Key events
Sinner* 7-6, 4-6, 6-7, 6-2 0-1 Medvedev
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, 6-3 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.
Medvedev tries to be too cute with a drop shot and he hits the net, he is feeling the pressure now which is bizarre as Sinner should have the weight of the world on his shoulders as he is the one who needs to win this set. Sinner now leads 3-1 in the fourth set, the final point in that game coming from an ace.
On centre court, Sinner has two break points and he takes it on the first time of asking. He is growing back into this match after Medvedev took a lot of the momentum, particularly in the second second. Sinner lead 2-1 in the fourth.
Paul holds after a looping return from Alcaraz is out, the American leads 5-4 in the first set. They have been playing for around an hour now and there is no way to call who will win the first set.
Sinner must win this set to remain in the match, lose it and Medvedev is into the semi-finals. The Russian starts the set on serve and it is an easy hold in all honesty, the final point coming as Sinner hits the net. But the Italian is not fading and hits back with his own easy hold. 1-1 in the fourth set.
Elsewhere, Alcaraz and Paul are still in their first set with a mammoth battle taking place. I think the match should just be titled ‘deuce’ because they have had at least 15 so far. And unsurprisingly we are back to deuce on Paul’s serve, it’s 4-4.
Want to read more tennis? Of course you do. Here are a few things to sink your teeth into:
Medvedev takes the third set after a clinical tie break, not allowing his earlier tie break loss to influence his game. That will boost him too after being 5-4 up in this set before Sinner pushed it to a tie break. So as things stand it is Sinner 7-6, 4-6, 6-7 Medvedev.
Paul lead 4-3 against Alcaraz after holding, it was another long game and fatigue could influence this one as it rolls on.
Sinner is serving first in this tie break (remember he won the tie break to take the first set). He gets the first point with Medvedev sending a shot long. An ace comes over from the Russian but Sinner makes a challenge and it turns out to be a perfect one with the ball out. A lovely underarm forehand levels the tie break 1-1 and then he takes the lead.
A drop shot from Sinner levels it 2-2 but the Russian takes the lead once again with a long shot from Sinner. 3-2 the tie break stands.
Sinner has set point after coming back to his best in these last few games, my word what a comeback. The Italian challenges a call but loses it and the game goes to deuce. Medvedev gets the advantage, can he hold and send it to a tie break? Not quite yet as we are back to deuce. Some delicious tennis from both sides of the net but eventually Sinner pops a drop shot over for another set point but he can’t take it and we head back to deuce.
A further deuce comes and goes and then Medvedev wins a point. He holds and we have another set tie break.
My word that is one of the longest games I have ever witnissed. Paul sets up break point against Alcaraz. The defending champ puts in one of his famous drop shots but Paul slips so he cannot return – we are back to deuce. We are replaying a point as someone in the crowd called out and it made both players stop before realising it wasn’t a lines judge. Alcaraz sends a ball long and Paul has yet another break point but it is saved for deuce again. We have two more deuces, the latest sent back after a between the legs shot is out by Alcaraz who laughs. Back and forth we go to deuce and advantage (the game had nine deuces in total) but eventually Alcaraz holds.
First set: Alcaraz 3-3 Paul
I will bring you an update from Alcaraz and Paul soon, I’m writing a post as a game that has lasted over 10 minutes plays out. But an update from centre, Sinner held and now it is Medvedev who must hold to remain in this third set. How the tides have turned.
Medvedev is looking frustrated as he returns shot but it smacks the net to give Sinner three break points. Remember, Medvedev was serving to win the third set. The Russian saves the first but can’t save the second! What a turnaround by Sinner, 5-5 in the third now.
Sinner that was stunning, he cracks a smile after that as he knows how skilful that was. He plays a drop shot, luring Medvedev into the net as he returns and then Sinner whacks a forehand across court. But the Russian is playing some of his best stuff on grass as he wins a point to trail Sinner in his service game 30-15. Sinner lobs Medvedev and then holds the game – maybe whatever (if anything) he was given in that medical time out is taking hold. He is showing shots we are used to seeing him produce.
