Jannik Sinner Advances with Straight-Sets Victory
Defending champion Jannik Sinner secured a 7-5, 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory against Jan-Lennard Struff, marking his fourth consecutive straight-sets win at Wimbledon. This approach reflects his focus on efficiency, especially following his physical struggles at Roland Garros just over five weeks ago.
When asked about concerns regarding the high temperatures, Sinner responded with a chuckle,
“Thanks for reminding me. We worked a lot after Paris trying to understand what went wrong.”
He will face either Novak Djokovic or Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semi-finals.
Sinner has not disclosed if his team found definitive solutions to his previous physical issues. Nonetheless, he expressed relief at concluding the match in just over two and a half hours. The match was characterized by his efficient play, despite having to save a set point in the second set. Sinner ensured points remained short, a strategy well-suited to Struff’s aggressive style, which features a powerful serve and heavy hitting.
Nearly 80% of points ended within four shots or fewer, with Sinner winning 91 out of 163 points in this category, a 56% success rate. In longer rallies, he won 17-18 points in the 5-8 shot range and 6-5 in rallies of nine shots or more. Dominance in the shortest points is crucial for success on grass courts.
Struff had reached the quarter-finals at a grand slam for the first time by winning three five-set matches. He served strongly early on, dropping only four points on serve up to 5-5 in the first set. However, Sinner capitalized on his first break opportunity in the 11th game and then served out the set.
In the second set, Sinner broke for a 2-1 lead but was immediately broken back. His fluency dipped slightly, and he faced a set point at 4-5, which he saved with a strong serve. The set progressed to a tie-break, where Sinner secured it 7-4 to extend his lead.
During the third set, Sinner had an early chance to break at 2-1 and 0-30 on Struff’s serve at 3-2 but succeeded only at 4-3 with a powerful forehand winner. He then served out the match without difficulty.
“It felt like I was serving quite intelligently today,” Sinner said. “Also, how I handled important moments in that match because if you lose the second set, everything can happen again. Especially with big servers, you have less control. I felt like today was again a small step better because it was a very different opponent I faced until now. Big server here on grass is always tough. Happy about today’s performance, and now of course I try to be as ready as I can for the semis.”
Sinner’s well-documented issues with heat and cramp raised concerns due to the lack of shade on No 1 Court until late in the third set. However, he reported feeling fine throughout the match.
“It felt OK,” he said. “It was warm, but nothing crazy. In Australia, I feel like it’s tougher because … with hard court it comes also from underneath. It was quite dry today, which is a big difference. When it’s humid and warm, it’s different again. But no, I felt quite comfortable today. It was warm, yes. It was similar I feel like to Paris maybe. But it was OK.”
Alexander Zverev Reaches Wimbledon Quarter-Finals
Alexander Zverev advanced to his first Wimbledon quarter-final after defeating Jiri Lehecka in four sets, 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (6). The match had been suspended at 3-3 in the third set on Monday night due to the 11pm curfew, marking its first enforcement at the tournament. Upon resumption, Zverev won only one point in three games but ultimately prevailed in the fourth-set tie-break to secure his place in the last eight.
Reflecting on his achievement, Zverev said,
“Who would’ve thought it would’ve taken me only 12 years to get here? I’m incredibly happy and relieved to achieve that but, of course, I want to play three more matches here.”
