Sinner* 7-6 6-4 6-4 Shelton
Game, set and match in two hours and 18 minutes as Sinner makes the semis at Wimbledon for the second time in his career.
He was waiting for the moment, and when it came, took it – although he needed three match points to get over the line.
Shelton takes the first point but scoops too long on the next, lucky that Sinner’s return of a second serve does not find the corner of the court.
A searing Sinner forehand makes it 30-30 and when Shelton’s backhand finds the next once again, it is match point.
Shelton finds a deep forehand to take it to deuce and then produces an ace after he gave Sinner a second chance to seal it.
But a double fault hands Sinner his third match point and this time Shelton cannot get away with it, sending his desperate forehand two yards long.
Hugs at the net. Another win. And probably easier than Sinner had anticipated.
Cobolli* 7-6 2-4 Djokovic
Djokovic consolidates the break with a lightning quick hold to love.
Cobolli hardly got a ball back in that game, and his illustrious opponent, having not always seen eye to eye with Centre Court, will be appreciating the support that he is getting.
Cobolli 7-6 2-3 Djokovic*
Djokovic breaks!
Errors creep into Cobolli’s game, including a double fault, and Djokovic smells blood – with the crowd chanting his name at 15-30.
Djokovic responds by striking a brilliant forehand winner crosscourt, before a Cobolli error hands him the break.
Sinner 7-6 6-4 5-4 Shelton*
Sinner fails to put one away, leaving a chance that Shelton takes – with the Italian hitting his own leg as he attempts an infeasible recovery.
A first serve into the net brings a cry of “excellent” from one wag and suddenly it’s 0-30.
Not for long. Shelton cannot get the next two back in play, nets on the third and is passed gloriously on the next. Now he has to hold to stay in the Championships.
Cobolli* 7-6 2-2 Djokovic
Djokovic nets a routine forehand to begin the game, staring at his racquet in disbelief. A big serve down the T swiftly gets him to 15-15.
This time a serve out wide does the trick, forcing Cobolli into a miss long, 30-15. The Italian then wins a lengthy rally with a brilliant forehand that draws groans of satisfaction from the Centre Court crowd!
Djokovic shrugs off the previous point with an excellent serve and volley combo, 40-30. The Serb then holds with a perfect ace down the T.
Sinner* 7-6 6-4 4-4 Shelton
The crowd are doing all they can to give life to Shelton’s challenge.
Plenty would have been left without hope, foundering on the Italian wall.
Yet Shelton is refusing to buckle and has been as dominant on his own serve this set as his opponent. Both have dropped just four points out of 20.
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