Defending champion Jannik Sinner defeated Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff, ending the 36-year-old's fairytale Wimbledon run and advancing to his 10th Grand Slam semifinals.
Key Points
- Defending champion Jannik Sinner beat Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff 7-5, 7-6(4), 6-3 to reach the Wimbledon semifinals.
- Sinner neutralised Struff's powerful serve, saving a second-set set point before taking control in the tiebreak and closing out the match in straight sets.
- The top seed advanced to his 10th Grand Slam semifinal and will face either Novak Djokovic or Felix Auger-Aliassime for a place in the Wimbledon final.
- Alexander Zverev entered the quarterfinals with a hard-fought win over Jiri Lehecka.
Champion Jannik Sinner ended one of the feel-good stories at this year's Wimbledon when he tamed big-serving German warrior Jan-Lennard Struff 7-5, 7-6(4), 6-3 to reach the semifinals on Tuesday.
In his 47th Grand Slam appearance, Struff had become the oldest man in the professional era to reach his first major quarterfinal, at the age of 36.
Any hopes the world number 74 might have harboured of extending that run were snuffed out in brutal fashion by the Italian top seed.
Struff had served 100 thunderbolt aces to reach the quarterfinals and fired down 12 more missiles on Tuesday but all that firepower did little to throw Sinner off his stride.
A break for a 6-5 lead in the first set was enough for the Italian to bag the set and when Struff held set point in the 10th game of the second, Sinner maintained his laser focus to produce an unreturnable serve.
Sinner Secures 10th Major Semifinal Spot
Danger over and Sinner, who has failed to add to his Grand Slam tally since his triumph at the All England Club 12 months ago, steamed through the tiebreak before reaching his 10th major semifinal when Struff banged a service return long.
He will face either Novak Djokovic or Felix Auger-Aliassime for a place in the final.
Zverev Finishes off Lehecka After Wobble
Alexander Zverev worked a longer shift than he would have hoped for in the fierce heat as he returned to Centre Court to complete his fourth-round win over Jiri Lehecka and reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the first time.
The German second seed had gone to bed the previous evening tantalisingly close to breaking new ground at Wimbledon, leading by two sets and 3-3 in the third under the roof when Wimbledon's strict 11 p.m. curfew halted his progress.
On the resumption, a listless-looking Zverev lost 12 of the first 13 points to drop the third set as Lehecka came out swinging but managed to refocus to win 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(6).
Zverev double-faulted on a second match point in the tiebreaker but was spared further overtime as 13th seed Lehecka netted a backhand to end the contest.
Huge Serve and Baseline Power
His attempt to add the Wimbledon crown to his maiden Grand Slam title at last month's French Open will continue with a heavy-metal last-eight clash with American Taylor Fritz.
"Who would have thought it's only taken me 12 years to get (to my first Wimbledon quarter-final), but I'm incredibly happy and relieved. But of course I want to play three more matches."
The 29-year-old had reached the fourth round on three previous occasions but despite boasting a serve that can trip the speed gun at 140 mph and heavy baseline power, the German has never looked as confident on the lawns.
This year, buoyed by finally winning a Grand Slam title at the 41st attempt and with Wimbledon's courts firmed up by the hot sunshine, Zverev is finally looking comfortable.
