to the last four before revealing why she came close to quitting tennis.

Here are the main talking points from day nine at Wimbledon. 

1. Medvedev full of self-belief after beating Sinner

In a quarterfinal full of momentum shifts, Medvedev prevailed against world number Sinner, winning 6-7 (7/9), 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 2-6, 6-3 on centre court.

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The win 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.

Medvedev, who is bidding to add to his 2021 US Open title, will face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in his ninth major semifinal.

Should he get past Alcaraz, he will be through to his seventh major final.

"Hopefully I can win some more Grand Slams," said Medvedev, who has a 1-5 record in major finals.

"I believe in myself. I believe in my tennis."

2. 'Dizzy' Sinner battles illness and fatigue

Jannik Sinner receives medical attention at Wimbledon.

Jannik Sinner needed attention from the tournament's medical staff during his loss to Medvedev.(Getty Images: Francois Nel)

Sinner knew he faced an uphill battle against Medvedev after feeling ill before the match.

He was unwell in the morning and had to leave court during the encounter for medical treatment.

"I was struggling physically," Sinner said. 

"I didn't vomit but took some time because I was dizzy quite a lot.

"I was still in shape to play somehow. The energy level was not consistent. It was up and down but I was never thinking about retiring."

Sinner was clearly not at his best, but he did not offer his physical condition as an excuse for his loss.

"Take nothing away from Daniil," Sinner said.

"I think he played very smart. He played good tennis."

3. Problem-solving skills the key for Alcaraz

Alcaraz didn't have it all his way in his quarterfinal victory over Tommy Paul after losing the first set to the 12th-seeded American.

But he found his groove in the second set and went on to win 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 to advance to the semis.

For Alcaraz, it was a case of not panicking after he dropped the first set against Paul.

"If I am struggling a little bit to find solution, if the opponent is playing great tennis, I believe at the end I'll be able to come back and find solutions," Alcaraz said.

"Here, in the grand slams, the matches are longer so I have more time to recover and come back. I believe myself all the time."

4. Vekić rewarded for persistence after nearly quitting tennis

Donna Vekić reached her first grand slam semifinal in her 43rd appearance at a major tournament by beating New Zealand qualifier Lulu Sun 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 in the quarterfinals.

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