Key events
It’s a bit of a struggle on No 1, Muchova framing a forehand to offer break point at 30-40. And though she finds a first serve, then plays a decent volley, Osaka nashes along the baseline to curve a forehand pass around Muchova and down the line. She moves really nicely on grass now, but I’m interested to see what happens if she’s given drops to chase; meantime, she leads 2-1 in the first.
If I was scheduling, I’d have put Muchova v Osaka on centre – much as I love Gauff, this is a far more interesting contest, and both players are hitting it hard. The Czech makes 15-40 and though the first break point is saved, Osaka then digs out a forehand from close to the net … which sails over the baseline for 1-1.
Muchova and Osaka are ready; last time they met, in the final at Bad Homburg, Osaka retired when down 6-1 1-0, but when they met in last year’s Aussie and US Opens, she won both times. And today, she breaks immediately for 1-0, whole Zverev takes a break after losing set three; we’re back playing again now, though.
Does Lehecka look like late Busby Babe, David Pegg?
Front row, far right…
Heliovaara/Patten have levelled against Andreozzi/Guinard at a set apiece and look the better pair now, while Muchova wins the toss and will serve when she and Osaka are ready.
Osaka comes out in a slightly stripped-back version of her white kimono; Lehecka serves out to love, having won 12 of 13 points played today, and we might just have ourselves a ball-game.
A decent return from Lehecka lands close to the baseline and he has 0-15; he then nails a block-back, again to the line, converts it, and at 0-30, are things happening? Maybe! At 15-30, Lehecka steams in to attack a mid-court ball, finishes the point, and when Zverev nets a forehand, his break is secure. At 5-3 in the third, he’ll now serve for the set.
We’re back under way on Centre, Lehecka holding to trail Zverev 0-2 4-3.
On No 2, Henry patten and Harri Heliovaara, legends of this blog – Henry’s coach, Calv Betton, is our resident expert and they’ve also won two majors – are behind. The no 1 seeds trail Andreozzi/Guinard, seeded eight, 2-6 5-4…
Lehecka and Zverev are out so, while they warm up, some thoughts on Gauff. I’m continually blown away by how utterly she competes – she has the ability to improve through matches and willpower her best tennis out of herself when she needs it the most. If Sabalenka or Swiatek had her mentality, they’d have several more majors each, and though I fancy Osaka or Muchova to beat her, she’s a player i don’t like backing against because though he faults – second serve, forehand – are obvious to all, her intangibles are off the scale.
Next on No 1: Naomi Osaka (14) v Karolina Muchova (10).
Sinner says Struff is very tough to play against, but deserves all he’s done and achieved in his career as a great person off the court with an amazing team.
Early in the match, he felt he was struggling a bit with Struff the better player, but he started serving better and though he was a break up in set two and couldn’t use it, he tried to stay there mentally and is happy to be back in the semis.
The second set could’ve ended in a different way as he sees tiebreakers at 50/50, but Struff’s first-set percentage dropped and he’s very happy to have beaten a difficult player to face.
Finally, asked about the heat, he laughs “thanks for reminding”. He and his team worked hard trying to work out what happened in Paris but they’ve prepared in the best possible way, today was a huge test, he felt physically really comfortable, and it’s a good step forward. If what happened in Paris happens again, he hopes not, but they’ll change some things and go again.
Next on Centre: Jiri Lehecka (13) 4-6 5-7 3-3 Alexander Zverev (2).
Jannik Sinner (1) beats Jan-Lennard Struff 7-5 7-6(4) 6-3
Struff gave it all he had, but Sinner was far too good and might, perhaps, have played himself into a bit of form. Next for him: Auger-Aliassime or Djokovic.
Sinner quickly makes 40-15…
More on her in a sec, but back on No 1, Sinner has 2-0 4-3 15-30, lifting a backhand towards the sideline; Struff’s attempted winner down the line is wide. Gosh, and then a forehand, larruped well long, means two break points which, should one be converted, means the champ will shortly serve for the match … but the first is saved, just about … for all the good it does. A booming backhand then a colossal forehand, sent to opposite corners, mean that, at 7-5 7-6 5-3, he’ll shortly serve for the match.
“Oh my goodness,” says Gauff when reminded she’s made her first Wimbledon semi. “Pretty insane” – which I guess it is, but in her case, that it’s taken so long, rather than that it’s happening.
Considering I hadn’t won a match on grass in two years before this tournament, I’m just really happy,” she says, praising Jess an “an incredible person and opponent,” so she’s just happy to be through.
