The Japan Times - Alcaraz reaches third successive Wimbledon final, Djokovic faces Sinner

With Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio watching from the stands, Alcaraz survived a titanic semi-final lasting two hours and 49 minutes in searing temperatures on Centre Court.

As the mercury rose close to 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit), play was interrupted by several fans taken ill, but Alcaraz kept his cool to subdue the big-serving Fritz with his sublime returns and immaculate serving of his own.

The 22-year-old will play seven-time Wimbledon champion Djokovic or world number one Sinner in Sunday's final.

Alcaraz has beaten Djokovic in the past two Wimbledon finals and holds an 8-4 edge over Sinner in their 12 meetings.

"It was a really difficult match, as always when I play against Taylor. Even tougher with the conditions. It was really hot today," Alcaraz said.

"I dealt with the nerves. Playing here in a semi-final is not easy. I'm really proud with the way I stayed calm and thought clearly. I'm pleased about my level."

Back to his best after an inconsistent start to the tournament, the world number two looks in the mood to extend his reign at the All England Club.

The five-time Grand Slam champion is on a career-best 24-match winning streak since losing to Holger Rune in the Barcelona final in April.

That blistering run has brought him an epic French Open final triumph against Sinner and titles in Rome, Monte Carlo and at Queen's Club.

He has won 35 of his 38 matches on grass, a golden spell including 20 successive victories at Wimbledon since losing to Sinner in the fourth round in 2022.

Djokovic is looking to reach an 11th Wimbledon final and his 38th Grand Slam showpiece, yet he finds himself in the unusual position of being an All England Club underdog.

- 'Couldn't ask for a bigger challenge' -

Although Djokovic beat Sinner in the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2023 and in the quarter-finals in 2022, the Italian got his revenge in the 2024 Australian Open and at this year's French Open.

Those semi-final victories helped Sinner build a 5-4 edge in his nine encounters with Djokovic, who has lost the past four meetings.

"Sinner and Alcaraz are the leaders of tennis today. I couldn't ask for a bigger challenge, for sure. I look forward to it," the 38-year-old Serb said.

Sinner shrugged off fears over an elbow injury to brush aside Ben Shelton in the quarter-finals, while Djokovic hopes to be fully fit after an awkward fall late in his last-eight victory over Flavio Cobolli.

Djokovic has not won a Grand Slam since moving level with Margaret Court on 24 major titles by clinching the 2023 US Open.

Sinner and Alcaraz are the dominant forces in men's tennis now, but sixth seed Djokovic will be contesting a record 14th Wimbledon men's semi-final, with 10 wins from his previous 13 matches at that stage.

Djokovic has made every Wimbledon final since 2018 and his last semi-final loss at the tournament came against Roger Federer in 2012.

The Serb can equal Federer's Open era record for the most consecutive Wimbledon men's finals if he makes it to the final on Sunday for a seventh time in a row.

In his seventh Grand Slam semi-final, a victory for Australian Open champion Sinner would send him through to his first Wimbledon final.

The 23-year-old, a three-time major winner, can become the sixth man in the Open era to make four consecutive Grand Slam final appearances.

The last of those finals ended in a five-set defeat in which he blew three championship points against Alcaraz in the French Open in June, a painful memory fuelling his Wimbledon title charge.

"Me and Novak, we know each other better because we played quite a lot. So we understand what's working and what's not," Sinner said.

S.Fujimoto--JT