Gentlemen’s Singles’ Semifinals Set at Wimbledon

July 7, 2021 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Berrettini
Photo courtesy of USTA/Mike Lawrence

 

The final four is set for the Gentlemen’s Singles draw at the 2021 Wimbledon Championships after the quarterfinal matchups on Wednesday.

The surprise of the day came on Centre Court as Roger Federer bowed out of the event in straight sets. Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz took down the eight-time Wimbledon champion 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-0.

“Obviously I was a little bit nervous,” he conceded after the match. “I mean, playing against Roger in a Grand Slam quarterfinal, it’s a very big thing for me. But I was trying to stay as calm as I could. I was trying always to believe myself during the match and just trust my game and stay as aggressive as I could.

Walking off the court realizing that I won against Roger, I mean, [it] just kind of dream come true, especially here on grass in Wimbledon,” he said. “It felt so special with the crowd around as well.”

Hurkacz will now play seventh-seeded Italian Matteo Berrettini for a spot in the championship. Berrettini booked the fourth and final semifinal spot after he beat 16th seeded Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, 6-3.

In the day’s first quarterfinals, world number one Novak Djokovic continued his quest for his third major of the year as he defeated Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. The Serb saved five of six break points in the two-hour-and-17-minute contest.

Djokovic will play first-time major semifinalist, 10th seeded Canadian Denis Shapovalov, who outlasted 25th seeded Russian Karen Khachanov 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-4.

“He’s the best player in the world, but anything is possible,” Shapovalov said of his next opponent. “When you look at the scoreboard first thing on Friday, it’s going to be 0-0. Nothing else matters.”

 


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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