Day 9 was the first day of quarter-final action and what a day it was. All matches went the distance which is just incredible. The first match on was the 2 unknown German’s – Maria and Niemeier. Niemeier took the first set but once again the resilience of Maria showed as she once again came back from a set down to take the match and book her spot in her first grand slam semi-final. The 2nd match on was Djokovic vs Sinner. On paper it looked like a close match and in reality it certainly was. Djokovic took the early lead in the first set (4-1). Sinner then found his range after Djokovic served a lose game and we were all level at 4-4. Sinner then managed to break at 5-5 and held his nerve to serve it out. The 20 year old had the first set. He then used this momentum he had gained from the first set and raced away in the 2nd set, eventually taking it 6-2. Djokovic went off for a bathroom break to gather his thoughts and break the momentum of Sinner. It worked for the 1st seed as he looked a different player after that bathroom break. Djokovic coming back from 2 sets down to take the match and book his spot in another Wimbledon semi-final. 9th seed and home favourite Cam Norrie was on court 1 and he was up against unseeded, David Goffin. Goffin played an exceptional first set and it was the Belgium who led 1 set to love. Norrie then hung around in the 2nd set and his chance came at 5-5. Norrie took it and served it out and we were all square at 1 set all. Goffin though regrouped and raced away to a 4-0 lead in the 3rd set. The Belgium taking it 6-2 in the end and slightly dampening the mood on court 1. Norrie wasn’t done yet and with the crowds backing he found another gear to force a 5th set. An extremely tense and tight fifth set was played with the Brit, Cam Norrie, in front of his home crowd getting over the line 7-5. What a moment for him! The last match on centre court was between 3rd seed, Jabeur, and unseeded Czech, Bouzkova. Bouzkova proved a nuisance in the first set and managed to break Jabeur twice on her way to taking the opening set. Jabeur however figured her out and found her range. The Tunisian dropping just 2 more games in the match. She will face Maria for a spot in the Wimbledon final on Saturday.

Onto the fantasy leaderboard and ‘Team Kickbutt’ remains 18 points in the lead. ‘My Dream Team’ holds onto 2nd while ‘Boris the Grand Slammer’ moves themselves back into the top 5 and into 3rd. ‘Grassettini’ also moves back into the top 5 and into 4th with ‘The Last Minute Player’ hanging on in 5th.

Results on Day 9

• Maria beat Niemeier – 4-6; 6-2; 7-5
• Jabeur(3) beat Bouzkova – 3-6 ;6-1; 6-1
• Djokovic(1) beat Sinner(10) – 5-7; 2-6; 6-3; 6-2; 6-2
• Norrie(9) beat Goffin – 3-6; 7-5; 2-6; 6-3; 7-5

Matches on day 10

• Tomljanovic vs Rybakina(17) (14:00)
• Halep(16) vs Anisimova(20) (14:30)
• Garin vs Kyrgios (15:15)
• Nadal(2) vs Fritz(11) (15:45)

Jared

Jared matriculated in 2020 from Wynberg Boys High School in beautiful Cape Town, South Africa. His passion for tennis afforded him the opportunity of travelling to Europe. He is a quizmaster and a tennis fantasy league organiser.http://Eishonline.co.za/jftl