Fourth set: *Alcaraz 6-7, 1-6, 6-3, 2-3 Medvedev (*denotes next server)
Medvedev is pushed to 30-all after mixing in his eighth double fault of the match, but holds comfortably from there, pounding a 122mph ace out wide to close it out.
Fourth set: Alcaraz 6-7, 1-6, 6-3, 2-2 Medvedev* (*denotes next server)
Alcaraz holds from love-15 with some more extraordinary shotmaking from every inch of the court. He’s getting to balls that he’s got no business of retrieving. It’s like something out of The Matrix.
Fourth set: *Alcaraz 6-7, 1-6, 6-3, 1-2 Medvedev (*denotes next server)
And here comes Carlitos. Medvedev double-faults for love-15, then Alcaraz hits a forehand for love-30. Medvedev wins the next point, but Alcaraz responds with a forehand volley winner for 15-40 and double break point. Medvedev saves the first behind a booming serve, then the second behind an astounding 125mph second-serve service winner. Alcaraz stakes a third break point with a forehand volley winner, pumping his fist to the crowd and he circles back toward the baseline, but Medvedev saves that one, too, with a deft backhand volley winner at the net. And Medvedev serves his way out of trouble from there, earning the all-important hold from 15-40 down.
Fourth set: Alcaraz 6-7, 1-6, 6-3, 1-1 Medvedev* (*denotes next server)
Alcaraz wins four of five points for a hold that looks easy on the scoreline, but these are exchanges of extreme physical intensity. The one point he lost in the game was a jaw-dropping 24-shot all-court exchange that Medvedev finally ended with a sharply angled forehand passing winner.
25m ago
02.51 BST
Fourth set: *Alcaraz 6-7, 1-6, 6-3, 0-1 Medvedev (*denotes next server)
Medvedev breezes through his opening service game of the fourth, closing out the love hold with his seventh ace followed by a 120mph serve out wide that Alcaraz can’t return into the court.
34m ago
02.42 BST
Alcaraz wins third set, 6-3!
Third set: Alcaraz 6-7, 1-6, 6-3 Medvedev
Alcaraz gets it to 30-love after Medvedev blinks first amid a punishing 17-shot exchange. He then forces an error with a drop shot that Medvedev cant retrieve for 40-love and triple set point. Medvedev saves the first with a sharp forehand, then Alcaraz makes backhand error to waste the second. 40-30. Still one more set point. And Medvedev nets a backhand on the return of a 88mph second serve to bail out the defending champion, who has drawn closer in this best-of-five-sets semi-final!
40m ago
02.37 BST
Third set: *Alcaraz 6-7, 1-6, 5-3 Medvedev (*denotes next server)
Medvedev rattles off four staccato points in succession for the love hold in the blink of an eye. Alcaraz will now serve to halve the deficit as the crowd buzzes in support of the Spaniard.
Third set: Alcaraz 6-7, 1-6, 5-2 Medvedev* (*denotes next server)
Medvedev gets it to 30-all, then deuce, then a second deuce before Alcaraz gets the hard-fought hold to maintain distance. Some truly breathtaking ball-striking and shot-making happening within these rallies, which are alternating unpredictably from the baseline to the all-court variety. Medvedev will serve to stay in the third set after the change of ends.
49m ago
02.28 BST
Third set: *Alcaraz 6-7, 1-6, 4-2 Medvedev (*denotes next server)
Medvedev quickly goes down love-30 on his serve, but gets it to 30-all with a 108mph unreturnable followed by a 124mph ace out wide. He’s within a point of the game after Alcaraz sends a forehand sailing past the baseline, then nails down the hold when the Spaniard nets a backhand from the baseline.
53m ago
02.23 BST
Third set: Alcaraz 6-7, 1-6, 4-1 Medvedev* (*denotes next server)
The quality of the last five minutes has been off the charts. Alcaraz wins consecutive 15-shot rallies en route to 40-love, extending a streak of six straight points won. Moments later he backs up the break with the drama-free hold.
1h ago
02.19 BST
Alcaraz breaks in fourth game of third set!
Third set: *Alcaraz 6-7, 1-6, 3-1 Medvedev (*denotes next server)
Now it’s a 30-all game on Medvedev’s serve after Alcaraz hits a brillian forehand passing winner that freezes the Russian at the net. Medvedev crunches a 126mph ace down the middle, but Alcaraz freezes his foe with a backhand for deuce. From there Alcaraz hits another sensations forehand passing winner for break point … and this time he converts it! A beautiful lob winner does the job and Alcaraz has broken Medvedev for the first time all night as the match closes in on the two-hour mark!
Third set: Alcaraz 6-7, 1-6, 2-1 Medvedev* (*denotes next server)
Medvedev gets more pressure on Alcaraz’s serve at 30-all, but the Spaniard wins back-to-back extended rallies with forehand winners to close out the hold. Still on serve early in the third.
Third set: *Alcaraz 6-7, 1-6, 1-1 Medvedev (*denotes next server)
Alcaraz gets the better of Medvedev over a 20-shot rally for 15-30 on the Russian’s serve and the crowd swells in anticipation of a possible break. But Medvedev coolly serves himself out of trouble, holding when Alcaraz dumps a backhand into the net for his 22nd unforced error of the match (against 26 winners).
