Carlos Alcaraz overcomes slump to reach Wimbledon quarter-finals

LONDON – Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz overcame a worrying mid-match slump to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals on July 7, defeating Ugo Humbert of France in four sets to stay on course for a fourth Grand Slam title.

The Spanish world No. 3 came through 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 against his 16th-ranked opponent to book a spot in the last eight of a Major for the ninth time in just 14 appearances.

However, it was another uncomfortable afternoon for Alcaraz, who had needed five sets to see off Frances Tiafoe in the third round.

His erratic performance on July 7 saw him drop serve five times and commit an uncharacteristic 33 unforced errors.

Said Alcaraz: “Playing lefties is always tricky, no matter the surface. I played my first lefty at Queen’s so I learnt a little bit from that.

“I felt great playing today. I think I played a really high level and playing a lefty I tried not to think about it and just played my own game.”

The 21-year-old, bidding to become just the sixth man to win the French Open and Wimbledon back to back, eased through the first set under the Centre Court roof before crucially saving four break points in the fifth game of the second.

Humbert stormed back, breaking the champion three times in the third set as Alcaraz went spectacularly off the boil.

Alcaraz was twice unable to hold on to breaks in the fourth set and had to fend off three break points in the eighth game to stay level at 4-4.

Left-hander Humbert then lost his bearings to hand over a service break in the 11th game and Alcaraz took full advantage to quickly seal the tie.

Said the Spaniard: “Set point is a really important point for me, so I had to show the opponent that whatever shot he shoots, I will be there.

“That’s me, I will be there, fighting until the last ball and sometimes it is a good point like this one and sometimes I lose it but the main thing is just to fight.”

Alcaraz will take on either American 12th seed Tommy Paul or 36-year-old compatriot Roberto Bautista Agut, a semi-finalist in 2019.

Meanwhile, Italian top seed Jannik Sinner beat America’s 14th seed Ben Shelton 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (11-9) to set up a quarter-final with Grigor Dimitrov or Daniil Medvedev.

In the women’s draw, Madison Keys broke down in tears at Wimbledon on July 7 as the injured American 12th seed was forced to retire from her fourth-round match against Italy’s Jasmine Paolini with victory in sight.

After dropping the first set to the seventh-seeded Paolini on Court 1, Keys hit back to level the match at 3-6, 7-6 (8-6).

The 2017 US Open runner-up was on the verge of reaching a third Wimbledon quarter-final after breaking twice in the final set to build a 5-2 lead.

But Keys suffered a left leg injury in the eighth game of the decider, leaving her limping and in need of a 10-minute medical timeout when she was leading 5-4.

The 29-year-old returned with a heavy strapping on her leg and was visibly upset as she struggled to move and was immediately broken by Paolini.

Keys gamely tried to continue playing but, after failing to run for a Paolini drop shot, she finally decided to retire with the score level at 5-5 in the deciding set.

Paolini will face reigning US Open champion and second seed Coco Gauff or American 19th seed Emma Navarro for a place in the semi-finals.

“I’m very sorry for her. It’s sad. Really good match. Really tough, lots of up and downs. I feel a bit happy but also sad for her because it’s not easy to win like that,” said Paolini.

Paolini, who finished as the French Open runner-up in June, had never been past the first round in her previous three appearances at Wimbledon.

She has reached a Grand Slam quarter-final for the second time, but her progress was overshadowed by the emotional exit of Keys, who was still weeping as she walked off court. AFP