CARLOS ALCARAZ HITS BACK AT JOHN MCENROE ON GRAND SLAM FORMAT COMMENTS

 

SEVEN DIFFERENT CHAMPIONS IN THE LAST SEVEN WOMEN’S SINGLES GRAND SLAMS

 

BBC PUNDIT CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE WIMBLEDON RULE CHANGE AND BLASTS 'INSANITY'

The tennis ace has urged the ATP to introduce a drastic rule change.

Former British tennis star John Lloyd has called on the ATP to reduce men’s Grand Slam matches to best of three sets. It comes amid ongoing suggestions that the hectic tour schedule is negatively impacting players and forcing them to miss tournaments.

Carlos Alcaraz has been the big casualty this year, with the Australian Open champion having sat out the recent French Open. His injury woes also mean he’ll be out for the upcoming Wimbledon Championship, as the effects of elite-level tennis begin to take their toll.

Lloyd is adamant that the solution is to reduce the number of sets the men play at Grand Slams, insisting the best-of-five rule is harming them physically. Commenting on the BBC’s Queen’s coverage, the former world No.23 remarked: “In my opinion, the calendar is awful.

“It has been for years. I think Grand Slams should be best of three sets anyway. I’ve said that for years. All the way through, or certainly from the quarter-finals. I’ve been saying this for years.

“We are going to see more and more injuries, mark my words, unless something is changed. It will happen, there will be more injuries. The best of five sets for four Slams, it’s not just the playing at the tournament that does it, it’s the preparation.”

To win a Grand Slam, players have to come through seven matches, and in a lot of those contests, they’ll be playing at least one more match than they would do during a regular Tour event. Across the course of a Slam, that can add up to just under three extra matches, while during an entire year, it could represent a couple of tournaments worth.

To win a Grand Slam, players have to come through seven matches, and in a lot of those contests, they’ll be playing at least one more match than they would do during a regular Tour event. Across the course of a Slam, that can add up to just under three extra matches, while during an entire year, it could represent a couple of tournaments worth.

Continuing with his assessment, he added: “In our day, the best of five in my day is the equivalent of the best of three sets now. The physicality of the players is night and day to what it was in my day. We have to change this. We will get more injuries unless something is done.

“Best of five sets, when players have to come out from the starting point, every match will be dynamic. People remember great matches, but they remember them because they were at Slams. Not because it’s five hours, a three-hour match will be remembered as much if they are at the Slams.”

- Amos Murphy

CARLOS ALCARAZ BECOMES THE YOUNGEST MAN EVER TO ACHIEVE CAREER SLAM!

 

JANNIK SINNER VS. CARLOS ALCARAZ | US OPEN 2025 | FINAL

 

JANNIK SINNER SETS UP HISTORIC CARLOS ALCARAZ CLASH IN IS OPEN FINAL

Jannik Sinner has booked his US Open final date with Carlos Alcaraz

Jannik Sinner celebrates winning a point against Felix Auger-Aliassime (Image: Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Jannik Sinner is set to face Carlos Alcaraz in an unprecedented third consecutive Grand Slam final, following a hard-fought victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime at the US Open.

After Alcaraz dispatched Novak Djokovic with ease, Sinner was put through his paces by Canadian Auger-Aliassime, who was participating in his second Grand Slam semi-final. However, the world number one emerged victorious with a 6-1 3-6 6-3 6-4 win.

With this triumph, Sinner joins an elite group as only the eighth man ever to reach all four slam finals in a single season and the youngest in the open era. His impressive run of 27 consecutive victories on hard-court at the majors equals Djokovic's record, with only Federer now ahead of him.

Following Alcaraz's win in Paris and Sinner's victory at Wimbledon, the stakes for Sunday's final couldn't be higher. The winner will not only claim supremacy but will also leave New York as the world number one.

Sinner, who stands to win his fifth overall Slam and fourth in the last five Majors, said: "Amazing season, obviously. The grand slams are the most important tournaments and finding myself again in the final, with an amazing crowd, it does not get any better.

"It was a very tough match today but obviously I'm very happy. Let's see what coming. Sunday is going to be a very special occasion. We know each other very well."

