Carlos Alcaraz admitted he was “suffering” after coming through a hard-fought four-set win over Jan-Lennard Struff to reach the Wimbledon fourth round.
The world No. 2 sealed his 21st consecutive win to move past the German with a 6-1 3-6 6-3 6-4, ahead of a last-16 clash with Andrey Rublev.
This was not Alcaraz at his free-flowing best – far from it – but the signs are looking ominous, as the Spaniard seeks to win Wimbledon for a third year running.
“I knew at the beginning of that it was going to be really difficult,” he said in his on-court interview.
“I had to be really focused on my serve games and the returns. I think his game suits the grass pretty well with big serves.
“I am just really pleased with everything that I’ve done today. I tried to make the most of the opportunities that he brought to me in the match. I’m just proud to get the win in four sets.
“It was stressful as well. To be honest, I was suffering in every serve game that I did today; love thirties, break points, and it was stressful.
“I just tried to try to run to run every ball. Try to fight for every ball, and try to see if he was going to miss some easy shots. I was lucky in that respect. I made the most of it and ended up making the break.”
Alcaraz claimed the opener in just 45 minutes, taking a double break at 5-1 against the world No. 125, who had few answers.
It looked like the second set would follow suit when Alcaraz moved a set and a break up at 2-1, but the 35-year-old broke back and followed that up with a hard-fought hold.
The reigning champion was starting to show a few chinks in his armour, and a well-executed backhand gave Struff the opportunity to serve for the set at 5-3.
The German was given two set points after Alcaraz netted a routine forehand return and prevailed on the first of those to send a few shockwaves through Centre Court.
Alcaraz responded in the manner of a champion – albeit with a bit of luck – executing a sublime drop volley to take an opening hold, before three Struff double faults gifted the Spaniard an early break.
Struff continued to go toe-to-toe with Alcaraz, swatting away a break point opportunity to take an important hold at 4-2.
Alcaraz would go on to seize the third set with little fuss, thanks to a commanding hold to 15 at 6-3.
The German continued to keep pace with Alcaraz in the fourth set, as the Spaniard struggled to find the consistency to put the 35-year-old to the sword.
It became an increasingly cagey affair, emphasised by the fact there was only one break point opportunity for both players in the opening eight games.
When Struff netted a seemingly routine forehand into the net, you sensed that the tide of this match could swing in Alcaraz’s favour.
That is exactly what happened, as Struff netted another sloppy forehand strike to ensure Alcaraz won the longest game of the match, which went to deuce five times.
Alcaraz set up three match points with a delightful drop shot, prevailing with the first of those as Struff hit the net with a forehand return.
