Wimbledon 2025 semi-finals: Fritz v Alcaraz before Sinner v Djokovic - live

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3m ago 08.28 EDT “Had all four of my wisdom teeth yanked out in the same sitting by a former Air Force dentist,” brags Gregory Phillips. “The local anaesthesia didn’t work fully and I swill never forget the feeling of the root ripping out of my jawbone on the first one. Still makes me shiver 23 years later.” I’ve had a fair few dental operations – as a kid, i was bending down behind someone to trip them up, the pusher acted before I was ready, and I ended up with a perfect arch carved into my front two teeth. The crowns then repeatedly came off – they were particularly impartial to Wham and Irn Bru bars – so I spent many teenage hours in the dentist’s chair, but this was a different thing entirely. Share

6m ago 08.26 EDT Is there a cultural reason Americans enjoy using what we in the UK consider to be surnames as first names? I know we’ve noted it – so too did Billy Connolly – but is there a reason? Perhaps Fritz Taylor can advise. Share

12m ago 08.20 EDT Nothing to do with tennis, but I’ve got the cricket on my second screen and they’re telling us about the Ruth Strauss Foundation. My eyeballs may be sweating, but Andrew Strauss: what a father, what a husband, what a man. Support him if you can. Share

23m ago 08.09 EDT It’s well hot in London today. In normal circumstances, you’d wonder if a 38-year-old would be able to cope with that, except that 38-year-old is one of the fittest athletes there’s ever been. I do, though, expect him to try and shorten points – he won’t want Sinner to work opportunities to plant his feet and unleash that forehand. View image in fullscreen Replenish those fluids, Novak. Photograph: Ben Whitley/PA Share Updated at 08.21 EDT

26m ago 08.06 EDT Tracy Austin notes that Fritz has been improving on a yearly, and has won a couple of grass-court tournaments leading up to this one. The problem he has is his movement is nowhere near as good as Alcaraz’s, so he needs to finish points without really having the game to do that from the back against so accomplished an opponent – and, as Calv reminded us, his volleying isn’t all that. He’ll have to play the game of his life to make it close, and even then… Share

29m ago 08.03 EDT Anyone ever had a wisdom tooth schlepped out? Goodness me, that is, as Louis van Gaal was wont to say of an even worse activity – watching his Manchester United team play – “a process.” I did not expect to return home and begin violently shivering, but I guess it is men’s semi-final day, so. Share

32m ago 08.00 EDT Alcaraz must feeling impregnable. First, he beat Sinner from two sets and three match points down to win the French Open, again, then he somehow found a way to beat Jaume Munar at Queen’s before winning the title with some ease, and then he got by Fabio Fognini in the first round here when he looked in profound peril. The extent to which he adores being him is moving. Share

41m ago 07.51 EDT That, then, is a flat “no” to my question, ‘Could Fritz Stich-Edberg Alcaraz?’ – with an added caveat: “Stich could volley.” Share

43m ago 07.48 EDT So how will our matches go? Luckily, Coach Calv Betton messages in to tell us: “Can’t see any way Alcaraz loses. Even if Fritz serves well, he doesn’t return well enough and hasn’t won a set off him before. Sinner v Djokovic could be interesting just cos it’s on grass, but in both matches there’s nothing really exciting technically. They’re all just gonna play their games. Djokovic will try and move Sinner around. I suspect he’ll try and slice more as well. I saw him doing a lot in practice this week.” Share

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