Auger-Aliassime, who can now focus on preparations for his forthcoming nuptials, had triumphed in his initial two encounters against Sinner but, when the duo clashed in Cincinnati last month, he secured merely two games.

At first, it seemed this would follow a similar pattern, with the top seed displaying his finest form from the outset and dropping just one game in the opening set.

However, Auger-Aliassime possesses exceptional talent and, whilst he may not have yet fulfilled the tremendous promise he showed as a teenager, at 25, he still has time on his side.

One aspect that will worry Sinner is his serving struggles throughout this tournament, and Auger-Aliassime, whose sole previous Grand Slam semi-final appearance came here four years ago, started to truly capitalise on the Italian's second serve.

Whilst the first semi-final was the glamorous attraction, this proved to be a far superior quality encounter, and Auger-Aliassime struck a brilliant purple patch in the second set that even Sinner couldn't match.

The defending champion extracted himself from trouble in the second game, battling back from 0-40, but Auger-Aliassime was striking powerfully and deeply whilst defending magnificently. Among those soaking up the drama was women's semi-finalist Naomi Osaka, captured on camera in the stands clutching a Honey Deuce cocktail, and when Sinner found himself trailing 0-40 once more at 3-4, Auger-Aliassime pounced on his chance before wrapping up the set with a pair of aces.

Sinner's woes extended beyond the scoreline, with the 24-year-old departing the court for a medical timeout, seemingly troubled by an abdominal issue.

The burning question remained whether Auger-Aliassime could sustain his blistering form, and the response came halfway through the third set when mistakes began infiltrating his play and Sinner capitalised with a break for a 4-2 advantage.

The gruelling nature of the battle appeared to be taking its toll, with Auger-Aliassime looking laboured in his movement as Sinner closed out the set.

The Canadian seized the chance to leave the court for a comfort break and emerged rejuvenated.

Had Sinner's desperate backhand at break point in the fourth game of the fourth set not clipped the edge of the line – leaving his rival utterly stunned – the match might have unfolded very differently, but the top seed weathered the storm, secured a break in the following game and sealed another triumph.

Speaking about the fitness scare, Sinner explained: "I just felt a small twitching after a serve when I served there in the second set on 4-3. After the treatment, was feeling much, much better.

"At some point I didn't feel anything anymore. I was serving back to normal pace, so it was all good. Nothing to worry about."

- PA

CAREER GOLDEN SLAM | TENNIS 🎾

Only 3 men in tennis history have won all 4 Grand Slams + Olympic Gold in singles!🎾

Agassi, Nadal & Djokovic!

The Career Golden Slam club is elite! 🥶

MOST GRAND SLAMS | WOMEN'S SINGLES TENNIS

 

JANNIK SINNER ENDS NOVAK DJOKOVIC'S BID FOR 25TH GRAND SLAM TITLE AT FRENCH OPEN

SINNER DROPS SERBIAN: Jannik Sinner, left, of Italy shakes hands with Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the net after his victory in the semifinals of the French Open at Roland Garros on Friday in Paris. Clive Brunskill/Getty Images/Tribune News Service

Novak Djokovic came up short in his latest bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title as Jannik Sinner reached his first French Open final.

Djokovic, who turned 38 last month, was bidding to become the oldest winner of a major title.

But Sinner - 15 years his junior - the Serbian was essentially playing a younger, fitter version of himself.

It was a high-caliber contest befitting a semifinal between the current world’s best player and arguably the greatest of all time.

But it was Sinner who won the big moments and came out on top with a 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) victory.

Sinner, who holds the US and Australian Open titles, is now on a 20-match winning streak at Grand Slams.

He will play defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, the second seed, in a blockbuster showdown on Sunday.

They may have won the last five Grand Slams between them, but it will be the first time they have met at one in a final.

Just to make Djokovic feel even older, it will be the first major final to be contested between two players born this century.

With Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff, the last two women standing, Roland Garros will be the first Grand Slam to feature the top two seeds from both the ATP and WTA draws in the finals since the 2013 US Open.

Djokovic has won three titles on the Paris clay, but the surface was not his friend when Sinner broke in the first set after the ball kicked up violently off the dust and left him swinging at thin air.

