London, July 11: Lorenzo Musetti threw his head back and spread his arms wide to celebrate reaching his first Grand Slam semifinal at Wimbledon, then covered his face with both hands. His 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 victory over Taylor Fritz on Wednesday was a big deal, to be sure. After all, the 25th-seeded Musetti, a 22-year-old from Italy, never had made it past the third round at the All England Club 슬롯사이트� or past the fourth round at any major tournament 슬롯사이트� until this fortnight. Now, though, comes a far tougher test: taking on Novak Djokovic. Wimbledon 2024: Novak Djokovic Advances to Semi-Final After Alex De Minaur슬롯사이트™s Walkover Due to Injury.

슬롯사이트œHe probably knows, better than me, the surface and the stadium, for sure,슬롯사이트� Musetti said with a chuckle, aware he'll be making his Centre Court debut on Friday. 슬롯사이트œJokes apart, he's a legend everywhere, but especially here in Wimbledon.슬롯사이트�

This will be Djokovic's record-tying 13th semifinal at Wimbledon alone 슬롯사이트� equaling Roger Federer 슬롯사이트� and 49th Slam semifinal overall, extending a mark he already held. As Musetti pursues his first major championship, Djokovic seeks a 25th, including what would be an eighth at the All England Club.

Djokovic's smooth trip through this year's bracket was made even easier when the man he was supposed to play in the quarterfinals Wednesday, Alex de Minaur, pulled out with a hip injury hours before their match was scheduled to begin.

Musetti was forced to work for his spot in the final four: His 3 1/2-hour victory over the 13th-seeded Fritz was the 37th five-setter at the All England Club this year, the most at any Grand Slam tournament. Musetti acknowledged he didn't get off to an ideal start, in part because of nerves. But an early break in the second set helped alter the course of the evening.

슬롯사이트œImmediately, I changed my mind. I changed my attitude,슬롯사이트� he said. 슬롯사이트œAnd that probably made the difference.슬롯사이트�

Musetti's son, Ludovico, was born in March, and he said Wednesday that helped him rededicate himself to his sport and strive to no longer 슬롯사이트œthrow away matches.슬롯사이트�

슬롯사이트œInstead of me teaching him, he's teaching me. 슬롯사이트� Having a child makes you reflect a lot,슬롯사이트� Musetti said. 슬롯사이트œI feel more mature on the court, more mature off the court, and more mature as a player, as a father, as a person.슬롯사이트�

Playing at a sun-swathed No. 1 Court against Fritz, an American who is one of the sport's biggest servers but fell to 0-4 in major quarterfinals, Musetti managed to accumulate 13 break points and convert six. With Queen Camilla, the wife of King Charles III, in the stands and joining fans in doing the wave, Musetti did far more to vary his strokes 슬롯사이트� a drop shot here, a lob there, plenty of slices 슬롯사이트� than Fritz did.

슬롯사이트œI just felt like it took a lot to finish the point,슬롯사이트� Fritz said.

Djokovic had knee surgery less than a month before the start of play at the All England Club. But despite limitations on his movement, the 37-year-old Djokovic has dropped only two sets so far 슬롯사이트� facing a qualifier in the first round, a wild-card entrant in the second and only one seeded player, No. 15 Holger Rune.

Instead of going up against No. 9 de Minaur on Wednesday, Djokovic will get three full days off before meeting Musetti. The other semifinal Friday is defending champion Carlos Alcaraz against Daniil Medvedev.

Djokovic and Musetti have played each other six times previously. Djokovic has won five of those, including a five-setter at this year's French Open that concluded after 3 a.m. It was in Djokovic's following match in Paris that he tore the meniscus in his right knee.

슬롯사이트œWe know each other pretty well. They've always been a huge fight so I expect a big, big fight. It's going to be one of the toughest challenges on tour,슬롯사이트� Musetti said, 슬롯사이트œbut I am an ambitious guy and I like to be challenged.슬롯사이트�

In the women's quarterfinals Wednesday, 2022 champion Elena Rybakina grabbed nine of the last 11 games to defeat No. 21 Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-2, and No. 31 Barbora Krejcikova eliminated No. 13 Jelena Ostapenko 6-4, 7-6 (4) in a matchup between two past champions at the French Open.

The other women's semifinal on Thursday is No. 7 Jasmine Paolini of Italy against unseeded Donna Vekic of Croatia. Kazakhstan's Rybakina ended her win with her seventh ace and improved to 19-2 at Wimbledon in four appearances.

슬롯사이트œDefinitely, I have an aggressive style of game,슬롯사이트� Rybakina said. 슬롯사이트œI have a huge serve, so it's a big advantage.슬롯사이트�

Krejcikova won her first Grand Slam title on the red clay at Roland Garros in 2021, but the 28-year-old from the Czech Republic never put together a five-match winning streak on grass until now. De Minaur's exit is the latest due to injury in Week 2. His hip issue arose right at the end of his win against Arthur Fils on Monday. Elena Rybakina Beats Elina Svitolina To Reach Wimbledon 2024 Semifinals, To Face Barbora Krejcikova.

De Minaur said he heard a crack and knew something was wrong. He underwent medical tests Tuesday that revealed the extent of the problem but tried to practice on Wednesday morning, hoping to participate in what would have been his first Wimbledon quarterfinal.

슬롯사이트œThis was the biggest match of my career," de Minaur said, 슬롯사이트œso wanted to do anything I could to play.슬롯사이트�

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