Pegulas ball’s are so flat and low she needed to trust that she’d be there in the rallies and could just play the shots she wanted to play.She began to land more first serves and trust her shots – in the first, she made too many errors rushing out of the rallies too quickly but the last two sets she showed “really great tennis” and she’s been going three sets every match so she doesn’t panic when losing one.
After seven yeards playing Wimbledon, this was the first time she walked out on to Centre court and didn’t feel nervous. She doesn’t know if she’s becoming a vet but it’s a beautiful court and, waiting to come out, her attention was attracted by the beautiful artwork and artefacts, so she had to tell herself to stare at the door as she was losing focus with “Ooh what is that, what is that?”
Otherwise, she’s just really enjoying the process of being at Wimbledon, thanks the crowd, and she knows people are giving up days to be there, so she always works hard and tries her best, knowing people put their lives aside to watch her play.
What a brilliant woman she is; her parents must be very proud.
Back with the men, Sinner now leads Struff 7-5 7-6 3-3, but I can’t lie: much as we’d all love a contest, it feels more like we’re waiting for the champ to seize a moment. Struff, though, is a gamer, going for his shots, but can he offer enough on return to break?
Coco Gauff (7) beats Jessica Pegula (4) 4-6 6-3 6-3
A colossal win for Gauff, who personalitied herself into playing well – her forehand and serve weren’t bad today – and she meets Osaka or Muchova next. Pegula, meantime, will rue not forcing home her 1-0 advantage, but ultimately she surely knows: she doesn’t quite have what it takes to win a major, and that’s unlikely to change.
At 30-15, Pegula nets a forehand, the resigned look on her face suggesting she’s losing belief. A forehand down the line then falls long, meaning Gauff has match point at 5-3 30-40…
Another brilliant point on Centre, both players running side to side as well as back and forth. But it’s Gauff in control, even when she’s lobbed, and she secures her consolidation when Pegula chases in after a drop only to flick her forehand wide, just. Art 5-3 in the third, Gauff is a game away while, on No 1, Struff battles to hold for 0-2 2-2.
A Gauff forehand is too hot to return, then she does well at the net and a lob falls long; 0-30, the standard improving. And , as if to underline the point, offered a rare backhand, Gauff steps in and hits hard to the line, Pegula unable to respond, then she nets a forehand and that’s the break, back. The lead is 4-3 in the third.
A terrific game on Centre, Gauff winning the rally of the match with a ridiculous drop from an improbable angle. But Pegula, playing with more energy and conviction, makes advantage, Gauff nets, and we’re back on serve in the third at 3-3. This is intensifying.
A decent hold for Struff, meaning Sinner leads 7-6 7-5 1-1, but he just doesn’t have the weapons to do much once he’s served. Imagine a parent holding their child at arm’s length, child swinging like Scrappy Doo, unable to reach their target, and you’ll have a good picture of what this match looks like.
Both Sinner and Struff disappear between sets, then Sinner holds to love, setting the tone; I’d not be shocked if he breaks next game. Back on Centre, meantime, Pegula does really well to rebound from 0-30 to hold, though she remains a break down at 3-2in the third.
It’s absolutely nuts that, at 22, Gauff is playing her seventh Wimbledon – as it is that this is her first quarter-final. But she’s looking good to move into her first semi, an inside-out backhand winner giving her 15-all, then a well-considered net victory making 15-40. Pressure for Pegula, whose approach isn’t quite good enough … and nor is her volley, into the net, and Gauff has the break for 2-1 in the third … then consolidates to 15 for 3-1. She’s serving much better now, and that part of her game is working, she’s a proper threat here.
Another first serve, a return that misses the baseline by inches, and this must be soul-destroying for Struff, who’s playing as well as he’s being allowed to and making the sets close, only for Sinner to do whatever he needs to do to win them. A 7-4 breaker gives him a 7-5 7-6 lead, and this now feels like a formality.
Struff nets a backhand to give Sinner 3-1 and the mini-break; it’s 4-2 at change of ends, the champ hitting every first serve. Struff is trying his best to attack, but the precision is extreme and he’s just not got the tools to counter, soon down 5-2. He does, though, close to 4-5, meaning Sinner is under pressure … quickly alleviated with a service-winner that gives him 6-4 and set point.
Sinner holds to 30 and the match is right here: if he wins the breaker, it’s as good as over; if Struff does, who knows?
Gauff makes 40-30 then lands a serve on the outside of the T, and that’s one set apiece. She can play so, so much better than this, which is part indictment of her form, part praise for her mentality. I don’t think Pegulas has the tools to beat her today, but I’d not back her against whichever of Osaka and Muchova makes the semi.