Early in the second set, Djokovic won a spectacular 26-shot rally, the pair exchanging drop shots before the Serb stretched to volley into an open court before milking the applause from the crowd.

Djokovic forced a first break point as Sinner served for the set and when the Italian netted a forehand, he was finally breached.

But the 23-year-old hit back, and after Djokovic received medical treatment on his left thigh at the changeover - he wrapped up the second set.

Djokovic kept fighting and had 3 set points to take it into a 4th in a 10th game, but Sinner wriggled out of that hole and secured victory in the tie-break after 3 hours and 16 minutes.

Once again Djokovic proved he still belongs in the latter stages of the Grand Slams, but the wait for the milestone 25th title goes on.

In the first semifinal, Alcaraz advanced after Lorenzo Musetti retired from their match.

Musetti won the first set, but he had treatment on his leg during the 3rd set and retired after Alcaraz won 9 games in a row with the score 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-0, 2-0.

- The Guam Daily Post

ARYNA SABALENKA ROCKS STYLISH BLACK & BLUE FIT FROM NIKE 24.7 COLLECTION DAYS AFTER AUSTRALIAN OPEN HEARTBREAK

Aryna Sabalenka at the 2025 Australian Open - Source: Getty

World No. 1, Aryna Sabalenka, is sponsored by Nike for her sportswear requirements. Sabalenka has been wearing Nike for a very long time and has been promoting the brand across several social media platforms. Sabalenka has also been featured in several ads for Nike, with the most recent advertisement surfacing on January 12, just before the start of the 2025 Australian Open.

Nike dropped its latest apparel collection, ‘24.7’, on January 25. The athletic wear is designed to meet the daily requirements of an athlete’s life.

Evolve/Instagram 

The collection unveiled two innovative materials used in the apparel — ImpossiblySoft, a Spacer-Knit fabric — that enables four-way stretch and gives a luxurious feel at the same time, and PerfectStretch which gives a polished feel. The collection consists of various clothing pieces, like half zips, crew necks, joggers, pleated skirts, and woven shirts.

The three-time Grand Slam champion donned the new collection and rocked the blue and black fit. Sabalenka sported white shade sunglasses and a classic black fanny pack which complimented her attire. Sabalenka earned praise for her look on the internet.

Evolve/Instagram 

Notably, Naomi Osaka-owned talent agency company, ‘Evolve,’ manages Sabalenka. They posted Sabalenka’s stunning pictures in the new outfit which gained a lot of traction.

The Nike 24.7 apparel collection will be available globally at retail locations from January 30 onwards.

Evolve/Instagram 

After missing out on a 'three-peat' at the 2025 Australian Open, Sabalenka is most likely to play the Middle Eastern swing in Qatar before Indian Wells and Miami Open in March. Sabalenka has been playing the Dubai duty-free tennis championships since 2017 and has not missed a single season. But she is yet to win the tournament in her eight attempts. Her best outing at the event remains three quarterfinal finishes. The World No.1 will aim to change that this time around.

The last time Sabalenka played at Doha was in 2022, till then she had played it three times in a row and even won the title in her debut season at the tournament in 2020. She had defeated Petra Kvitova in the final in straight sets. The 2025 Australian Open runner-up is expected to participate in the tournament and come back after three years.

Evolve/Instagram 

The Qatar TotalEnergies Open 2025 begins on February 9 and Dubai championship begins on February 16. The Polish superstar, Iga Swiatek will look to defend her title in Doha, as her race to regain the World No.1 position will continue.

- Prem Mehta

MADISON KEYS STUNS ARYNA SABALENKA IN THRILLER TO WIN AUSTRALIA OPEN TITLE

Madison Keys holds the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup and poses with ball kids after defeating Aryna Sabalenka at the Australian Open tennis champion

Underdog Madison Keys upset Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in the Australian Open final on Saturday to win her first Grand Slam crown at the age of 29.

The American ended world number one Sabalenka's dream of becoming the first woman for 26 years to win a third successive Melbourne Park singles title.

Keys yelled in delight and wiped away tears on securing the title after withstanding a fierce fightback from the Belarusian two-time defending champion.

