Carlos Alcaraz had another tough start at Wimbledon on Sunday, losing the first set to Andrey Rublev. But the world No. 2 once again showed his fighting spirit, coming back to win the match and keep his title hopes alive.
Alcaraz beat 14th seed Rublev 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 on Centre Court to reach the quarter-finals. The win means he has now won 18 matches in a row at Wimbledon and 22 matches in a row overall.
This was his 75th win in a Grand Slam match — a number he reached in just 87 matches, the same as legends Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe. Only Boris Becker reached more Grand Slam quarter-finals (13) before turning 23. Alcaraz has now made 12.
Rublev made things difficult, especially in the third set when he had a chance to break Alcaraz’s serve. But the Spaniard saved the point with a brilliant passing shot and turned the match around. Minutes later, he broke Rublev’s serve with another stunning forehand, then celebrated with the crowd, arms wide, soaking up the applause.
Alcaraz will now face Britain’s Cameron Norrie, a 2022 semi-finalist, on Tuesday for a place in the last four.
“I always say, you just have to believe in yourself,” Alcaraz said after the match. “Even if you’re a set down, tennis can change with just one point. That one point can change everything.”
Alcaraz, who is only 22, already has five Grand Slam titles and continues to prove why he’s one of the best players in the world. He hasn’t lost a match since April.
