It took some searching, but Carlos Alcaraz finally found his A-game to tame Daniil Medvedev and reach his second straight Wimbledon final, as the champion overcame an erratic first set to beat the Russian 6-7(1) 6-3 6-4 6-4 on Friday.
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When Medvedev's forehand drifted wide on match point, Alcaraz leant back and roared in celebration and perhaps relief that he had managed to turn a contest comprehensively in his favour that had looked like it could turn ugly.
The winning moment 🤌
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 12, 2024
Just listen to @carlosalcaraz and the Centre Court crowd erupt 🔊#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/PczPKRBVa5
Alcaraz's game at its best perfectly balances risk and reward, tempering the moments of magic with an ability to apply relentless, tireless pressure.
Yet his tournament so far has been typified by lapses in concentration and drops in intensity that have allowed his opponents to claim footholds in contests that should have been more one-sided.
The French Open champion needed five sets to edge past Frances Tiafoe in the third round, four to beat Ugo Humbert in the next and also trailed American Tommy Paul in the quarterfinals.
It felt entirely appropriate, therefore, that 2021 US Open champion Medvedev, who was brushed aside by Alcaraz in straight sets when the pair met at the same stage last year, claimed the opening set in a tiebreak, with the sort of consistent pin-point hitting that was eluding his opponent.
But just when it seemed that fifth seed Medvedev had the Spaniard on the ropes, Alcaraz's game came together and in the blink of an eye he had taken the match away from the Russian.
"He was dominating the match and playing great tennis with his serves. It was difficult for me and he tried to pull out all the shots," said Alcaraz, who will now face either Novak Djokovic, whom he beat to clinch the title last year, or Italian Lorenzo Musetti.
"It was helpful to be up 2-1 and after that I could enjoy the match. In general I think I played a good match."
The first set was Alcaraz's tournament in a nutshell as the breathtaking shot-making was punctuated all too frequently with errors and unnecessary risks, gifts that Medvedev gleefully accepted.
The pair exchanged breaks of serve twice, with Alcaraz hitting back a second time when the Russian was serving for the set at 5-3, with Medvedev earning a code violation from the umpire for his reaction.
That did not seem to knock him off course, however, as he raced through the tiebreak in double quick time.
Yet the man that Alcaraz had said was "like a wall" in the lead-up to the contest was suddenly looking far more fragile.
Alcaraz had tamed his wilder instincts and started to apply more consistent pressure on his opponent, waiting for his moments to strike.
He broke in the fourth game of the second set with a stinging forehand passing shot on the run and after levelling the contest he set about turning up the dial even further.
He broke for a 2-1 lead in the third set when a Medvedev forehand was off target and than seemed in cruise control, barring the odd blip, such as when he inexplicably dumped a tame overhead into the net at 5-3, smiling as he held his head in his hands.
That did not seem to interrupt his flow, however, and after he wrapped up the set he immediately broke again at the start of the fourth with a huge forehand winner that left Medvedev floundering and drew gasps from the Centre Court crowd.
The Russian was not quite done yet and broke back immediately, but that was not the cue for Alcaraz to let his levels drop once more. He still had the bit between his teeth and broke for a 4-3 lead when a Medvedev backhand drifted long.
A service winner brought up match point which Alcaraz seized, ending the contest to move a step closer to a fourth Grand Slam title.
The title defence rolls on 💪
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 12, 2024
Carlos Alcaraz defeats Daniil Medvedev 6-7(1), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/gPS9G6sDaa