Sabalenka, the 2023 and 2024 champion, buried her head in a towel after her 20-match win streak at Melbourne Park was ended.

For 19th-seeded Keys it was the culmination of a 15-year journey from teenage prodigy to major winner.

Madison Keys, right, reacts as she holds the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after defeating Aryna Sabalenka. AP

"I have wanted this for so long and I have been in one other Grand Slam final and it did not go my way," said an emotional Keys, whose coach Bjorn Fratangelo is also her husband. "I didn't know if I was ever going to get back to this position to try to win a trophy again."

The American had been tipped as a future world number one after winning her maiden WTA Tour match at the age of 14.

Madison Keys plays a forehand return to Aryna Sabalenka. AP

She made her first major semi-final at Melbourne Park 10 years ago as a 19-year-old, but a decade on she can finally call herself a Grand Slam champion.

"I made my very first Grand Slam semi-final here in Melbourne," said Keys, the runner-up at the US Open in 2017.

"So to now have won my first Grand Slam in the same place means the absolute world to me. "My team believed in me every step of the way. So thank you so much," added Keys, who will now equal her career-high seventh in the world ranking she attained nine years ago.

Madison Keys is embraced by her team as she holds the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after defeating Aryna Sabalenka. AP.

Madison Keys is embraced by her team as she holds the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after defeating Aryna Sabalenka. AP

"They believed in me when I didn't believe in myself, and helped me every step of the way. Last year was so tough, with some really bad injuries, I didn't know if I was gonna be able to do it again."

'What a tournament'

Keys becomes the fourth oldest first-time winner of a major since the Open Era began in 1968.

Sabalenka was gracious after a first Melbourne defeat since 2022. "First of all, Madison, what a tournament. You have been fighting really hard to get this trophy," Sabalenka said. "I really feel like it's home when I'm here and I'll come back stronger and do my best next year."

It was Keys who came out of the blocks playing exemplary tennis to put Sabalenka under pressure and race to the first set in 35 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

Madison Keys holds the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after defeating Aryna Sabalenka. AP

Madison Keys holds the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after defeating Aryna Sabalenka. AP

The Belarusian began to flip the script in the second set, breaking in the third game and moving ominously ahead 3-1.

Another break followed on a brilliant Sabalenka cross-court pass and she levelled the match after an hour and 20 minutes on court.

The 26-year-old Sabalenka by now was timing the ball much better and a younger Keys might have buckled. But this mature version of Keys, who battled all the way to beat Iga Swiatek in a 10-point final-set tiebreak in the semi-finals, is made of sterner stuff.

At 5-6 when Sabalenka served to take it to another final-set tiebreak, Keys brought up two match points.

She held her nerve to secure the long-awaited title on the second with her 29th winner after 2hr 2min.

- Agence France-Presse

NOVAK DJOKOVIC BREAKS GRAND SLAM RECORD BEFORE SURVIVING SCARE AGAINST PORTUGUESE QUALIFIER

Naomi Osaka pulls off brilliant 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 win over Karolína Muchová, the 20th seed.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates. Photograph: William West/Getty

Few things have come easily for Novak Djokovic in these early days of his 21st grand slam season, but the most successful player in the history of the game continued his attempts to build momentum on an incredibly familiar court, Rod Laver Arena, and trust with his extremely unfamiliar new coach, Andy Murray. Despite a difficult test against a fearless, young opponent, Djokovic shut the door on Jaime Faria, a qualifier, as he reached the third round of the Australian Open with a 6-1, 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-2 win.

By stepping on to Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday afternoon, Djokovic set a new record for the most grand slam matches played in the history of tennis, overtaking his former rival Roger Federer’s count with 430 matches. “When I was a kid, the first image I had of tennis was watching the Wimbledon final at four or five years old,” said Djokovic. “Grand slams are definitely the most important tournament in the world in our sport, it has been over 130 years of existence of this incredible event. I’m just blessed to be making another record, I guess, today.”

