Tsitsipas Stops Murray, Brits Out While Djokovic, Alcaraz Advance; Zverev-Berrettini, Alcaraz Sat.

by Staff | July 7th, 2023, 7:46 pm
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Stefanos Tsitsipas put an end to Andy Murray’s 2023 Wimbledon hopes besting the Brit in five sets 7-6(7-3), 6-7(2-7), 4-6, 7-6(7-3), 6-4.

The resumed outdoors on Centre Court with Murray up two sets to one. But Tsitsipas played the better breaker in the fourth and then grabbed the only break he got in the match at 1-all and then served his way to his best Wimbledon result.

Tsitsipas is now 2-0 against Murray in Slams winning both in five sets.


“It was nerve wracking,” Tsitsipas said. “I had to overcome it. It was an obstacle – a big one. It’s actually difficult when you’ve grown up watching him play on this court. I had goosebumps when he won his first title here and I felt for him of how much it meant to him, this courageous run he had in 2012.

“He was part of the top four for a very long time and I looked up to him. I looked up to Novak, Roger and Rafa so these four guys shaped the game and are the reason I am the player I am today.”

Murray, despite the scary scream last night, was ok moving and said he felt fine. He was disappointed in the end.

“I’m obviously very disappointed just now,” Murray said later. “You never know how many opportunities you’re going to get to play here. The defeats may feel a bit tougher. But to be honest, every year that Wimbledon’s not gone how I would like, it’s been hard.

“I certainly could have beaten him today or yesterday,” he added. “I obviously earlier in the year had a great win against Berrettini… It’s clearly based on how the match went. There’s only a few points in it today, it’s not just about winning the odd match against them. To have a run at these tournaments, you need multiple wins in a row. I’ve obviously not done that.”

Murray’s countrymen added to the British misery. 2022 semifinalist Cameron Norrie victim to the big-hitting 6-foot-7 American Chris Eubanks 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6(7-3).

“There’s a ton of really good tennis players who play professional tennis that never get the chance to play the No.1 Brit at Wimbledon in an atmosphere like this,” said Eubanks

“It didn’t even matter how many people were for me or against me. This is something that I’ll never forget for the rest of my life.”

And Denis Shapovalov knocked out fellow lefty Liam Broady 4-6, 6-2, 7-5, 7-5.

Carlos Alcaraz won his 7th straight match on grass defeating a game Alexandre Muller 6-4, 7-6(7-2), 6-3. Alcaraz is back tomorrow face Chilean No. 1 Nicolas Jarry.

“I’m really, really happy to play here again and this time with a win,” said Alcaraz.

“It’s really, really important to start the tournament well, having great feelings. I’m playing really, really well on grass. I’m not an experienced guy as maybe other players but I’m enjoying playing on grass.”

In the evening, Novak Djokovic toughed out a 5-3 hole in the third set breaker to take the first grass clash with Stan Wawrinka 6-3, 6-1, 7-6(5). Djokovic dominated the Swiss early before Stan got into the match late in the third. Djokovic would build a 3-1 lead in the break but Wawrinka answer winning four straight. The Swiss fell apart at the end, though.

“He was two points from extending this match to another day. It looked really good for me in the first two sets but he raised his level and I dropped mine,” Djokovic who’ll now face former semifinalist Hubert Hurkacz.

“Now I need to focus all my physical and emotional energy into the next match. Hubie has a tremendously powerful serve and is very tough on the big occasion. My thoughts are directed only to him. I can always play better. I always have a couple of gears in me that I can take higher and keep playing better.”

Djokovic has won his last 42 matches on Centre Court, and 31 straight at Wimbledon.

No. 6 Holger Rune overcame Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena 6-3, 7-6(7-3), 6-4. No. 7 seed Andrey Rublev won a tester over 2022 quarterfinalist David Goffin 6-3, 6-7(6-8), 7-6(7-5), 6-2.

No. 8 Jannik Sinner dropped the first then cruised Quentin Halys 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4. Former semifinalist Hubert Hurkacz upended the 14th-seeded Lorenzo Musetti 7-6(7-4), 6-4, 6-4.

Italy’s Matteo Berrettini rolled past No. 15 seed Alex De Minaur in three 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. He’ll face tomorrow 19th-seeded Alexander Zverev who topped Yosuke Watanuki of Japan 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.

The 23rd-seeded Alexander Bublik beat qualifier Maximilian Marterer 6-4, 6-1, 7-6(7-4). The 25th-seeded Nicolas Jarry had to fight off 30-year-old Jason Kubler of Australia 7-5, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.

Also tomorrow, No. 3 Daniil Medvedev collides with Marton Fucsovics. Medvedev leads Fucsovics 2-1 in their tour-level battles. Fucsovics came out ahead in their last battle in the 2020 Roland Garros first round.

Rune tests Davidovich Fokina, No. 10 Frances Tiafoe locks up with No. 21 Grigor Dimitrov and No. 16 Tommy Paul will battle Jiri Lehecka.

SATURDAY WIMBLEDON SCHEDULE
CENTRE COURT – 1:30PM
Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) [1] v Nicolas Jarry (CHI) [25]
Ons Jabeur (TUN) [6] v Bianca Andreescu (CAN)
Katie Boulter (GBR) v Elena Rybakina (KAZ) [3]

NO.1 COURT – 1:00PM
Daniil Medvedev [3] v Marton Fucsovics (HUN)
Anna Blinkova v Aryna Sabalenka [2]
Alexander Zverev (GER) [19] v Matteo Berrettini (ITA)

NO.2 COURT – 11:00AM
Natalija Stevanovic (SRB) v Petra Kvitova (CZE) [9]
Not Before: 1:00pm
Laslo Djere (SRB) v Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) [5]
Frances Tiafoe (USA) [10] v Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) [21]


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