Struff stress but Carlitos maintains hat-trick charge
The Spanish champion knew all about the danger of the 35-year-old Struff, having been knocked out of the 2021 French Open by him when he was an emerging star and then also getting stretched by the towering German over five sets at the following year's Wimbledon.
And the same old problems emerged again on Friday when, after Alcaraz had eased through the first set, Struff, who blasted down 13 aces in all, responded brilliantly to clinch the crucial break for 5-3 before levelling the match.
But Alcaraz, who'd also had a serious workout from another veteran, Fabio Fognini, over five sets in the opening round, once again found another gear to prevail 6-1 3-6 6-3 6-4 in two hours and 25 minutes.
"I knew it was going to be really difficult and I had to be focused on every shot," said the 22-year-old.
"His game suits the grass, big serves, coming to the net, so I'm pleased with everything I did today. Proud to get the win in four sets.
"To be honest I was suffering in every service game I did. Lots of break points down. It was stressful," added Alcaraz, who set up a last-16 date with 14th seed Andrey Rublev, who eased past veteran French leftie Adrian Mannarino 7-5 6-2 6-3.
Taylor Fritz, who had already negotiated two marathon five-setters over three days to reach the third round, needed another three hours and 12 minutes to get past Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Yet though his workload has been massive and he's had issues with his knee, he reckons he's actually feeling stronger as each match goes by as he gets ready to face Australian Jordan Thompson, four-set victor over Luciano Darderi, in the last-16.
It was the end of the road for Brazil's rising teenage star Joao Fonseca, who couldn't keep his legion of noisy fans happy after losing to the resurgent Chilean qualifier Nicolas Jarry, who secured a fourth-round meeting with Britain's Cameron Norrie after a 6-3 6-4 3-6 7-6 (7-4) victory on a raucous No.2 Court.
The home fans, fed up after the exit of their big men's hope Jack Draper on Thursday, still have Norrie, their 2022 semi-finalist, to cheer after the last British man standing beat Italy's Mattia Bellucci 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 6-3.
A surprising face in the last-16 draw will be Poland's world 109 Kamil Majchrzak, who beat Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (8-6) and will next face Russian 17th seed Karen Khachanov, who finally beat Portugal's Nuno Borges in a match tiebreak 7-6 (8-6) 4-6 4-6 6-3 7-6 (10-8).
Carlos Alcaraz has survived a "stressful" afternoon, coping with a barrage of booming serves from veteran German powerhhouse Jan-Lennard Struff to take his unbeaten streak to 21 matches and keep his Wimbledon hat-trick ambitions on course.
The Spanish champion knew all about the danger of the 35-year-old Struff, having been knocked out of the 2021 French Open by him when he was an emerging star and then also getting stretched by the towering German over five sets at the following year's Wimbledon.
And the same old problems emerged again on Friday when, after Alcaraz had eased through the first set, Struff, who blasted down 13 aces in all, responded brilliantly to clinch the crucial break for 5-3 before levelling the match.
But Alcaraz, who'd also had a serious workout from another veteran, Fabio Fognini, over five sets in the opening round, once again found another gear to prevail 6-1 3-6 6-3 6-4 in two hours and 25 minutes.
"I knew it was going to be really difficult and I had to be focused on every shot," said the 22-year-old.
"His game suits the grass, big serves, coming to the net, so I'm pleased with everything I did today. Proud to get the win in four sets.
"To be honest I was suffering in every service game I did. Lots of break points down. It was stressful," added Alcaraz, who set up a last-16 date with 14th seed Andrey Rublev, who eased past veteran French leftie Adrian Mannarino 7-5 6-2 6-3.
Taylor Fritz, who had already negotiated two marathon five-setters over three days to reach the third round, needed another three hours and 12 minutes to get past Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Yet though his workload has been massive and he's had issues with his knee, he reckons he's actually feeling stronger as each match goes by as he gets ready to face Australian Jordan Thompson, four-set victor over Luciano Darderi, in the last-16.
It was the end of the road for Brazil's rising teenage star Joao Fonseca, who couldn't keep his legion of noisy fans happy after losing to the resurgent Chilean qualifier Nicolas Jarry, who secured a fourth-round meeting with Britain's Cameron Norrie after a 6-3 6-4 3-6 7-6 (7-4) victory on a raucous No.2 Court.