Two days after struggling early on against his inexperienced-19 year-old opponent Nishesh Basavareddy, a wildcard, before breaking the American down physically, Djokovic found himself up against another talented young player in Faria, a Portuguese 21-year-old also competing in the main draw of a grand slam tournament for the first time. Faria arrived at the biggest match of his life after navigating the qualifying draw last week, then securing a comfortable straight-sets win in his first round match.

After an efficient start from Djokovic, throughout the second set Faria showed off his massive serve, destructive forehand and solid athleticism as he led by 5-2 before winning the second set with a strong tie-break. Djokovic responded well, wresting control of the baseline in the third set as Faria failed to maintain his second set intensity. By the end of the match Djokovic was in a jovial mood, sharing jokes with Murray and the rest of his courtside team and blowing a kiss towards the crowd as he comfortably closed out the fourth set.

“In the wise words of Mr Daniil Medvedev: ‘If the future generation played this way, they’re gonna have everything – money, girls, casino.’ I just loved that statement, I had to say it,” said Djokovic, laughing. “He [Faria] was playing lights-out tennis, I think. Towards the end of the second set, beginning of the third. I had to weather the storm, he was practically serving two first serves the entire match. Not easy to play someone like that who doesn’t have anything to lose. He’s a big guy, very young, I think 20 or 21 years old, so I told him at the net that the future is bright, he should keep going.”

Earlier in the day, Carlos Alcaraz eased into the third round with his second clean, efficient performance of the tournament, demolishing Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 in just 81 minutes. Alcaraz, who changed his service motion during the off-season, served 14 aces and lost just four points behind his first serve. After the victory, Alcaraz signed the camera screen: “Am I a servebot?”

In the women’s draw, Naomi Osaka produced arguably the biggest victory since her return from maternity leave as she returned to the third round of a grand slam tournament for the first time since her comeback with a brilliant 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 win over Karolína Muchová, the 20th seed.

Naomi Osaka of Japan celebrates winning against Karolina Muchova. Photograph: Hannah Peters/Getty

After losing the first five games of the encounter, Osaka responded by playing two focused, high quality sets, serving brilliantly and dominating the baseline with her typically destructive, relentless ball striking. While Osaka has beaten higher-ranked opponents since returning at the beginning of last year, Muchová has been one of the best players in the world since returning from a major wrist injury last summer and she had defeated Osaka en route to the US Open semi-finals last year. Osaka will next face Belinda Bencic, who recently returned from maternity leave herself and reached the third round in her first major tournament back with a 6-1, 7-6(3) win over Suzan Lamens.

“I love it,” said Osaka. “I love playing the big opponents. I think that’s where I play my best tennis. Honestly for me, if I play better and better opponents as the rounds go on, I think it’s more interesting because I feel like it’s like the clash of two titans almost. I think the fans probably appreciate it, and I also appreciate it as a player.”

Zheng Qinwen, the Olympic champion and last year’s Australian Open finalist suffered the biggest upset of the tournament so far as the fifth seed was defeated 7-6 (3), 6-3 by Laura Siegemund of Germany. Aryna Sabalenka, the top seed and defending champion, advanced to round three with a gritty 6-3, 7-5 win over Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain. – Guardian

- Tumaini Carayol

TWO-TIME GRAND SLAM WINNER ADMITS TO DOPING AS TENNIS IS ROCKED BY ANOTHER DRUG SCANDAL

AP Photo

• Max Purcell has admitted to breaching tennis' anti-doping regulations 
• The two-time Grand Slam winner admitted he was 'devastated' by the news 

Australian tennis player Max Purcell has elected to enter a voluntary provisional suspension after admitting to breaching the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP).

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced that the 26-year-old had contravened Article 2.2 of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program, which relates to the 'use of a Prohibited Method'.

The ITIA said that his provisional suspension came into effect on December 12, 2024, but did not stipulate how long the ban would go on for.

Purcell, a two-time doubles Grand Slam winner, has also taken to Instagram to admit he was 'devastated' by the news and revealed that the breach occurred when he had 'unknowingly' received a transfusion of vitamins that was above the 'allowable limit of 100ml'.

He added that he had told the medical agency that he was an athlete and needed the IV to be below 100ml.

