LONDON, July 9: For all the waspish energy and venomous hitting, it was Carlos Alcaraz’s ability to turn up the dial under pressure that saw him come through a testing encounter with Nicolas Jarry and move safely into the Wimbledon fourth round on Saturday.
The world number one was frequently on the ropes against the imposing Chilean but always managed to find another gear as he wrapped up a 6-3 6-7(6) 6-3 7-5 victory on Centre Court to set up a tantalising encounter with either Alexander Zverev or Matteo Berrettini. The U.S. Open winner ultimately had too much in his locker to be sent packing by Jarry, but he still showed some vulnerability at times that better opponents than the 28th-ranked Jarry will seize on.
The Chilean, who looks even bigger than his stated 6-foot six-inch frame, played the role of David to Alcaraz’s more diminutive tennis Goliath.
His slingshot was a massive and relentlessly consistent serve and a pummelling forehand that at times did real damage to the Spaniard. ”I stayed focused, all the time,” he said on court after securing the win. “I knew I was going to have my chances. It was really close, he has great shots, very solid.”
The Centre Court crowd had seemed uncertain where to place their loyalties at times during the contest.
In need of a new darling, in the absence of their beloved Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal and with Andy Murray having been knocked out, Alcaraz has been tipped as the man to steal their hearts.
Yet they struggled to completely embrace the Spaniard when a compelling underdog story was brewing.
What had looked like being a routine outing for Alcaraz when he claimed the first set after a solitary break, quickly turned into something more troublesome as Jarry raced into a 4-1 lead in the second.
While Alcaraz clawed back parity, the Chilean served like his life depended on it to level the match in the tiebreak.
Alcaraz got his nose in front once more but if he hoped to have dealt a decisive blow by winning the third set, Jarry had other ideas, racing into a 3-0 lead at the start of the fourth.
That, however, brought out the best in the Spaniard who finished off the contest with two further breaks, wrapping up the match with two massive serves that were just too hot for Jarry to handle. The Spaniard’s sublime shotmaking drew some gasps, but Jarry’s dogged resistance ensured the crowd did not wholeheartedly rally behind Alcaraz when he was under the cosh.
Rybakina on fire
Elena Rybakina was very much aware that she would be treated as public enemy number one when she took on Katie Boulter — the sole Briton left in the Wimbledon singles draw – in what had been billed as a Centre Court blockbuster on Saturday.
Armed with a menacing serve and steely resolve, Wimbledon champion Rybakina never allowed the partisan crowd to find their full vocal range as she ruthlessly and unceremoniously cut Boulter down with a 6-1 6-1 third-round demolition job.
Andreeva reaches 4th round
Sixteen-year-old Mirra Andreeva, playing at Wimbledon for the first time, earned the final spot in the fourth round of the grass-court Grand Slam tournament on Sunday.
The Russian qualifier is the latest teen sensation in tennis, and she is not disappointing at the All England Club.
Andreeva is the youngest player since Coco Gauff in 2019 to reach the women’s fourth round at Wimbledon. She reached the third round at this year’s French Open in her first major tournament.
Despite trailing 4-1 in the second set, Andreeva beat 22nd-seeded Anastasia Potapova 6-2, 7-5 on No. 3 Court.
“I came back from 1-4, so of course I feel great,” Andreeva said.
Dimitrov dispatches Tiafoe
Grigor Dimitrov dispatched American 10th seed Frances Tiafoe in straight sets with a convincing 6-2 6-3 6-2 victory on Sunday to move into the fourth round of Wimbledon where he will meet Danish sixth seed Holger Rune.
Tiafoe arrived at the All England Club having captured his first grasscourt title at the Stuttgart Open last month but it was the experienced Dimitrov, a former semi-finalist here and Queen’s Club finalist last month, who prevailed over two days.
Tsitsipas brothers ousted
Stefanos Tsitsipas and his younger brother Petros finally got a chance to finish off their first-round Wimbledon doubles match that started on Friday.
However, unfortunately for the Greek duo, their day out on Sunday proved to be short and not very sweet.
Stranded at one set apiece when they were called off court on day five of the championships.
The Greek duo emerged second best after they were beaten 6-7(3) 6-4 6-2 by French teenagers Arthur Fils and Luca Van Assche. (AP)
