Carlos Alcaraz takes Wimbledon by storm in act of 'pure class' for rival

World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz has showed why he's regarded as one of the nicest guys in tennis after a brilliant act of sportsmanship in the wake of his Wimbledon fourth round win over Matteo Berrettini. The 20-year-old Spaniard - playing in just the fourth grass-court tournament of his professional career - recovered from a set down to seal a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 win against the 2021 runner-up at the All England Club.

Fresh from his recent title at the Queen's Club Championships, Alcaraz passed his latest test on his least favourite surface with flying colours. The fact it was against a grass-court specialist in Berrettini - who has won four of his seven ATP Tour titles on the surface - made it even more impressive.

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It wasn't just during the match that Alcaraz showcased his undoubted class though, with the Spaniard standing to applaud his beaten opponent for almost two minutes as Berrettini signed autographs for fans before leaving the court to a standing ovation. It was a moment of exemplary sportsmanship from Alcaraz that left viewers in awe on social media.

Carlos Alcaraz hits outrageous winner

Alcaraz had earlier left the tennis world applauding his on-court brilliance after a contender for shot of the tournament. In a match that showcased the full range of the Spaniard's devastating shot-making, none were more outrageous than the winner Alcaraz hit around the net-post after being dragged into an impossibly wide position by Berrettini.

“I knew it was going to be really tough, Matteo is a great player, he made the final here on grass,” Alcaraz said after the match. “He’s playing great. It’s not easy after losing the first set. I knew I was going to have my chances. Something I’ve been working on is to stay focused and not lose my mind a little bit. That part I did great.

“It’s something that I really wanted. Last year I lost in the fourth round. I came here this year with that goal, first get into the quarter-finals and now I’m looking for more. My dream is to play a final here, to win the title one day. I hope I reach that dream this year but right now it’s great to be in the quarter-finals.”

Alcaraz will next face sixth seed Holger Rune after his fellow 20-year-old beat veteran Grigor Dimitrov 3-6, 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/4), 6-3. The last-eight encounter represents the first time in the Open era that a Wimbledon men's quarter-final has been contested between players aged under 21.

Novak Djokovic keeps quest for 8th Wimbledon crown alive

Standing in both their way of a maiden Wimbledon title is seven-time champion Novak Djokovic, who booked his quarter-finals spot with a milestone 100th win at Wimbledon. Resuming his match at two sets up after the 11pm curfew stalled his charge a day earlier, Djokovic was temporarily knocked off course by big-serving Pole Hubert Hurkacz, before rcovering to book a date with Russian seventh seed Andrey Rublev.

Djokovic lost his first set of the tournament before sealing a 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (8-6) 5-7 6-4 victory. Arguably the biggest story of the day in the men's draw though was big-serving American Chris Eubanks' stunning upset of Greek fifth seed, Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Eubanks edged the Greek superstar in a five-set thriller, winning 3-6 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 6-4 6-4 win to make it into the quarter-finals of a grand slam for the first time. He'll face Russian Daniil Medvedev who is also in the last-eight at Wimbledon for the first time.

Medvedev's passage through came after Jiri Lehecka retired injured after losing the first two sets 6-4 6-2. The Czech - who had played a four-hour, five-set match against Tommy Paul in the last round, had treatment for blisters on his right foot after the first set, and was never able to recover.

with agencies

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