“A dream since I started playing tennis” – pitch-perfect Alcaraz savours his latest Wimbledon triumph while looking ahead to Medvedev

He was strong at the start, better as the match rolled on, and as Wednesday’s quarter-final between top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz and sixth-seeded Holger Rune progressed, he was in full flight, looking every bit the title contender that we expected him to be – but maybe not so soon.

In the youngest quarter-final ever contested at Wimbledon in Open Era history, it was Alcaraz looking every bit the veteran as he rolled past his fellow 20-year-old Rival Rune, 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-4, to reach the last four at the All England Club for the first time.

“Honestly, it’s amazing for me, it’s a dream since I started playing tennis, making good results here in Wimbledon, such a beautiful tournament,” Alcaraz said after his victory.

That winning feeling 🙌#Wimbledon | @CarlosAlcaraz pic.twitter.com/6shPhr3Tl4

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 12, 2023

After a tight opening set, Alcaraz gradually increased the gap between himself and the Dane, as he stretched his grass-court winning streak to 10 matches and improved his career record on the surface to 14-2.

Grass court tennis has always favoured experienced players who have had time to get accustomed to the intricate footwork and nuanced nature of tennis that is played on living, breathing, 8MM perennial ryegrass. But Alcaraz, blessed with a well-rounded, tactically and technically sound game, is proving to be a quick study.

“For me, it’s such an honour to be able to play a semi-final here – I think I am playing a great level,” he said. “Honestly, I didn’t expect to play such a great level on this surface, for me, it’s crazy.”

Facing Holger on such a big stage was a nerve-wracking experience

Facing Rune for the first time at a Grand Slam (and playing in a Wimbledon quarter-final for the first time) put pressure on Alcaraz, and he talked openly about it after the match.

“It was tough,” he admitted. “Honestly, the beginning, I was really, really nervous playing in a quarter-final here at Wimbledon but I am gonna say even more playing against Rune, someone that is the same age as me, and playing a great level.

“It was tough to play against him but as I said a few times: once you get into a court there’s no friends. You have to be focused on yourself and I did great in that part.”

🌟 @carlosalcaraz 🌟#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/3TwKx0gxak

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 12, 2023

Vamos! – and a smile

Once the tight first set was in the books, Alcaraz really took hold of the match. He would later say that releasing the pressure and stress of the moment was a key contributing factor to his level lifting as the match progressed.

He let out a big Vamos! after clinching the first set and said that there was a lightness that helped him hit his stride the rest of the way. Alcaraz said it helped him “pull out all the nerves.”

“I would say the first set was really tough for me, but you know, from the second set and the third set, I enjoyed a lot – I played my game,” he said. “I put that smile on my face – for me that’s the key of everything, thanks to winning the first set. That huge vamos helped me a lot, to find my best level.”

Medvedev next, but first: enjoy the moment

The Spaniard now looks ahead to the challenge of facing No 3-seeded Daniil Medvedev. The pair have split their two previous contests, with Alcaraz dominating the Russian in this year’s Indian Wells final. But it was Medvedev who scored the victory when the two met at Wimbledon in 2021.

Medvedev dropped just seven games in that contest, but Alcaraz is not the same player he was then – he has become a Grand Slam champion and a world No 1 in the interim.

“We played two times,” Alcaraz said. “One was here at Wimbledon two years ago. It’s gonna be a really tough one. You know, I think this surface suits his game really well.”

Before Friday’s encounter, the Spaniard, wisely, told the crowd that he wants to take a moment to relish his latest hard-fought victory. He may seem destined to reach myriad Grand Slam semi-finals over the next decade, but humble man that he is, he doesn’t want to take a special moment like reaching a first Wimbledon semi-final for granted.

“Right now I’m gonna enjoy this moment,” he said. “I’m gonna say that you can’t play a semi-final every year, so I’m gonna enjoy this moment and I’m gonna prepare the match once it is closer. 

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