As announced by the ITIA today, I have voluntarily accepted a provisional suspension since I unknowingly received an IV infusion of vitamins above the allowable limit of 100ml,' Purcell wrote on Instagram.

'Until last week when I received medical records from a clinic showing that the amount of an IV I had received was above 100ml, I was fully convinced I had done everything to ensure that I had followed the WADA regulations and methods.

'But the records show that the IV was over that 100ml limit, even though I told the medical clinic that I was a professional athlete and needed the IV to be below 100ml.

'This news was devastating to me because I pride myself on being an athlete who always makes sure that everything is WADA safe. I volunteered this information to the ITIA and have been as transparent as possible in trying to put this whole situation behind me. I look forward to being back on the court soon.'

Purcell will now be banned for coaching or playing at any authorised or sanctioned event by the ITIA during his provisional suspension.

The ITIA wrote in a statement: 'The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) today confirms that Australian tennis player Max Purcell has elected to enter into a voluntary provisional suspension under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP).

'Twenty-six-year-old Purcell, currently ranked world number 12 in doubles, has admitted to a breach of Article 2.2 of the TADP relating to the use of a Prohibited Method, and requested to enter into a provisional suspension on 10 December 2024. 

'The suspension came into effect on 12 December 2024, and time served under provisional suspension will be credited against any future sanction.'

Purcell partnered with Jordan Thompson this year to reach the doubles final at Wimbledon, before going on to clinch the men's doubles title at the US Open, defeating Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow.

 He had previously partnered with Matt Ebden to win the men's doubles at Wimbledon in 2022, beating Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic in the final. 

The 26-year-old is one of multiple players to have been embroiled in controversy with anti-doping authorities this year, after Iga Swiatek accepted a one-month ban for testing positive for a banned substance in November. 

The ITIA had accepted that Swiatek's positive tests came through contamination of non-prescription medication melatonin.

Jannik Sinner, who won this year's men's singles title at the Australian Open and the US Open, is another to have made headlines in March after he tested positive twice for the banned steroid clostebol. 

He was subsequently cleared of any wrongdoing by the ITIA, who claimed that there was 'no fault or negligence' from the Italian. 

Shortly after the announcement, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over the decision. The case is not likely to be heard until March 2025.

 - ED CARRUTHERS FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

GRAND SLAM RECORD| AGAINST THE BIG 3

JESSICA PEGULA OUSTS NO.1 SWIATEK TO REACH US OPEN SEMIS

Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AP

NEW YORK -- Jessica Pegula pulled off a major upset of Iga Swiatek at the US Open, beating the No. 1-ranked woman 6-2, 6-4 on Wednesday night to win a Grand Slam quarterfinal for the first time on her seventh try.

"There have been so many freaking times, and I just kept losing," Pegula told the crowd. "I know everyone keeps asking me about it, but I was like, 'I don't know what else to do. I just need to get there again and, like, win the match.' So thank God I was able to do it. And finally -- finally! -- I can say, 'Semifinalist.'"

Her win guarantees the US Open will feature multiple American men and women in the semifinal round, the first time that has happened since 2003 (Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick; Lindsay Davenport and Jennifer Capriati).

The No. 6-seeded Pegula, a 30-year-old American, has won 14 of her past 15 matches and will make her debut appearance in the semifinals of a Slam on Thursday against unseeded Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic.

Both Muchova and Pegula have yet to drop a set, the first time that has been done by multiple women at this stage of the tournament since 2014 (there were three that year: Serena Williams, Peng Shuai and Ekaterina Makarova).

"I know she has a lot of experience going deep in Slams," Pegula said about Muchova, whom she defeated at the Cincinnati Open last month. "I'll worry about that, maybe, when I wake up in the morning."

The other women's match Thursday also will feature an American making her major semifinal debut, No. 13 Emma Navarro, against No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, who has won the past two Australian Open titles. Sabalenka lost to Coco Gauff in the 2023 final in New York; Navarro ended Gauff's title defense in the fourth round.

There are also two Americans in the men's semifinals, but they'll face each other: No. 12 Taylor Fritz takes on No. 20 Frances Tiafoe on Friday.

The lopsided nature of Pegula's win was surprising, but she believed this day would come.

