Carlos Alcaraz demonstrated his resilience and skill at Wimbledon, securing his spot in the quarterfinals after a challenging match against Andrey Rublev. The two-time defending champion overcame an initial surge from Rublev to win 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 on Centre Court. This victory marks Alcaraz's 22nd consecutive tour-level win and his 18th straight win at Wimbledon.
Alcaraz, the No. 2 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, acknowledged Rublev's power and aggressive play, stating that he had to push himself to the limit. Despite dropping the first set, the 22-year-old Spaniard elevated his game, showcasing crowd-pleasing brilliance throughout the two-hour, 43-minute match. Alcaraz highlighted his intelligent movement and tactical approach as keys to his victory. He is now on an eight-match winning streak against Top 20 players and holds a 23-9 record against Top 20 players at Grand Slam events. With this win, Alcaraz joins Marin Cilic, Novak Djokovic, Kei Nishikori, Jannik Sinner and Stan Wawrinka as the only active male players to reach the quarter-finals at all four majors on multiple occasions.
Alcaraz's performance against Rublev was arguably his best of the tournament, characterized by precise serving and an impressive 41 winners compared to Rublev's 29. He won 82% of points behind his first delivery. Alcaraz also emphasized the importance of mental strength in tennis, focusing on maintaining a positive mindset throughout the match. He is aiming to join Bjorn Borg as the only men in the Open Era to complete the Roland Garros-Wimbledon double in consecutive years. Standing between Alcaraz and a third consecutive semi-final appearance at Wimbledon is the home favorite, Cameron Norrie.
Meanwhile, in the women's draw, Aryna Sabalenka continued her strong run by advancing to the quarterfinals. The world's top-ranked player defeated Elise Mertens 6-4, 7-6 (4) in a match that showcased Sabalenka's power and precision. Sabalenka demonstrated her knowledge of Mertens' game, having previously partnered with her in doubles, which allowed her to exploit Mertens' weaknesses. Sabalenka hit 31 winners in her match against Raducanu.
Sabalenka's victory over Mertens sets up a quarterfinal clash with Laura Siegemund. Sabalenka finished with six aces and won 32 of 38 first-serve points. She had 36 winners, nine more than Mertens. Sabalenka is the first woman to reach the quarterfinals in all of their first three Grand Slam appearances as World No. 1 since Lindsay Davenport. Sabalenka is aiming for her first Wimbledon title and fourth Grand Slam title.