The home fans, fed up after the exit of their big men's hope Jack Draper on Thursday, still have Norrie, their 2022 semi-finalist, to cheer after the last British man standing beat Italy's Mattia Bellucci 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 6-3.
A surprising face in the last-16 draw will be Poland's world 109 Kamil Majchrzak, who beat Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (8-6) and will next face Russian 17th seed Karen Khachanov, who finally beat Portugal's Nuno Borges in a match tiebreak 7-6 (8-6) 4-6 4-6 6-3 7-6 (10-8).
Carlos Alcaraz has survived a "stressful" afternoon, coping with a barrage of booming serves from veteran German powerhhouse Jan-Lennard Struff to take his unbeaten streak to 21 matches and keep his Wimbledon hat-trick ambitions on course.
The Spanish champion knew all about the danger of the 35-year-old Struff, having been knocked out of the 2021 French Open by him when he was an emerging star and then also getting stretched by the towering German over five sets at the following year's Wimbledon.
And the same old problems emerged again on Friday when, after Alcaraz had eased through the first set, Struff, who blasted down 13 aces in all, responded brilliantly to clinch the crucial break for 5-3 before levelling the match.
But Alcaraz, who'd also had a serious workout from another veteran, Fabio Fognini, over five sets in the opening round, once again found another gear to prevail 6-1 3-6 6-3 6-4 in two hours and 25 minutes.
"I knew it was going to be really difficult and I had to be focused on every shot," said the 22-year-old.
"His game suits the grass, big serves, coming to the net, so I'm pleased with everything I did today. Proud to get the win in four sets.
"To be honest I was suffering in every service game I did. Lots of break points down. It was stressful," added Alcaraz, who set up a last-16 date with 14th seed Andrey Rublev, who eased past veteran French leftie Adrian Mannarino 7-5 6-2 6-3.
Taylor Fritz, who had already negotiated two marathon five-setters over three days to reach the third round, needed another three hours and 12 minutes to get past Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Yet though his workload has been massive and he's had issues with his knee, he reckons he's actually feeling stronger as each match goes by as he gets ready to face Australian Jordan Thompson, four-set victor over Luciano Darderi, in the last-16.
It was the end of the road for Brazil's rising teenage star Joao Fonseca, who couldn't keep his legion of noisy fans happy after losing to the resurgent Chilean qualifier Nicolas Jarry, who secured a fourth-round meeting with Britain's Cameron Norrie after a 6-3 6-4 3-6 7-6 (7-4) victory on a raucous No.2 Court.
The home fans, fed up after the exit of their big men's hope Jack Draper on Thursday, still have Norrie, their 2022 semi-finalist, to cheer after the last British man standing beat Italy's Mattia Bellucci 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 6-3.
A surprising face in the last-16 draw will be Poland's world 109 Kamil Majchrzak, who beat Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (8-6) and will next face Russian 17th seed Karen Khachanov, who finally beat Portugal's Nuno Borges in a match tiebreak 7-6 (8-6) 4-6 4-6 6-3 7-6 (10-8).
Carlos Alcaraz has survived a "stressful" afternoon, coping with a barrage of booming serves from veteran German powerhhouse Jan-Lennard Struff to take his unbeaten streak to 21 matches and keep his Wimbledon hat-trick ambitions on course.
The Spanish champion knew all about the danger of the 35-year-old Struff, having been knocked out of the 2021 French Open by him when he was an emerging star and then also getting stretched by the towering German over five sets at the following year's Wimbledon.
And the same old problems emerged again on Friday when, after Alcaraz had eased through the first set, Struff, who blasted down 13 aces in all, responded brilliantly to clinch the crucial break for 5-3 before levelling the match.
But Alcaraz, who'd also had a serious workout from another veteran, Fabio Fognini, over five sets in the opening round, once again found another gear to prevail 6-1 3-6 6-3 6-4 in two hours and 25 minutes.
"I knew it was going to be really difficult and I had to be focused on every shot," said the 22-year-old.
"His game suits the grass, big serves, coming to the net, so I'm pleased with everything I did today. Proud to get the win in four sets.
