Carlos Alcaraz kept his Wimbledon title defense alive Sunday with a hard-fought 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Russia's Andrey Rublev, advancing to the quarterfinals while chasing a place in tennis history. The Spanish second seed overcame early struggles under Centre Court's closed roof, surviving intense rallies to remain on track for a potential third consecutive Wimbledon crown.
Rublev claimed the first set through relentless baseline pressure, but Alcaraz responded with trademark explosive shot-making. A crucial break in the eighth game of the second set shifted momentum, with the 21-year-old unleashing a spectacular forehand winner to clinch the third set before closing out the match.
While Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner dominate headlines in the opposite draw, Alcaraz's latest win positions him to potentially join legends Bjorn Borg, Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, and Djokovic as the only men to win three straight Wimbledon titles in the Open Era. The champion's ability to elevate his game during critical moments – including a daring fourth-set drop shot that brought spectators to their feet – demonstrated why he remains one of the tournament's most dangerous contenders.
With the victory, Alcaraz extends his Wimbledon winning streak to 13 matches. Tennis analysts highlight his improved adaptability on grass courts as a key factor in maintaining dominance at SW19.
