logo
Carlos Alcaraz finds magic touch at Wimbledon as Aryna Sabalenka storms into quarterfinals

Carlos Alcaraz finds magic touch at Wimbledon as Aryna Sabalenka storms into quarterfinals

Hindustan Times14 hours ago
Carlos Alcaraz found his best form after a shaky start to beat Andrey Rublev and reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals on Sunday as hot favourite in the women's draw Aryna Sabalenka also progressed. Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates winning a game against Russia's Andrey Rublev during their men's singles fourth round tennis match (AFP)
The Spaniard, hunting a third straight title at the All England Club, has taken his fans on an emotional rollercoaster but is into the last eight after a 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win.
While Alcaraz's main rivals, seven-time winner Novak Djokovic and world number one Jannik Sinner, are in ominous form, the second seed has blown hot and cold so far.
He will next face Cameron Norrie, who is the last British player standing at Wimbledon after beating Chile's Nicolas Jarry in five gruelling sets.
Alcaraz lost three sets across his first three matches and fell behind against Russian 14th seed Rublev under the Centre Court roof.
But he turned the match around in style, producing some of his best tennis in front of his adoring fans.
"I think I played intelligent and smart today against him, tactically," said the 22-year-old. "A really good match, which I'm really proud about."
The five-time Grand Slam champion said he always believes in himself, even when facing adversity.
"One point can change the match completely, turn everything around.
"In tennis, you have to stay there all the time. Being strong mentally, to stay there. I knew that I was going to play better."
- Sabalenka power -
Women's world number one Sabalenka has yet to drop a set in four rounds at the All England Club as every other top six seed has fallen, but was given a tough workout by Belgian world number 23 Mertens.
The Belarusian came through 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) against her former doubles partner to set up a clash against Germany's Laura Siegemund.
The three-time Grand Slam champion is making up for lost time after missing last year's Wimbledon due to a shoulder injury. She was excluded in 2022 as part of a blanket ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes.
"With your support guys I think everything is possible," said Sabalenka, who has never been beyond the semi-finals. "I don't know. It's such a beautiful tournament.
"I always dreamed of winning it. Every time I'm here I'm trying to give my best and really hope for the best."
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova also progressed at the expense of Britain's Sonay Kartal, but had to mentally reset after a bizarre electronic line-calling failure.
At 4-4 in the first set, Pavlyuchenkova held game point when a Kartal backhand landed clearly over the baseline but no call came and the umpire ordered the point be replayed.
Kartal went on to break for a 5-4 lead.
Pavlyuchenkova angrily made her case to the umpire, saying: "They stole the game from me, they stole it". But she broke back and won the tie-break, which proved a launchpad for a 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 victory.
The technology glitch in the fourth-round match follows concerns raised by other players.
The All England Club released a brief statement on the incident.
"Due to operator error the system was deactivated on the point in question," said an spokesman. "The chair umpire followed the established process."
Russia's Karen Khachanov was the first winner of the day, brushing aside Polish player Kamil Majchrzak 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 on Court Two.
The 17th seed will face US fifth seed Taylor Fritz, who was only on court for 41 minutes before Australia's Jordan Thompson retired injured, trailing 6-1, 3-0.
America's Fritz faced gruelling five-set battles in his opening two matches but it was a different story in his fourth-round encounter on Court One.
The Eastbourne champion broke Thompson twice to seal the first set in just 21 minutes and led 3-0 in the second set when the Australian decided he could not go on, due to an apparent thigh injury.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma spotted together at Wimbledon; pic goes viral
Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma spotted together at Wimbledon; pic goes viral

Time of India

time35 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma spotted together at Wimbledon; pic goes viral

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma Star couple Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma were spotted enjoying Day 8 of Wimbledon 2025, adding a splash of Bollywood-meets-cricket glamour to the already star-studded stands at the All England Club. A picture of the two, looking relaxed and stylish in the Royal Box, quickly went viral on social media, with fans praising their effortless elegance and presence at the prestigious event. Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma (AFP Photo) The couple's appearance came amid a thrilling day of tennis action featuring some of the sport's biggest names. Kohli, currently on a break from cricket after recent engagements in a title-winning Indian Premier League campaign for RCB, and Anushka, who has kept a low public profile in recent months, seemed to be soaking in the tennis atmosphere while also enjoying some rare downtime together. They weren't the only celebrity duo turning heads. Tennis legend Roger Federer also made his much-anticipated Wimbledon return as a spectator, arriving with wife Mirka Federer. Dressed in a tailored navy suit, Federer received a standing ovation as he entered the Royal Box, while Mirka complemented him in a classic white outfit. Poll Who do you think has the best style at Wimbledon 2025? Virat Kohli Anushka Sharma Roger Federer Mirka Federer The Centre Court lineup featured Novak Djokovic taking on Alex de Minaur, followed by a high-voltage clash between Emma Navarro and teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner's encounter with Grigor Dimitrov added to the excitement later in the day. Wimbledon 2025 has been a magnet for high-profile attendees this year. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Concentrated Siberian Ginseng Extract 2oz Superior Ginseng Undo In the past week alone, celebrities such as Olivia Rodrigo, John Cena, Maria Sharapova, Sir Gareth Southgate, David Beckham, and former England cricketer Stuart Broad have all been spotted at SW19. As always, the Royal Box remains the ultimate destination for sports royalty, entertainers, and global icons. And with Virat and Anushka joining the list, Wimbledon's allure just keeps growing—both on and off the court. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.