A score update for you in Sinner v Medvedev as the Russian holds his latest game – which held the longest rally since the first set as the battle between these two gets closer once more. Medvedev currently leads 6-7, 6-4, 5-3.
Over on court 1, Alcaraz thought he had the upper hand after breaking early but Paul broke right back. This could turn into one for the ages. Paul hits an ace on his latest service game to go 3-2 up in the first set.
As soon as Sinner sits in the break between games he puts his towel over his head, he is definitely feeling whatever was troubling him earlier.
Sinner getting a lot of applause when he wins any point at the moment, it is clear the crowd want the battle they saw in the first set. Sinner went off for a medical time out and isn’t back to his best but is pulling out some skills to remain in this. His latest service game goes to a deuce as Medvedev seeks to get the upperhand in this third set but Sinner holds with a delightful drop shot. Medvedev leads the third 4-3.
Back to centre court and Medvedev saw off a break charge from Sinner to go 4-2 up in the third set. What is really letting Sinner down at the moment are his volleys. He has tried the shot seven times in this match and lost the point every time.
Alcaraz held his game and quickly with the battle between these two heating up. A fabulous rally ends with Alcaraz smiling and shaking his fist as he looks to break Paul early on. A sloppy shot from Paul gifts Alcaraz break point but the Spaniard hits the net to send it to deuce. Alcaraz takes the break and he leads 2-1 in the first set. That all came from that sloppy shot from Paul, he will be so frustrated.
Now that is the Sinner we know. He sends Medvedev a pinpoint forehand on the line which is returned beautifully but the Italian slices a drop shot to take the point, he drops the next two points but closes out the hold to remain in this set.
Medvedev holds as the centre court match gets back underway, taken a 3-1 lead in the third set. Sinner is back on court but he does not seem back to 100%, we don’t have confirmation on what was wrong with the world number one but he isn’t himself.
What a battle already on court 1, Alcaraz and Paul have been to deuce and back several times – Paul currently with the advantage. he closes out the first game with a shot from Alcaraz hitting the net. 1-0.
Medvedev is asking what is happening and the umpire is chatting with him but no official announcement has been given on centre court.
Sinner. however, then re-emerges on court and seems okay to continue – much to the applause of the crowd.
The camera pans to Princess Beatrice in the royal box, then Sir Cliff Richard, Sienna Miller and Michael McIntyre. Quite the range of celebrities in the house today.
Alcaraz has pushed Paul to deuce in the first game of their match. A lovely overhead hit while facing away from court from Alcaraz gives him the advantage. A classic Carlos.
Medvedev is out of his chair and he is practising his serve, running back and forth to keep himself match ready as Sinner takes time out with the medical team.
In Alcaraz v Paul, it is the American who serves first.
The umpire has a walky talky in his hand awaiting updates and there are murmurs from the crowd on centre court. Sinner is yet to re-emerge.
Over on court 1 Alcaraz and Paul are just getting underway.
Sinner leans forward with a hand on his forehead, he doesn’t look in good spirits. He wipes sweat from his face as he continues to chat to the medical team. He is now going off court, Medvedev remains in his seat and stares forward – remaining in the zone.
The commentators are discussing the possibility that Sinner is feeling ill rather than it being something like a muscle injury. He is getting his heart rate measured at the moment.
A physiotherapist has been called to centre court for Sinner, I’ll update you on anything that comes from that. They are in conversation now between games.
Let’s check in on Sinner and Medvedev shall we? We’re in the third game of the third set and Medvedev is 40-15 up, two break points on offer now. Sinner sends Medvedev left and right, sets himself up for a powerful shot but it slams into the net – Medvedev breaks and is now 2-1 up in the third set. A momentum shift after taking the second set? Potentially.
