Fiona Nanna, ForeMedia News

4 minutes read. Updated 11:00AM GMT Mon, 9 July, 2024

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are set to light up Wimbledon as they seek to confirm their status as the future of tennis. Meanwhile, Lulu Sun, an unexpected qualifier from New Zealand, aims to make history. Here’s a detailed look at the highly anticipated Wimbledon quarter-finals:

Sinner vs. Medvedev

World number one Jannik Sinner is poised to face the fifth-ranked Daniil Medvedev in a thrilling showdown. Their head-to-head record is a testament to Sinner’s meteoric rise. Medvedev dominated their early encounters, winning their first six meetings, but Sinner has won the last five, all on hard courts. This includes a remarkable comeback from two sets down to win the Australian Open final in January, marking his first Grand Slam title.

Both players reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon last year. Medvedev acknowledges Sinner’s growth, saying, “When Jannik came on tour, he hit strong from every position of the court, but he was missing a lot and losing matches. Then he stopped missing less, and now it’s very tough to beat him. That’s why he’s number one in the world.”

Sinner’s previous opponent, Ben Shelton, was awestruck by the Italian’s power, remarking, “The ball was moving so fast, I wasn’t even seeing it.”

Alcaraz’s Dual Aspirations

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz faces Tommy Paul, the American 12th seed, with his sights set on a sixth Grand Slam semi-final. The 21-year-old Alcaraz is eager to finish his match quickly to watch Spain take on France in the Euro 2024 semi-finals. A close friend of Spain’s captain Alvaro Morata, Alcaraz is excited to support his national team, saying, “It’s time to support them, as I know they are supporting me when I’m playing matches or tournaments.”

Alcaraz aims to join the elite club of players who have won the French Open and Wimbledon titles back-to-back. Paul, on the other hand, is making his first appearance in a Wimbledon quarter-final, having won the Queen’s title on grass. Notably, Paul has defeated Alcaraz twice in their four encounters.

Lulu Sun: From Small Town to Grand Slam Stage

Lulu Sun, ranked 123rd, is the first New Zealand woman to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals. She aims to become only the second Kiwi woman to reach a Grand Slam semi-final, following Belinda Cordwell’s feat at the 1989 Australian Open. Sun, who hails from a small town on New Zealand’s South Island, described her hometown as having “more sheep and deer than people.”

The 23-year-old left-hander has been impressive, defeating eighth-ranked Australian Open runner-up Zheng Qinwen and 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu. Sun’s powerful serve has resulted in 21 aces through four rounds, and her aggressive play has yielded a tournament-leading 162 winners.

Sun’s opponent, Donna Vekic, a former top-20 player with four titles, is also making her first Wimbledon quarter-final appearance. Vekic, who reached the last eight at the 2019 US Open and 2023 Australian Open, admitted, “I don’t know a lot about her [Sun], but no-one makes the quarter-finals of Wimbledon by accident.”

Jasmine Paolini: A Breakthrough Year

Jasmine Paolini has surprised many by reaching her first Grand Slam quarter-final at Wimbledon. Standing at just 1.63 meters (5 feet 4 inches), the seventh-ranked Italian had never progressed beyond the second round in her previous 16 Grand Slam appearances. This year, she reached the fourth round of the Australian Open and was the runner-up to Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros.

Paolini faces Emma Navarro, the 17th-ranked American, who is also in her first Grand Slam quarter-final. The 23-year-old New York-born player stunned world number two and US Open champion Coco Gauff in the fourth round. Navarro has a winning record against Paolini, having defeated her three times in the past 10 months.

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