Wimbledon Day 10: Semifinal Spots Secured

Welcome to the Wimbledon briefing, where The Athletic explains the key stories of the tournament each day. Day 10 saw heartbreak for the last American male contender, while a newcomer embraces success on grass for the first time.

Defeat for the Last American Hope

Alexander Zverev, the No. 2 seed and reigning French Open champion, delivered a commanding performance at Wimbledon. On a day where his first serve connected over 80% of the time, beating him became a daunting task. Despite traditionally weaker results on grass compared to other Grand Slams, Zverev convincingly defeated Taylor Fritz, the No. 6 seed and final American man in the draw, with a score of 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.

Fritz, who had previously been a consistent challenge for Zverev with a 10-5 head-to-head record, faced difficulty on the court. His knee tendinitis, though seemingly under control for much of the season, required treatment during the match’s second set. Despite feeling strong in the warm-up, Fritz struggled to maintain that level.

Zverev’s dominance was evident in his powerful first serves and an impressive win rate on his second serve. His performance follows his Roland Garros victory and secures him a place in the Wimbledon semifinals for the first time. His next opponent is British wild card Arthur Féry, who caused an upset by defeating No. 9 seed Flavio Cobolli.

Nosková’s Grand Slam Breakthrough

Linda Nosková, aged 21 from the Czech Republic, made a significant impact in her Wimbledon quarterfinal against Belgium’s Elise Mertens. Despite some missteps, Nosková controlled the match with precision, breaking into the top 40 the same year.

Her aggressive style put Mertens under continuous pressure, generating several break point opportunities. Although she missed some key shots, Nosková remained resilient, impressing with spectacular winners. She capitalized on her final opportunity, securing a 6-3, 7-5 victory to advance to her first Grand Slam semifinal.

Nosková’s opponent will be Marta Kostyuk, the No. 12 seed from Ukraine, who has shown impressive form by winning 21 of her last 22 matches. Nosková credits her varied game style with aiding her throughout challenging matches.

Upcoming Matches

Women’s Semifinals:

• Karolína Muchová (10) vs. Coco Gauff (7) – 8:30 a.m. ET on ESPN
• Marta Kostyuk (12) vs. Linda Nosková (9) – Follows Muchová vs. Gauff on ESPN

Gauff faces a tactical test against Muchová, known for her mix of powerful and deft play. Their head-to-head history slightly favors Gauff, but Muchová’s versatility on grass could pose challenges. Meanwhile, Kostyuk meets Nosková in a match where nerves might play a significant role.