"To be honest I was suffering in every service game I did. Lots of break points down. It was stressful," added Alcaraz, who set up a last-16 date with 14th seed Andrey Rublev, who eased past veteran French leftie Adrian Mannarino 7-5 6-2 6-3.
Taylor Fritz, who had already negotiated two marathon five-setters over three days to reach the third round, needed another three hours and 12 minutes to get past Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Yet though his workload has been massive and he's had issues with his knee, he reckons he's actually feeling stronger as each match goes by as he gets ready to face Australian Jordan Thompson, four-set victor over Luciano Darderi, in the last-16.
It was the end of the road for Brazil's rising teenage star Joao Fonseca, who couldn't keep his legion of noisy fans happy after losing to the resurgent Chilean qualifier Nicolas Jarry, who secured a fourth-round meeting with Britain's Cameron Norrie after a 6-3 6-4 3-6 7-6 (7-4) victory on a raucous No.2 Court.
The home fans, fed up after the exit of their big men's hope Jack Draper on Thursday, still have Norrie, their 2022 semi-finalist, to cheer after the last British man standing beat Italy's Mattia Bellucci 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 6-3.
A surprising face in the last-16 draw will be Poland's world 109 Kamil Majchrzak, who beat Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (8-6) and will next face Russian 17th seed Karen Khachanov, who finally beat Portugal's Nuno Borges in a match tiebreak 7-6 (8-6) 4-6 4-6 6-3 7-6 (10-8).
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Wales held their 19-7 halftime lead until the start of the last quarter when Japan hatched tries by uncapped backs Ichigo Hakasusu and Halatoa Vailea — both converted from wide out by Seungsin Lee — and led for the first time from the 70th minute. Japan deliberately picked a 2pm kick-off in the day's worst heat and humidity and the tourists waned in the second half. The Brave Blossoms beat Wales for only the second time and will climb above them in the next Test rankings for the first time since they were introduced two decades ago. A French team lacking most of the leading players from their recent Six Nations victory has fully stretched New Zealand before succumbing 31-27 in the first match of a three-Test series. The visitors scored the first 10 points of the match in Dunedin, including the opening try through Mickael Guillard, and stuck with the All Blacks throughout, counter-punching every time New Zealand scored. "We showed a lot of spirit tonight. We knew we'd come out with a lot of intensity and come out all together and what we lack in experience we can bring out with some spirit," France's Canada-born lock Tyler Duguid said. The All Blacks, who lost winger Sevu Reece to a head knock in the first minute of the match, looked best when they were able to lift the tempo, as they did to score tries through fullback Will Jordan and back-rower Tupuo Vaa'i to take a 14-10 lead. Jordan scored a second try and centre Jordie Barrett also touched down for Scott Robertson's side. But the three-time world champions had tries disallowed to Barrett, Jordan and centre Billy Proctor for a 21-13 halftime lead. France scored through Gabin Villiere to start the second half and when Jordan put the All Blacks ahead 28-20, Les Bleus responded again through Cameron Woki. At that point New Zealand were forced into having to shoot for goal to establish a safe four-point lead to avoid being vulnerable to a late penalty. "It was quite tight towards the end," All Blacks captain Scott Barrett said. "We certainly created enough opportunities to hang into the game and it went right down to the wire." Earlier on Saturday in Whangarei, Scotland conceded a try after only 40 seconds but rallied to score four tries including a double to scrumhalf George Horne to hold out the New Zealand Maori 29-26. It was the Scot's first win over the New Zealand Maori in their first match in New Zealand in 25 years. And in Kitakyushu, the longest losing streak by a major Test rugby team in the professional era was extended to 18 matches when Wales lost 24-19 to hosts Japan. Wales held their 19-7 halftime lead until the start of the last quarter when Japan hatched tries by uncapped backs Ichigo Hakasusu and Halatoa Vailea — both converted from wide out by Seungsin Lee — and led for the first time from the 70th minute. Japan deliberately picked a 2pm kick-off in the day's worst heat and humidity and the tourists waned in the second half. The Brave Blossoms beat Wales for only the second time and will climb above them in the next Test rankings for the first time since they were introduced two decades ago.