Rare! England batter Joe Root meets tennis legend Roger Federer, James Anderson also in attendance
Rare! England batter Joe Root meets tennis legend Roger Federer, James Anderson also in attendance

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

Rare! England batter Joe Root meets tennis legend Roger Federer, James Anderson also in attendance

Roger Federer and cricketer Joe Root greet each other in the Royal Box prior to the Gentlemen's Singles fourth round match between Alex De Minaur and Novak Djokovic (Image by) Wimbledon 2025 continued to shine both on and off the court, and on Day 9, fans were treated to a special moment when two sports legends met. England cricket star Joe Root was seen greeting tennis great Roger Federer at Centre Court. Also present alongside Root in the Royal Box was England's veteran fast bowler James Anderson. Root, who recently played in England's second Test loss to India at Edgbaston, took time out to attend the famous Grand Slam. A photo of Root shaking hands with Federer, who has won a record eight Wimbledon titles, quickly went viral. The meeting thrilled fans of both cricket and tennis. Both Root and Federer arrived in style. Federer wore a classic navy blue suit and was accompanied by his wife Mirka, while Root looked sharp as well. The two shared a friendly moment as they greeted each other, with Anderson smiling in the background. The presence of all three added to the star-studded atmosphere at SW19. Earlier, the likes of David Beckham, Maria Sharapova, Stuart Broad and John Cena had graced the tournament with their presence. Although Root had a quiet outing in the second Test, scoring just 22 and 6, his appearance at Wimbledon still drew plenty of attention. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like When the Camera Clicked at the Worst Possible Time Read More Undo Earlier in the series, he had scored a crucial half-century to help England win at Headingley. James Anderson takes a photo of Joe Root and Carrie Root in the Royal Box prior to the Gentlemen's Singles fourth round match between Alex De Minaur and Novak Djokovic (Image by) Federer, who retired from tennis in 2022, remains one of the sport's most beloved figures. His meeting with Root created a rare crossover moment between two sporting worlds, just as Centre Court became the venue for Novak Djokovic's thrilling win over Alex de Minaur. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.

Djokovic on collision course with Sinner, keeps quest for 25th Grand Slam alive after entering Wimbledon quarters
Djokovic on collision course with Sinner, keeps quest for 25th Grand Slam alive after entering Wimbledon quarters

First Post

timean hour ago

  • First Post

Djokovic on collision course with Sinner, keeps quest for 25th Grand Slam alive after entering Wimbledon quarters

Novak Djokovic fought back from a set down to defeat Alex de Minaur 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the presence of 20-time Grand Slam champion and former rival Roger Federer and reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the 16th time in his storied career. read more Novak Djokovic celebrates after defeating Alex de Minaur to advance to the Wimbledon quarter-finals on Monday, 7 July. AP Novak Djokovic said it was 'good to break the curse' in front of Roger Federer after recovering from a set down to beat Alex de Minaur and reach his 16th Wimbledon quarter-final on Monday. Djokovic was lethargic and unusually tentative in the early stages of his last-16 match against the Australian 11th seed on Centre Court, but eventually found his rhythm to win 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. It keeps the seven-time champion on track for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title, which would be the crowning achievement of an astonishing career. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD If he wins the crown on Sunday, the 38-year-old Serb would also draw level with Federer's record of eight men's titles at the All England Club. Retired Swiss great Federer watched from the royal box as his long-time rival was given his toughest test of the tournament so far. 'It's probably the first time he's watching me and I've won the match,' said Djokovic. 'The last couple I lost, so good to break the curse. 'No, it's great, obviously, great to have Roger, a huge champion and someone that I admired and respected a lot. 'We shared the stage for so many years, and it's great to have him back.' Sixth seed Djokovic was broken in the first game and conceded two more breaks as De Minaur ran away with the first set. The Serb committed 16 unforced errors, including four double faults in the opener. Djokovic broke immediately at the start of the second set but then became bogged down in a game lasting nearly 19 minutes, which De Minaur won on his sixth break point. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Both players struggled to hold onto their serve in an attritional battle but Djokovic, pleading for support from the crowd, held his nerve to level the match, letting out a roar as De Minaur went long. The third set went with serve until the ninth game, when De Minaur skewed a forehand wide to concede the crucial break. De Minaur found new inspiration in the fourth set, surging into a 4-1 lead but crumbled at the pivotal moment as Djokovic fought back, reeling off five games in a row to seal the win in three hours and 18 minutes. 'I'm still trying to process the whole match and what happened on the court,' he said. 'It wasn't a great start for me, it was a great start for him obviously. 'I was just very pleased to hang in tough in the right moments and win this one.' Djokovic's tally of 16 Wimbledon quarter-finals is second only to Federer's total of 18 in men's tennis. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He will play Italian 22nd seed Flavio Cobolli in the last eight, with a potential semi-final looming against world number one Jannik Sinner.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store