Day 10 and the day of the men’s quarter-finals. The first match on was on court 1 and it was between Khachanov and Shapovalov. Both players trying to reach their first grand slam semi-final. The first set was a bit tense and nervy. Shapovalov managing to take it 6-3. Khachanov then raced to a 4-0 lead in the 2nd set which he eventually took 6-3. The 3rd set seemed ,from a spectator point of view, a very important set for both players. Khachanov played the better tennis in the 3rd set and he eventually broke and took the set 7-5. The Russian was just 1 set away from the Wimbledon semi-finals. Shapovalov found his groove in the 4th set and raced away as he took the 4th set 6-1. We were going the distance in the first quarter-final. Both players were holding serve well in the 5th. At 4-4 though 40-15 up, Khachanov had a wobble as it went to deuce. The game became a long and an important one. Shapovalov managed to eventually break the Russian and after the change of ends would be serving for the chance to be in his first grand slam semi-final. Some would have thought he would have a nervy game but besides 1 double fault he served 4 perfect first serves and booked his spot in the semi’s. Djokovic was the first match on centre court and his opponent was the unseeded Fucsovics. Djokovic raced to a 5-0 lead in the first set. Fucsovics then came back to make it 5-3 before Djokovic did serve it out. Djokovic then took the next 2 sets 6-4; 6-4. Federer and Hurkacz were the second and last match on centre court. Federer couldn’t find his game in the first set and Hurkacz settled into the match well. Hurkacz taking the first set 6-3. Federer then started to look a bit better as he went up 4-1 in the 2nd set. Hurkacz though was playing well and was creating chances in every Federer service game. He managed to break back and it was 4-4. The set eventually made it to a tiebreak which everyone new was very important for both players but especially for Federer. Hurkacz was returning well and was a mini break up at 3-2. Federer played a good point but Hurkacz made him play an extra ball and Federer slipped on the line and mishit the ball. Hurkacz was 4-2 up and eventually took the tiebreak 7-4. Hurkacz had a tough first service game but managed to hold in the 3rd set. He then broke Federer and led 3-0 in the 3rd. He then broke again and the little hope Federer had of getting back into the match was gone. Hurkacz managed to win the 3rd 6-0. This was only the 2nd time Federer had been bageled in the 21st century. The last quarter-final was between Berrettini and Auger-Aliassime. Very good friends off court, they were both vying for their first grand slam semi-final. Berrettini raced to a 5-2 lead in the 1st set and led his service game 40-0 and couldn’t hold. Thankfully he broke to the win the set. The second set was another nervy set from both. Both players are big servers but both players couldn’t hold serve. Auger-Aliassime broke at 5-5 and managed to serve the set out and we were 1 set all. From this point on the level of tennis rose to a new level. Berrettini managed to take the important 3rd set 7-5 and then took the 4th set 6-3.

With both the ladies and men’s semi-finals set, lets look at the leaderboard. We have another new leader! ‘Anyone for tea’ now lead by 2 points. ‘2nd Choice’ is still there in 2nd with yesterdays leader ‘Hotshot’ down to spots in 3rd. ‘Stentastics’ not far behind in 4th and the last prize position is taken by ‘Top Turtles’ who are sitting in 5th. 2 more teams were eliminated yesterday, they were ‘peRFect’ and ‘Knuckles’.

Results from Day 10:

• Shapovalov(10) beat Khachanov(25) – 6-4; 3-6; 5-7; 6-1; 6-4
• Djokovic(1) beat Fucsovics – 6-3; 6-4; 6-4
• Hurkacz(14) beat Federer(6) – 6-3; 7-6(4); 6-0
• Berrettini(7) beat Auger-Aliassime(16) – 6-3; 5-7; 7-5; 6-3

Semi-finals:

• Barty(1) vs Kerber(25) (14:30)
• Pliskova(8) vs Sabalenka(2) (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 fantasy organiser.