"I knew I could do it. I just had to go out and execute my game and not get frustrated," she said. "Luckily I felt like I was able to take advantage of some things she wasn't doing well very early and then was able to kind of ride that momentum throughout the match."

Swiatek served poorly in the first set and her forehand was a real problem, with 22 of her 41 unforced errors coming on that side. Pegula made only 22 unforced errors in all and used terrific defense to keep forcing Swiatek to hit an extra shot.

Pegula repeatedly did what seemed nearly impossible lately against Swiatek, who counts the 2022 US Open among her five Grand Slam titles and has led the WTA rankings for most of the past 2½ years: break her serve.

Entering Wednesday, Swiatek had lost only a pair of service games across four matches in the tournament, both in the first round -- and she didn't even face a single break point in any of her most recent three contests.

But Pegula, whose parents own the NFL's Buffalo Bills and NHL's Buffalo Sabres, didn't have much trouble in that department, especially at the outset, breaking in each of Swiatek's initial two service games, which both ended with double-faults, and three of the first six.

It helped that Swiatek was unable to properly calibrate her first serves early, putting just 2 of 12 -- 16.7% -- in play at the start and only 36% for the opening set.

Even as the games kept going in her favor, Pegula didn't show much perceptible emotion, whether grabbing a 4-0 lead just 21 minutes in or taking up that set, which was greeted with a slight shake of her left fist as she walked to her sideline seat.

Swiatek didn't hide her thoughts that well. She smacked her racket against the top of the net. She slapped her right thigh after a forehand flew wide to get broken yet again and trail 4-3 in the second set. Fifteen minutes later, it was over.

"It's never easy to play against Jess," Swiatek said. "She has a tricky ball because it's pretty low and pretty flat. I just made too many mistakes."

Pegula entered the day as the only player inside the WTA's top 10 who hadn't reached a major semifinal; 0-6 in her career in Slam quarterfinals, she was one loss shy of the worst major quarterfinal record by any woman in the Open era, shared by three players (0-7).

During that 0-6 rut, two of her exits came against Swiatek, and one was against another No. 1 player, Ash Barty.

Pegula was asked about that record in this round during her postmatch interview on court after winning her fourth-round match. And again in the news conference that followed. And again during a TV interview before stepping out into Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday.

If that all weighed on Pegula, she didn't let it show.

ESPN Stats & Information and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

- 

JANNIK SINNER IS ON 🔥 IN 2024

 

PLAYERS TO WIN FIRST FOUR GRAND SLAM FINALS

 

TENNIS STATS | GRAND SLAMS

 

NOVAK DJOKOVIC, CARLOS ALCARAZ

 Carlos Alcaraz is only a couple of months past his 21st birthday, and yet this whole Grand Slam success thing is already a bit been-there, done-that for him.

Moving a step closer to a second consecutive Wimbledon trophy and fourth major championship overall, Alcaraz overcame a shaky start Friday to beat Daniil Medvedev 6-7 (1), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinals at Centre Court.

"I feel like I'm not new anymore. I feel like I know how I'm going to feel before the final. I've been in this position before," Alcaraz said. "I will try to do the things that I did well last year and try to be better."

Like last year, his opponent in the title match will be Novak Djokovic, who advanced with a 6-4, 7-6 (2), 6-4 victory against No. 25 seed Lorenzo Musetti in the second semifinal. Djokovic won 15 of 16 points when he went to the net in the first set and finished 43-for-56 in that category.

It will be the first time the same two men meet in consecutive Wimbledon finals since Djokovic beat Roger Federer in 2014 and 2015.

"He's as complete a player as they come," Djokovic said about Alcaraz, who won the 2023 final in five sets. "It's going to take the best of my abilities on the court overall to beat him."

Djokovic, who hadn't reached a final at any tournament all season and needed surgery in June for a torn meniscus in his right knee, will be vying for his eighth championship at the All England Club. That would tie Federer's mark for the most by a man -- and put him one behind Martina Navratilova's record of nine -- while making the 37-year-old from Serbia the first player in tennis history with 25 Grand Slam titles.

"I know what I have to do," Alcaraz said. "I'm sure he knows what he has to do to beat me."

