Daniil Medvedev says he will have to produce his best tennis if wants to beat Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals at Wimbledon on Friday.
The Russian world No.3 sealed his place in the last four of the grasscourt major for the first time in his career after beating Chris Eubanks 6-4, 1-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-1, in a thrilling encounter that lasted three hours. Eubank has been a surprise revelation in the tournament after knocking out Cameron Norrie and Stefanos Tsitsipas earlier in the competition. The American was on an eight-match winning streak until falling to Medvedev.
“There was a moment in the match I started just losing kind of everything. The focus and the momentum of the match, which can happen of course at this level. Chris played well.” Medvedev reflected during his press conference.
“I’m happy that I managed to put it back together and step it up to be able to win. Really happy and looking forward to the next match.”
Medvedev, who won the 2021 US Open, is now a win away from becoming the first Russian man to reach the final of Wimbledon since the breakup of the Soviet Union during the early 1990s. Until this year he had never gone beyond the fourth round in four attempts.
Awaiting him next will be the formidable Alcaraz who disposed of Holger Rune in straight sets. It will be their second meeting at Wimbledon after 2021 when Medvedev triumphed in straight sets. However, a lot has changed since then with the Spaniard rising to the top of men’s tennis. Their most recent meeting was in Indian Wells where Alcaraz dropped only five games.
“It’s interesting to play someone like Carlos. He is an amazing player. What he continues to do is just unbelievable. He doesn’t stop and I don’t think he will,” he commented.
“But I have played a lot of great players in my career and I managed to win many times. So I’m going to try to do my best. If I show my best, I’ll have my chances.”
Asked what impresses him the most about his younger peer, Medvedev has paid tribute to his powerful shot-making.
“When he was 17, which was not long ago, he was much less mature and he was missing (shots). Everyone saw that he was amazing, but everyone was wondering if he was going to find a way to miss less whilst producing the same power. And he has done this quite fast. That’s pretty amazing.” Medvedev said.
“If you give him one easy shot, you can be in trouble.” He added.
Medvedev has now reached six Grand Slam semi-finals so far in his career.
