Medvedev knows the limit and Ruud says goodbye at Wimbledon | ATP Tour

Medvedev knows the limit and Ruud says goodbye at Wimbledon

Ruud was eliminated this Wednesday in London

July 03, 2024

The Wimbledon semi-finals are a huge responsibility resting on Daniil Medvedev’s shoulders. Forced to protect the best result of his career on the grass of the All England Club, the world No. 5 endured a rain-soaked day, which brought him under the roof of Centre Court for one of the tightest matches of the day. If the London weather can be an invisible enemy, it presented itself in the hands of one of the leading contenders.

The fifth seed had to endure a difficult time on the main court, coming back from behind to beat Frenchman Alexandre Muller 6-7(3), 7-6(4), 6-4, 7-5 in a match in which he was one point away from losing the first two sets. After coming up against the precipice face to face, Daniil showed his ability to survive to earn another chance at The Championships.

Unlike in 2023, where he put his legs to work on grass before reaching the penultimate round, Medvedev has arrived at Wimbledon with minimal experience on the surface. Just two matches prior to the British Grand Slam have placed the fifth seed before a quick adaptation challenge, overcoming his first two matches with increasing difficulty.

Now, the All England Club could present him with the ultimate test of his level before entering the second week of competition. Medvedev will face in the third round the Chinese Zhizhen Zhang, his executioner on the grass of Halle days ago, or the German Jan-Lennard Struff, whose only victory against Daniil came on grass courts. A horizon to finally ignite the concentration of a player ready for anything in London.

On a day full of big-name effort, Norwegian Casper Ruud was stunned by the talent of Italian Fabio Fognini, who won 6-4, 7-5, 6-7(1), 6-3 in one of Wednesday’s most eagerly awaited clashes. The world No. 8 has never made it past the second round at Wimbledon, a stage he has stopped at for the past three seasons.

The Sanremo native will play the third round against the winner of the duel between his compatriot Lorenzo Sonego and the Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, a former semi-finalist on the grass in London.

Did you know…?
Daniil Medvedev has claimed one grass-court title in his career, lifting the trophy at the Mallorca Championships presented by Waterdrop 2021. The current world No. 5 has built his career primarily on hard courts, a surface on which he has won 18 of his 20 individual trophies.