July 2024
The third Grand Slam of the year took place in July, with a new name winning the Women’s trophy and a successful title defence on the Men’s side.
Alcaraz wins back-to-back Wimbledon titles
Jannik Sinner came into the event as the first seed, for the first time ever at a Grand Slam. He was tested early against countryman Matteo Berrettini, coming through in four close sets.
Sinner faced Daniil Medvedev in the Quarter Finals, and was beaten in five sets. Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz found himself in the same half, and also didn’t have it all his own way early on, having to come back from two sets to one down against Frances Tiafoe in the Third Round.
Ugo Humbert and Tommy Paul also offered stern challenges, but couldn’t get more than one set each. In the Semi Final, Medvedev surprised many by taking the first set on a tiebreak. But Alcaraz fought back, and won in four sets to reach the Final.
In the other half, Novak Djokovic’s participation was in doubt pre-tournament, after an injury at Roland Garros and subsequent keen surgery. But he was fairly comfortable, despite dropping a few sets, and ended up advancing to the Semi Finals via a walkover, after Alex de Minaur pulled out of their Quarter Final.
Taylor Fritz beat an injury-hampered Alex Zverev from two sets down to make the Quarter Finals, where he would face an in-form Lorenzo Musetti. It was the Italian that won their Quarter Final, winning a five set battle to make a first ever Grand Slam Semi Final. Djokovic showed his experience with a straight sets win, setting up a rematch of last year’s Final.
Whilst the 2023 Final was a thrilling epic, this year's match was a one-sided affair, particularly in the first two sets, where Alcaraz dropped just four games. Djokovic raised his level and after a wobble from the Spaniard serving for the title, they found themselves in a third set tiebreak. But Alcaraz regained his composure and won the tiebreak to take home his fourth Grand Slam title, and second at The Championships.
Krejcikova wins second Grand Slam crown
The women’s side promised to be an open tournament with no clear favourite, and this was even more pertinent when Aryna Sabalenka withdrew on the first morning of the event. Iga Swiatek is yet to have a deep run in SW19, and this year wasn’t to be any different as she was beaten in the Third Round by Yulia Putintseva. The same could be said for Coco Gauff’s Wimbledon career so far, and she was beaten in the Fourth Round by Emma Navarro.
Former champion Elena Rybakina was cruising through, taking out Caroline Wozniacki, Anna Kalinskaya and Elina Svitolina without dropping a set, and reaching the Semi Finals. However, she was beaten by Barbora Krejcikova, who had also beaten Danielle Collins and Jelena Ostapenko on route to a first Wimbledon Final.
In the other Semi Final, Donna Vekic played recent Roland Garros Finalist Jasmine Paolini. In a dramatic contest, Paolini edged out Vekic in a deciding set tiebreak, in just under 3 hours. The Final was also a close affair, but it was Krejcikova who held her nerve to win in three sets and lift her first Wimbledon title. She also won Roland Garros in 2021, and returned to the top 10 in the world after her victory.
Going for Gold
In other news, the ongoing tennis tournaments at the Paris Olympics have already delivered some thrilling action.
"Nadalcaraz" powers through the doubles, with Alcaraz scheduled to play both doubles with partner Nadal and his singles matches on the same days. Coco Guaff was bitterly disappointed in her early defeat to Wimbledon 2024 semi-finalist Vekic.
Meanwhile, Andy Murray and Dan Evans continue to surprise, reaching the quarter finals in the Mens' Doubles after two impressive comebacks in the previous rounds. The Team GB pair faced Japan's Taro Daniel and Kei Nishikori in the first round, and Belgium's Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen in the second. Watch this space...
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