Carlos Alcaraz proved again today in a fascinating clash with Ugo Humbert why the Wimbledon crowd sees him as a real-deal entertainer. His athleticism, all-round exceptional skills and shot selections, and intelligence all came to the forefront in today’s clash with the Frenchman in their fourth-round Wimbledon clash.
Alcaraz’s title defense remains alive as he enters his sixth consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal match. He has won three of these across the last three years. Carlos Alcaraz is looking to join an elite list of eight players in the Open Era who have defended their Wimbledon Championships titles.
How will he fare in the second week at the All-England Club?
Carlos Alcaraz Dazzles The Center Court Crowd
After a break of Ugo Humbert’s serve earlier in the first set, Carlos Alcaraz sealed a double break of the Frenchman’s serve which doubled as a set point in the ninth game of the set when the Frenchman hit a forehand return shot into the net. The Spaniard was imperial on serve all through the first set, ensuring the Frenchman didn’t have a single break point on his serve all through the set.
To win the set point in the second set, which was a break of Humbert’s serve in the ninth game, there was a special moment where Carlos Alcaraz did a split, catching a difficult forehand volley beyond the far left baseline. The split had made Alcaraz end up on the turf with Humbert rushing the return to hit a forehand wide to the far right baseline.
Carlos Alcaraz was back up on his feet in a flash, darting after the ball and knocking the return meters into the air. Humbert plucked it out of the air, easing a feather-like drop shot close to the net, but Alcaraz was already on his feet and chasing the ball down like a DC superhero. Alcaraz cushioned it at Humbert, who was at the net.
Humbert’s resulting attempt at winning the point then dragged the shot long. The Frenchman stood dazed for a moment, wondering how he lost that point. It was a jaw-dropping moment in the match that sent most of Center Court to their feet.
In the post-match on-court interview, Alcaraz had been asked, “If you had been commentating on yourself, what would you have been saying at that moment?”
“Unbelievable, I guess… I had to show the opponent that if he’s going to shoot, then I’m going to be there, you know. That’s me, fighting until the last ball. Sometimes, it’s a pretty good point like this one, and sometimes I lose it. But for me, that’s fine.”
Alcaraz Overcomes A Humbert Comeback
Ugo Humbert turned the heat on Carlos Alcaraz in the third set, winning his first break of the Spaniard’s serve in the early moments of the set. Humbert dominated the Wimbledon defending champion in first and second serve points won as well as sealing a second break of his serve.
The Frenchman sealed the set 6-1 with a well-taken backhand shot that just clipped the outer edge of the line on its way to breaking Alcaraz’s serve for the third time in the set. The fourth set was highly competitive. Both players took the contest to each other, with Alcaraz pulling out his deft drop shots as well as his powerful forehands, and Humbert matching him shot-for-shot.
It all changed in the 11th game of the set where Carlos Alcaraz raced to a 15-40 lead on Humbert’s serve. A short rally exchange ended when Humbert left an Alcaraz forehand shot, expecting it to drop wide of the baseline, but instead, agonizingly watched it drop on the line. Alcaraz then raced to a two-match point lead in the next game. He won the match with an ace on his first match point.
With the USA’s Tommy Paul overcoming Roberto Bautista Agut in straight sets in their fourth-round clash, Alcaraz has him as his next stop on his way to what could potentially be a second consecutive Grand Slam semifinal clash with Jannik Sinner. Jannik Sinner will face Daniil Medvedev in his battle to reach the semifinal.
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