It was billed as the battle of the 20-year-olds but Carlos Alcaraz pulled rank on his childhood buddy Holger Rune as he extinguished the Dane’s fire power to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals for the first time with a 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-4 victory on Wednesday.

The two tyros, who were born six days apart, were contesting a men’s Wimbledon quarter final that for the first time in the professional era featured two players aged under 21.

Despite his youth, Alcaraz is already at home among the elite of men’s tennis and produced the form that has carried him to the top of the rankings by never allowing Rune to gain the upper hand, no matter how many flashy shots he conjured.

After saving a break point in the opening game of the match, Alcaraz put on a majestic performance in front of Britain’s Queen Camilla to end Rune’s hopes of becoming the first Danish player in 65 years to reach the All England Club semi-finals.

A first for Medvedev

Third seed Daniil Medvedev curtailed American debutant Christopher Eubanks’ extraordinary adventure as he came through their quarter final 6-4, 1-6, 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-1.

The 27-year-old Russian took the opening set but was blown completely off course for the next two as unseeded Eubanks unleashed a barrage of first-strike tennis that had the Court One crowd roaring its approval.

Medvedev clung on stubbornly, however, and as the fire in the Eubanks racket began to fade he took charge to reach the semi-finals at the grasscourt slam for the first time.

He will face top seed Carlos Alcaraz for a place in Sunday’s final.

Jabeur fights back

Tunisian Ons Jabeur gained revenge for her defeat in last year’s Wimbledon final when she surged back from a set down to beat third-seeded defending champion Kazakh Elena Rybakina 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-1.

A year ago Jabeur looked on course to become the first Arab and African female champion before fading to lose in three sets. The dream is still on in 2023 after the sixth seed mounted a spirited comeback, having looked distraught after the first set tie-break went against her.

Jabeur upped her game after that, remaining positive and going for the big shots as Moscow-born Rybakina’s big serve faltered and the on-fire Tunisian won eight of the last nine games.

She will play second seed Aryna Sabalenka in the semis after the Belarusian beat American Madison Keys in straight sets earlier.

Wimbledon will thus see a new women’s champion this year.

Sabalenka sails

Earlier, world No. 2 Sabalenka roared into the semi-finals with a 6-2, 6-4 win over American Keys.

Second seed Sabalenka, 25, broke in the first game of the match, converting a fourth break point with a sweet backhand that sailed just over the net and out of the reach of Keys.

She broke the American 28-year-old again, giving her no time to think and launching every ferocious shot with a matching howl.

Sabalenka served out the set after 38 minutes, looking the favourite to reach her second semi-final at the All England Club having done so on her last appearance in 2021.

However, Keys, chasing her first Wimbledon semi-final, came out in the second set with more grit and determination. After holding serve at 3-2 with a backhand winner, the American pumped her fist and shouted “come on” as she looked to level things up.

The 25th seed had three break points in the next game and took the third when Sabalenka sent a forehand wide.

But the Belarusian broke straight back, winning five points in a row from 40-0 down to snatch the momentum from Keys and she fired down an ace to level at 4-4 before breaking again and serving out the match.

Today’s semis

O. Jabeur vs A. Sabalenka

E. Svitolina vs M. Vondrousova

Rublev touched by fan support

London: Russian Andrey Rublev thanked the Centre Court crowd for their noisy support during his failed bid to knock defending champion Novak Djokovic out of Wimbledon on Tuesday.

Rublev, the seventh seed, like the other Russian and Belarusian players in the draw, was banned last year by Wimbledon in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Rublev, who expressed his dismay about his country's action shortly after the invasion when he wrote "No War Please" on a camera lens at the Dubai Open, said he was taken aback by the support from the Wimbledon fans.

"Last year I was set not to play one of the best tournaments," the 25-year-old, whose inspired performance had fans on their feet during his 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 loss in a high-quality quarter final, said.

"But being here this year, I felt grateful. I felt really great support during these two weeks. Today (Tuesday), as well. To be from the country where I am, to have this support, it's special.

"I feel sometimes I don't deserve it. I'm really grateful for this."

Reuters

Bopanna in semis

London: Top Indian doubles player Rohan Bopanna and his Australian partner Matthew Ebden continued their dream run to advance into the Wimbledon semi-final with a hardfought 6-7 (6-3), 7-5, 6-2 win over Dutch duo Tallon Griekspoor and Bart Stevens.

For the 43-year-old, this will be his third appearance in a Wimbledon semi-final and first since 2015. Bopanna, a US Open runner-up in 2010, has made four grand slam semi-finals in men’s doubles.

The sixth seeds will now be up against the top-seeded Dutch-British pair of Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski for a place in the final.

One set down, Bopanna and Ebden also suffered a break in the first game of the second set. But from then on they took charge and secured victory.

PTI