Sinner stops Safiullin to move into Wimbledon semi-finals
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[July 12, 2023]
LONDON (Reuters) -Eighth seed Jannik Sinner broke new ground
at Wimbledon on Tuesday as the Italian powered into the semi-finals
of a Grand Slam for the first time with a 6-4 3-6 6-2 6-2 win over
big-hitting Russian Roman Safiullin.
The 21-year-old has made the most of a favourable draw at the
grasscourt major this year and became the first man to reach the
final four without taking on a top 50 opponent since both Boris
Becker and Pete Sampras did so in 1995.
The win also meant Sinner became only the third Italian man to make
the Wimbledon semis after Nicola Pietrangeli and Matteo Berrettini
but he had to overcome a wobble against the inspired Safiullin
midway through the contest.
"It means a lot to me. We put a lot of work in, many hours also off
the court, a lot of sacrifices for this moment so it means a lot for
me and it means a lot to share it with you guys," Sinner said on
court.
"It's a nice moment for me. I just try to play my tennis. Every
match has a little bit of its own story and obviously I'm very happy
to be in the semi-finals."
After a high-octane start by both players under the roof on a
sometimes slippery Court One, Sinner broke for a 5-4 lead with a
barrage of big shots from the baseline and comfortably held serve in
the next game to go a set up on Safiullin.
World number 92 Safiullin did not let his optimism dip after
surrendering his serve early in the second set and the Wimbledon
debutant reeled off five games in a row from 1-3 down to draw level
in the match.
"I was a break up in the second set and I got down mentally a bit,
so this is a part we're working on a lot," Sinner said. "Obviously
happy how I reacted in the next couple of sets and he's a tough
player to play against.
"We played each other one year ago in the ATP Cup and it was a tough
match. I wish him all the best for this season, because he's going
to make a very good one."
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![](../images/071223PIX/sports63.jpg)
Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn
Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 11, 2023 Italy's
Jannik Sinner celebrates winning his quarter final match against
Russia's Roman Safiullin REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
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The slightly-built Sinner continued to exhibit
superb ball-striking en route to winning the next set in 34 minutes
and the contest was effectively over after he broke for a 4-2 lead
in the fourth set, which he won when Safiullin sent a shot wide.
Up next for Sinner is a meeting with holder Novak Djokovic or
seventh seed Andrey Rublev.
"I'll go on to the court with a good mentality," Sinner said. "I
know Novak hasn't lost on Centre Court in 10 years, so it's going to
be a tough one.
"But who knows, maybe it's my day. Andrey will also be playing in
the semi-finals for the first time (if he makes it through).
"I'm just trying to rest and enjoy one of my most important matches
until now, it's going to be a special moment."
(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in BengaluruEditing by Christian
Radnedge)
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