Carlos Alcaraz downs Andrey Rublev to continue Wimbledon title defence and reacts to setting up ‘nightmare’ Cameron Norrie clash

For the first time since his thrilling French Open final win over Jannik Sinner last month, Alcaraz went a set behind to Rublev – but cranked up his level to provide a quickfire response and ultimately seal the 6-7(5) 6-3 6-4 6-4 victory.

“Facing Cam is always really, really difficult. We have really difficult battles already,” Alcaraz said.

“Facing him is almost a nightmare, to be honest. Really tough from the baseline. I’m not surprised he’s in the quarter-finals playing great tennis because I’ve seen him practising.

“When he lost at Queen’s (to Jakub Mensik), he stayed for five days practising morning, afternoon, and night. I saw him. So I’m not surprised at all seeing his level. It’s going to be really different.

“He’s playing at home, as well, so he’s going to use the crowd to his side. I have to be really strong mentally and focused to play good tennis if I want to beat him.”

Rublev has seemed a renewed figure on the grass after teaming up with two-time Grand Slam winner Marat Safin – who has helped his mental approach to matches, having previously been open about his struggles psychologically.

The world No. 14 showed early signs of springing an upset on Centre Court.

It was Rublev who broke first in the match, catching Alcaraz cold to love as the Spaniard saw the ball cannon off the frame of his racquet – as he struggled to match the early intensity of his opponent, who was displaying an excellent level.

Alcaraz did regain his footing in the first set, and the break back, as he found joy in bringing Rublev forward. The Spaniard’s level was gradually rising, but he could not forge an advantage, spurning a break point as Rublev notched a hold for 5-4, and they both traded serves until a tie-break.

After gaining a mini-break, Alcaraz suffered a late capitulation, Rublev blasting his opponent’s serve and forcing the five-time Grand Slam winner into the net for a set lead.

“Andrey is one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful, player on tour. So aggressive on the ball,” Alcaraz said afterwards.

“He is pushing you to the limit in every ball. Makes it really difficult to face him, but really happy with the way I played today – intelligent, smart, tactically well against him, which I’m really proud about.”

Almost like the flick of a switch, Alcaraz snapped into the mode which saw him embark on a 21-match winning streak prior to this fourth-round clash.

As seven games flew by with little-to-no pressure on the server, Alcaraz seized his moment – albeit aided by an untimely double fault – as Rublev’s resistance was broken, and the world No. 2 successfully served for the second set.

Two break points passed Alcaraz by, and he saved one of his own, before claiming an advantage for a 4-3 break – somehow reaching Rublev’s down-the-line backhand to scoop a forehand cross-court winner, to lift the crowd to its feet.

The single-break advantage was again enough to seal it for Alcaraz, as his trek towards the quarter-finals became an almighty charge.

Rublev did little wrong throughout the match, but simple moments seemed to pass him by. That was the case as he completely faltered on serve after consecutive holds to love – allowing Alcaraz three break points before he took his opportunity at the fourth time of asking.

For the rest of the evening clash, Rublev could not touch Alcaraz’s serve. Not since the fourth game had he been broken, and he kept his record clean to seal the match at the second chance – much to the delight of the home crowd, with whom he has lodged himself in as a fan favourite thanks to similarly dazzling performances over recent years.

Speaking on court after his win, Alcaraz explained how he tackled the task of finding himself with an uphill battle in front of him.

“It is just about belief in yourself. It doesn’t matter if you are set down,” Alcaraz said.

“Tennis can change in one point. One point can change a match completely. You have to stay there all the time, be strong mentally. I stayed there and knew that I was going to play better.

“It was just a few points in the first set. So I said ‘keep going’, make the most of chances he brought to me, and the break I made in the second set turned everything around.

“I started to play more calm and think more clearly.”