ATP
Djokovic deflates Musetti to set up final rerun
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz surged to victories on Friday to set up a repeat of last year’s final at Wimbledon.
Djokovic, hunting his eighth trophy at the All England Club, dismantled stylish Italian Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 7-6 (2), 6-4 in their one-way semi-final, reaching his 10th final here.
Defending champion Alcaraz needed to produce a solid effort to comeback against Daniil Medvedev 6-7 (1), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
Alcaraz beat the 37-year-old Serb for the title here a year ago but has since lost twice last season to the veteran.
Djokovic, who underwent keyhole knee surgery just over a month ago, has not played a final in 2024; his last was a trophy win over Jannik Sinner at the year-end event last November in Turin.
Alcaraz will be seeking a fourth title at a major while Djokovic will be going for a record-breaking 25th of his career.
“It’s always good to be in a final of a Grand Slam,” third-ranked Alcaraz said after defeating Medvedev. “Obviously it’s great to be back in a Wimbledon final.
“I try not to think that I’m the defending champion. I just go into every match thinking I have chances to lose.
“Every match, it’s a war – the opponent is going to put his best tennis to beat you. I have to play my best tennis if I want to keep going.”
Alcaraz said he cannot dwell on his current status as a target for Djokovic.
“Honestly, since the tournament began, I didn’t think I’m the defending champion. I try to play a better tennis every match.”
Medvedev was quick to admit he was outplayed.
“Carlos plays well. The plan I came up with was working not so bad – the match was much closer than last year.
“He seemed to touch almost every ball on the court. He played much better than all the opponents I faced here before, and hence I lost.”
Against the 25th-ranked Musetti, Djokovic struck first with a break for 4-2 on a return which barely caught the line but was pegged back as he tried to serve for the set leading 5-3.
Musetti delivered a winner down the line for 4-5 but was broken a game later as the Serb claimed the opener. ,
The Italian answered with a break to start the second set and fought through four deuces to hold a game later.
Djokovic snatched that away 3-all, winning the set for a two-set lead and polished off his trip into Sunday’s showdown with an early break in the third set which held up for the straight-sets defeat even as Musetti saved three match points in the penultimate game.
The Serb remains unbeaten at the Wimbledon semi-final stage since 2012, when he lost to Roger Federer.
Musetti was Djokovi’s second consecutive Italian opponent in a semi-final here after stopping current No. 1 Jannik Sinner at the final four stage 12 months ago.
Djokovic was thrilled to have reached his 37th final at a Grand Slam.
“Wimbledon was always a childhood dream, to play it, to win it. It’s been an incredible journey for me, one I try not to take for granted.
“During the match, it’s business time, try to do your work and outplay your opponent.
“I’m pleased and happy to be in another final. But I don’t want to stop here.
“Hopefully I’ll get my hands on that trophy on Sunday.”
Main photo:- Novak Djokovic plays his “violin” to the crowd after winning semi-final by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
Holger Rune battled past injured Carlos Alcaraz to spoil the Spanish Easter party at the Barcelona Open, with the Dane lifting the trophy 7-6 (6), 6-2.
The pair of 21-year-olds were familiar foes, having played 20 times in juniors before hitting the Tour; Rune won the first 500 series title of his career and his fifth overall.
Alcaraz was treated three times in the second set after an apparent injury to his upper right thigh/groin after duelling hard in the opening set at the Real Club.
The loss will send Alcaraz back to third in the rankings, with Alexander Zverev moving back to second behind Jannik Sinner as a result of winning the Munich title on Sunday.
Rune, a first-round victim last week in Monte Carlo, reversed his clay momentum in Spain, handing Alcaraz a first loss of a set for the week.
The Spanish top seed’s two final shots both clipped the top of the net and fell back as Rune raised his hands in celebration after 97 minutes on court in the Catalan capital.
“This means the world,” the winner said. “I started the match stressed, he was playing big-time tennis.
“I was able to find my rhythm after he broke me (3-2 in the opening set) and I got more into the match.
“The first set was a big battle with a lot of important points. It was super-important to win the set and gain momentum.
“I’m so proud of myself.”
Rune ended with 18 winners while the ailing Alcaraz produced 33 unforced errors. The Dane claimed his 50th match win on clay and levelled his Tour record in the series to 2-2.
Rune said he channeled Novak Djokovic’s Paris Olympic gold medal win from last summer over Alcaraz as he struggled to turn his game around in Barcelona.
“I asked myself what Novak did to win that final. I (realised) that I didn’t need to hit every ball on the line. I need to make him play and hit a lot of balls.”
Rune, who won the elite Paris Bercy Masters 1000 title in 2022, finally began reversing a 13-match loss streak against top five opponents.with his title victory.
Alcaraz may be racing for fitness with the Madrid Masters starting on Wednesday as the ATP ploughs ahead with an unpopular two-week format for Masters tournaments despite growing protest from exhausted players.
Main photo:- Holger Rune celebrates Barcelona win – by ATPTour.com
Alexander Zverev turned 28 on Sunday and awarded himself a third title on his home Munich clay as he beat Ben Shelton 6-2,6-4 to win the ATP event.
The 2017 and 2018 champion here is now threatening Carlos Alcaraz as the pair duel for the world No. 2 position which the Spaniard took over last week after winning Monte Carlo.
Zverev schooled lefthander Shelton in 70 minutes for a second win in their series. The winner becomes the second to hold three Munich titles after countryman Philipp Kohlschreiber (2007, 2012, 2016).
“I’m enjoying my birthday so far,” Zverev said. “It’s extremely special to win in Germany, the most special thing I can do.
January’s Australian Open finalist added: “It’s definitely a great birthday present, I knew I had to play my best today, conditions were very hot and very fast.They were perfect for me.”
The winner broke three times while never facing a challenge to his serve from Shelton as he claimed a sixth career title at the 500-Tour level.
Main photo:- Alexander Zverev with his “birthday” trophy – by BMW Open/Bitpanda
Alexander Zverev gave fans in Munich what they were after as the top seed rolled into the final of the clay ATP in Bavaria with a 7-6 (3), 6-3 defeat of Fabian Marozsan.
World No. 3 Zverev, who won the titles in 2017 and 2018 needed 91 minutes to advance into a title match with Ben Shelton.
The American earned his spot with a .2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4 defeat of Argentine Francisco Cerundolo.
Zverev advanced with nine aces and broke twice in the tidy win over his Hungarian opposition.
“It’s awesome. The entire week has been great. Everybody is really enjoying the weather as well as the new Center Court,” the winner said. .
“I’m enjoying myself and hopefully I will have another great day tomorrow.”
Shelton reached his fourth career final, becoming the first American man to reach a clay final above ATP 250 level since Andre Agassi won the Rome Masters 23 years ago.
“It’s a big win for me. To get a win on clay against a guy like him gives me a lot of confidence,” Shelton.
“I’m really happy and excited to be in a 500-level final in Europe, my second clay-court tournament this season.
“I’ve been playing well this week and I’m not too stressed right now.”
Main photo:-Alexander Zverev winning in front of his home crowd – by ATPTour.com
Sabalenka hoping to turn her luck in Stuttgart
Rune rises to the occasion with defeat of Alcaraz
Zverev grabs a birthday gift with third Munich title
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