Wimbledon: Carlos Alcaraz cracks Zverev conqueror Matteo Berrettini and is in the quarterfinals

Both players started the last match of the day on Center Court slightly nervously. Berrettini, who had reached the final on Church Road in 2021, had to fend off two breakballs in his first service game. Alcaraz was also 15:30 behind during his first service.

However, it was still the eighth game of the first set before the first break of the evening. Berrettini, who didn’t even have to give up his serve in the entire match against Alexander Zverev, served safely as usual and waited for the Spaniard’s mistakes. And indeed Alcaraz did him the favor. When the score was 3:4 and 30:40 from the 20-year-old’s point of view, he just missed a forehand. In vain Alcaraz tried the Hawkeye, but the break for Berrettini held up. A short time later the Italian also secured the first round.

Set two began with a moment of shock: Berrettini slipped away awkwardly during a sideways movement and stopped for a moment. Alcaraz was immediately over to check on the 27-year-old’s well-being but luckily he was able to get back up straight away and continue the match without any problems.

There was nothing physically noticeable about Berrettini, but he still had to accept a break in the fourth game. Alcaraz noticeably increased the pressure and took the serve from his opponent to zero.

Alcaraz takes control

The turning point in the match. Because Alcaraz not only managed to equalize the set, but also took his service directly from Berrettini at the beginning of the third set.

The Spaniard now took control with his athletic and powerful style of play. Set three also went to the reigning US Open champion.

At 2: 2 in the fourth set, the cards were reshuffled again because the roof of Center Court was closed due to the onset of darkness. But even the changed playing conditions didn’t turn things around for Berrettini.

Alcaraz, who made the point with the first serve much more often than his opponent, who was otherwise strong in serving (79 to 67 percent), used his fourth match ball after 3:05 hours.

“I knew it would be very difficult,” said Alcaraz, who after his first entry into the round of the top eight in Wimbledon also addressed a small challenge to Djokovic: “I wanted to reach the quarter-finals, I did it, but I did I’m hungry, I want more.”

Alcaraz against Rune in the duel of the youngsters

The Dane Holger Rune is now waiting in the duel of the youngsters in the quarter-finals. The 20-year-old and sixth-seeded Dane defeated Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov 3-6, 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-4), 6-3.

For Rune it is the third participation in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam. Previously, he had made it into the round of eight in the past two years at the French Open in Paris.