Late in Djokovic's semifinal, as he let his first three match points slip away, fans hoping for a longer match began changing "Lo-ren-zo!" One yelled out during a point, bothering Djokovic, who soon was wiping away fake tears mockingly after Musetti failed to convert a break chance in the last game.

The No. 2-seeded Djokovic, who got a walkover in the quarterfinals when his opponent, Alex de Minaur, withdrew with a hip injury, eventually worked his way into his 10th final at Wimbledon and 37th at a major.

"I don't want to stop here," Djokovic said. "Hopefully I'll get my hands on that trophy on Sunday."

Musetti, who had dragged Djokovic to five sets in the latest ever finish at Roland Garros last month and was appearing in a major semifinal for the first time, was left to rue another defeat and another lost opportunity to pull off a major upset.

"This was the seventh time that we were playing against each other, and I've never faced a Nole like this," Musetti said. "I was really impressed. ... I think his tennis really fits well on this surface, especially how he returns."

After a so-so opening set against Medvedev, Alcaraz transformed back into the energetic, attacking, crowd-pleasing force who already was the first teenager to be No. 1 in the ATP rankings and is the youngest man to have won a major trophy on three surfaces: grass, clay and hard courts.

Now the Spaniard is one victory away from joining Boris Becker and Bjorn Borg as the only men in the Open era, which began in 1968, with multiple championships at the All England Club before turning 22.

Alcaraz also triumphed at the US Open in 2022 and the French Open last month and is 3-0 in major finals.

"We're going to see a lot of him in the future, no doubt," Djokovic said. "He's going to win many more Grand Slams."

On a cloudy afternoon -- the main stadium's retractable roof was open because there was none of the rain that fell throughout the first 1½ weeks of the tournament -- the No. 3-seeded Alcaraz went through some ups and downs against No. 5 Medvedev, a 28-year-old from Russia.

"I started really, really nervous," Alcaraz said. "He was dominating the match, playing a great, great tennis. ... It was difficult for me."

Medvedev grabbed an early 5-2 lead but then got into trouble with his play and temper.

Alcaraz broke to get within 5-4 with a drop shot that chair umpire Eva Asderaki ruled -- correctly, according to TV replays -- bounced twice before Medvedev got his racket on the ball. He voiced his displeasure, and Asderaki, after climbing down from her seat to huddle with tournament referee Denise Parnell during the ensuing changeover, issued a warning to Medvedev for unsportsmanlike conduct.

"I said something in Russian. Not unpleasant, but not over the line," Medvedev said at his news conference.

He regrouped quickly and was just about perfect in that set's tiebreaker.

Then it was Alcaraz's turn to get headed in the right direction, which didn't take long. He got the last break he would need for a 4-3 edge in the fourth when Medvedev sailed a backhand long then sat in his sideline chair, locked eyes with his two coaches and started muttering and gesticulating.

"I was playing well," Medvedev said, "and just it was not enough."

Nearly every time Alcaraz emitted one of his "Uh-eh!" two-syllable grunts while unleashing a booming forehand, spectators audibly gasped, regardless of whether the point continued. Often enough, it didn't: Of the match's 28 forehand winners, 24 were produced by Alcaraz's racket.

As dangerous Alcaraz can be at his aggressive best, his defense is something to marvel at too.

At times, it feels as though an exchange is never over until he decides it is. And if it appears that way from the comfort of the stands, just imagine how frustrating that must be for foes. On one point, Alcaraz left a mark several feet long in the grass when he sprinted and slid to reach an apparently unreachable ball. He sent up a lob that drew an errant Medvedev overhead.

In addition to the Wimbledon men's final, Sunday's sports schedule features the final of the men's soccer European Championship in Germany, where Spain will meet England.

When Alcaraz alluded to that in his on-court interview by saying, "It's going to be a really good day for the Spanish people as well," he drew boos from the locals. Alcaraz smiled and added: "I didn't say Spain is going to win. I just said that it's going to be a really fun, fun day."

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

- ESPN News Services

BATTLE OF GRAND-SLAM TITANS | IGA SWIATEK VS. SOFIA KENIN | WIMBLEDON 2024