Wimbledon: Carlos Alcaraz becomes youngest quarter-finalist since Nick Kyrgios

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World no. 1 Carlos Alcaraz is through to his fifth Major quarter-final at 20, and the first at Wimbledon. The young Spaniard took down former finalist Matteo Berrettini 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 in three hours and five minutes for his best Wimbledon run. Also, Carlos became the youngest Wimbledon quarter-finalist since Nick Kyrgios in 2014. Berrettini came to London with no form or matches, struggling with injuries but deciding to give it a go. The Italian scored three victories and set the clash against the world's best player. Matteo claimed the opener before losing ground in the rest of the encounter, facing too many break points and failing to follow that pace on the return. Carlos offered Matteo three break points and got broken once in the opener. He made a fresh start from set number two and turned 16 break chances into four return games, enough to emerge at the top. Both players hit 35 winners, and Alcaraz sprayed ten unforced errors fewer than his opponent.

Carlos Alcaraz is through into his fifth Major quarter-final. 

Carlos created two break points in the encounter's first game, and Matteo defended them to avoid an early setback. They served well in the next five games before Berrettini denied another break chance at 3-3. The Italian gained a boost and broke the Spaniard in game eight after Alcaraz's forehand error. Matteo served for the set at 5-3 and held after deuce after forcing the rival's mistake for 6-3 after 43 minutes. Carlos saved a break point at the start of the second set and brought the game home after a couple of deuces. Matteo played against a break point in the second game and denied it with a powerful serve. The young gun served well in the rest of the set and kept the pressure on the other side. Alcaraz found his A-game on the return in the fourth game and broke at love to forge a 3-1 advantage.

Carlos served for the set at 5-3 and held at 30 with a forehand slice winner to gain a boost. Alcaraz pushed strong on the return at 1-1 in the third set and seized his sixth break chance to move in front. The Spaniard held in game eight for 5-3 and wrapped up the set with another break in game nine after the Italian's loose forehand to forge two sets to one advantage and move closer to the finish line. Both players served well in the fourth set's opening seven games, with Carlos holding at love for 4-3. Alcaraz created break points in game eight with a forehand winner and seized the first to open a 5-3 gap and serve for the victory. The Spaniard converted the fourth match point in the ninth game to emerge at the top and book a place in his first Wimbledon quarter-final. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/BIXQiju

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