Analysis of the men's Wimbledon 2024 semifinals: Alcaraz vs. Medvedev and Djokovic vs. Musetti

Carlos Navarro | 11 Jul 2024 | 00.48

🎾 Carlos Alcaraz vs Felix Auger Aliassime

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There are fewer and fewer main events left in the tennis dream theater. Wimbledon 2024 is nearing its end, with just three matches left to crown the champion, three battles that promise to be unforgettable and will focus all the spotlight in the tennis scene. Dreams and goals intertwine as the semifinals approach, where each contender has their eyes set on the grand prize, leaving no room for doubt. Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev will replay last year's duel, and Lorenzo Musetti will seek to strike against Novak Djokovic. Who will reach the title showdown?

CARLOS ALCARAZ VS DANIIL MEDVEDEV

An intense showdown to kick off a very special day. The Murcian and Muscovite once again meet on the same stage where they danced last year. However, on that day, only the songs chosen by Carlitos were played, delivering a flawless performance, especially with his serve, to unsettle a Medvedev who couldn't even steal a set. The Russian got his revenge just months later, extinguishing Alcaraz's lights at Flushing Meadows, proving that there are weaknesses to exploit in an opponent he had figured out.

The Russian enters this round after a groundbreaking victory over Jannik Sinner, the title favorite for many. His performance in the fifth set, not giving any opening to the red-haired Italian, recalled the best Medvedev... and it's that same version that must appear on Center Court if he wants to have a chance at victory. The task of overcoming the upcoming generational strongholds consecutively is daunting... but if there's someone ruthless, cold, and calculating to achieve it, that's Daniil.

The favorite, however, has a name and surname. Carlos Alcaraz reaches this round navigating through supposed disconnections that are quickly forgotten as he accelerates with his forehand. His last match against Tommy Paul showcased his most outstanding performance of the tournament: a true tennis whirlwind that found the sweet spot from the baseline, accelerating with his forehand, solid with the backhand, and inventing and creating with a constant smile. Carlos loves playing against Daniil: he has time and space to set up his shots, makes the most of his distant position when receiving to attack the midcourt, and holds his ground when engaging in baseline rallies.

As he demonstrated in his quarterfinal against Jannik, Medvedev's baseline game is not effective against Alcaraz. The Murcian escapes from his web easily, as seen in a matchup that already bears his name. The blueprint to defeat him involves delivering a nearly perfect match like at the US Open, being very aggressive with his forehand, opening up the court and finishing with a parallel drive, going for short balls in a way that confuses the opponent. Does such a plan require stepping out of one's comfort zone? Certainly... but that's what brought victory against Sinner and the only way to approach triumph against Carlos. Still, based on style, current form, head-to-head encounters, and motivation for achieving the Roland Garros-Wimbledon double, the favorite remains Alcaraz. Will he prove it?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC VS LORENZO MUSETTI

Three weeks ago, the tennis world assumed Novak Djokovic wouldn't even show up in London this year. A meniscus tear, forcing him to retire during Roland Garros, seemed too great a hindrance for Nole, at 37, to take many risks. But the Belgrade man is a competitive beast with a privileged physique and an unrivaled hunger... and feels at home on a Center Court that may not cheer him up in his next match.

The incident after the match against Holger Rune seems to overshadow everything about Djokovic who, more importantly, has progressed from strength to strength in this tournament. He struggled in early rounds, displaying some mobility caution, but his victory against the Dane showed the most efficient, offensive, and clinical version of Novak. It's what he needs to secure his 25th Grand Slam title, for which he must still overcome two hurdles... and one of them has an Italian scent and has already posed challenges.

Lorenzo Musetti faces off against a legend who has been part of some of the most significant moments of his career. He pushed him to the limit in Roland Garros 2021 when he was still a young Italian with a fragile physique; he defeated him in Monte Carlo 2023, in the best victory of his sporting career, and almost tilted the scales in the last Grand Slam, succumbing in a thriller that ended almost at 3 in the morning.

Any of those occasions pales in comparison to this match: his first appearance in a Grand Slam semifinal. Few had Lolo in their predictions for this round, which he reached by adapting his shots to a surface like grass. The sliced backhand is his main weapon of destruction: he uses it like few others on the circuit, dropping the ball low to giants like Perricard or Fritz, accelerating his path to the semifinals. He will imperatively need it to disrupt the Serbian's rhythm, reduce the ball's pace, and force him to generate all the power, combining it with sudden rhythm changes that take Novak out of his comfort zone. Musetti always displays a magical version when facing Novak... but the spotlight has never shone as brightly on him as in the upcoming match. Will he achieve one of the biggest surprises of the tournament? Just 48 hours remain to find out.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Análisis de las semifinales masculinas de Wimbledon 2024: Alcaraz vs Medvedev y Djokovic vs Musetti