WIMBLEDON—We have reached the quarterfinals, and the men’s draw is proceeding relatively predictably.
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz and favorite Novak Djokovic are still alive, but they must each win two more matches before a rematch can be discussed.
The first obstacles they must surmount are Holger Rune and Andrey Rublev, with the semifinals occurring on Friday.
On Tuesday, however, the quarterfinals will resume in the bottom half of the bracket.
12 July: Carlos Alcaraz (1) versus Holger Rune (6)
It will be the first time in the Open era that two male players under 21 compete against one another in the quarterfinals of a grand slam. The top seed, 20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz, will face the No. 6 seed, also 20-year-old Holger Rune.
“That’s fantastic,” Alcaraz remarked. “It’s wonderful for tennis that the young men are fulfilling their dreams by coming here and competing in the quarterfinals together. When we were 12 years old and participating in numerous tournaments, we passed all categories. I am looking forward to competing against him in the quarterfinals. It’s something the fans can appreciate, too.”
Alcaraz will win in four sets.
Daniil Medvedev (3) vs. Christopher Eubanks, Wednesday, July 12
Daniil Medvedev is finding his footing on grass, while Christopher Eubanks thrives on it, having recently won the Mallorca Open and defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas on Monday.
Eubanks has previously defeated the No. 12 and No. 5 seeds at Wimbledon, so another upset is possible. This one has the potential to endure.
Prediction: Medvedev will prevail in five sets.
Predicted semi-finals: Alcaraz (1) vs. Medvedev (3)
Sinner (8) vs. Djokovic (2)
Jannik Sinner (No. 8) versus Roman Safiullin (No.
Jannik Sinner has been largely unaffected by the inclement weather at Wimbledon this year, due to a schedule that has kept him under the roof of No. 1 and Centre and has yet to pit him against a seed. His last two opponents have been predominantly South American clay-court players, and even his quarterfinal opponent, Roman Safiullin, is an amateur at this juncture.
Before this year, the unseeded Russian had never competed in the main draw of Wimbledon or advanced past the second round of a grand slam. It is difficult to imagine Sinner messing up.
Both can be their own worst adversaries, which is a significant similarity between the two. This is not uncommon in tennis, but Andrey Rublev has had to work especially hard to be kinder to himself on the court. He claims he is improving, but there is no greater mental test in tennis than a match against Novak Djokovic.
The seven-time Wimbledon champion needed four sets to defeat Hubert Hurkacz, who lost only three points on serve in the set he won and squandered a 6-3 lead in the first set tie-break, but he still has gears to shift.
Rublev has actually defeated Djokovic on clay in Belgrade, so his head-to-head record is equally startling.
In their previous meeting in Australia earlier this year, Rublev won just seven games. It was also his seventh quarterfinal appearance at a grand slam and his seventh loss at that juncture. In China, the number eight is considered extremely fortunate.
At Wimbledon, where Djokovic is attempting to win his eighth title, the Serbian may have a better chance.
Prediction: Djokovic will win the match in three sets.
