Carlos Alcaraz continues his dominant run at Wimbledon, while Aryna Sabalenka secures another Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance.
Alcaraz's Wimbledon Dominance Extends to 18 Matches
Carlos Alcaraz's quest for a third consecutive Wimbledon title remains on track after overcoming a challenging fourth-round encounter. The world No. 2 defeated No. 14 seed Andrey Rublev 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, extending his winning streak at the All England Club to 18 matches. His unbeaten run across all events now stands at 22.
The match against Rublev was the first this fortnight between two men ranked in the top 20. Alcaraz demonstrated his resilience after dropping the first set in a tiebreak. He also faced a critical moment in the third set, fending off a break chance while down 3-2 with a forehand passing winner. Alcaraz then seized his own break opportunity, showcasing his athleticism with a cross-court forehand winner after sprinting across the court.
Alcaraz will now face 2022 semifinalist Cam Norrie in the quarterfinals. Alcaraz acknowledged the importance of self-belief, stating that a match can change in a single point. Alcaraz has won his last 18 matches at Wimbledon. His last loss at the All England Club was against Jannik Sinner in 2022.
Sabalenka Reaches Quarterfinals
Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1, has advanced to the Wimbledon quarterfinals, marking her 11th consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance. She secured a hard-fought 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) victory over No. 24 seed Elise Mertens.
Sabalenka's match against Mertens, her former doubles partner, proved to be a challenging encounter. Sabalenka started strong, taking a 4-1 lead in the first set, but Mertens fought back, disrupting Sabalenka's rhythm. In the second set, Mertens took an early 3-1 lead, but Sabalenka responded, leveling the score and winning the tie-break. Sabalenka won the tiebreak 7-4. Sabalenka's serving proved crucial, winning a high percentage of points on her first serve.
Sabalenka will face Laura Siegemund in the quarterfinals. Siegemund, ranked No. 104 in the world, is the oldest woman remaining in the singles draw at 37 years old.
Sabalenka is aiming for her first Wimbledon title. Sabalenka has not dropped a set in the tournament thus far.