Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz came up with some magical stuff while battling to fourth-round wins at Wimbledon on Sunday afternoon.
Sinner ended Ben Shelton’s run with a 6-2, 6-4, 7-6(9) victory on Court 1. In what was a thrilling third set, the world No. 1 hit a between-the-leg shot after Shelton rifled a return right on top of the baseline. Sinner then answered the American’s approach shot with a picture-perfect forehand pass.
“That was just luck,” Sinner said during his on-court interview. “Nothing to talk (about). Sometimes…. I don’t know what to say, honestly.”
There has not been anything lucky about the Italian’s trek through this fortnight–or through this entire season. He improved to 42-3 with Sunday’s success and he has won seven consecutive sets since dropping the third of his second-round match against compatriot and 2021 Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini.
Alcaraz’s trip to the last eight was more precarious. The defending Wimbledon champion and recent French Open winner came back from two sets to one down against Frances Tiafoe during third-round action and fought off Ugo Humbert in four sets on Sunday.
On set point in the second against Humbert, Alcaraz converted it after retrieving all over court–even falling to the ground early in the rally.
“The last time I remember that I fell down and recovered and get the point at the end was against Jannik Sinner [at the 2022] U.S. Open. Yeah, I remember that I fell down, then recovered, and [made] a passing shot. That is the last time I remember that I got a point like this one.
“As I said on the court, that’s myself fighting every ball. I think that I can reach every ball; it doesn’t matter the shot the opponent hit or the place that I’m on the court. I just [think] that I’m going to get it, I’m going to hit another good shot or a passing shot, believing that I’m going to get the point.”
Sinner and Alcaraz will be back on the court for quarterfinal competition on Tuesday. Both in the top half of the draw, they could go head-to-head in the semis at the All-England Club.
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both looking good
Should be the final.
Sinner in 4 or 5
Alcaraz in 4
😀 that hot shot from Sinner!
Ben was in disbelief
both of these SHOULD have been correct
Wimbledon is sinners to lose, he’s playing better than alcaraz, and Carlos is playing better than novak, although ultimately its who plays the better on the day, but on form sinners the winner
yep