Alcaraz eliminates Rublev 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 to reach Wimbledon quarters

Carlos Alcaraz, the two-time defending Wimbledon champion, has not lost a match since mid-April. Since then, he has captured his second Masters 1000 title of the season on the dirt in Rome, his second consecutive championship at Roland Garros, and his second title on the lawns of Queen’s Club.

Since his five-set victory in the opening round against former top ten player Fabio Fognini, the Spaniard had dropped just one set. His fourth-round opponent, former world No. 5 and 14th seed Andrey Rublev, was looking to equal his 2023 quarterfinal finish. The fiery but affable 27-year-old Russian has seen his ranking dip outside the top ten, but was victorious earlier this season on the hardcourts of Doha (def. Draper) and a finalist in Hamburg (lost to Cobolli).

Alcaraz led the head-to-head 2-1, but this was their maiden match on grass. Alcaraz won the toss and elected to receive. Rublev opened with a spectacular inside-out forehand and held at love while Alcaraz donated a double fault but held to 30 to level.

Rublev opened the third with a double fault but made five consecutive first serves and held to 30 for 2-1. The former world #1 gifted four consecutive unforced errors, faced triple break point, and dumped serve.

Rublev opened the fifth with an incredible cross-court forehand and with another, consolidated the break for 4-1. Alcaraz opened the sixth with an ace and with another out wide and an audible “vamos,” held for 2-4. Rublev made 3/5 first serves but with consecutive errors, gave back the break.

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The #2 seed serving with new balls held to love with an ace out wide to consolidate the break and level at four. Rublev opened the ninth with his first ace, and though he faced break point and deuce, held with a sweet slice crosscourt backhand.

The Spaniard serving to stay in the set struck an overhead smash and his fourth ace on game point for his second love hold. Rublev swinging from the rafters and extracting errors, leveled at five when Alcaraz netted a forehand.

The Spaniard struck three consecutive winners, including two additional aces, and held at love to force the tiebreak. They changed ends level at three, but Rublev trailed by two before leveling at five when Alcaraz netted a backhand. The Russian reached set point with a blistering backhand down the line pass and secured the breaker when Alcaraz netted another backhand.   

Alcaraz served first in the second and with two more aces, held easily to 15 while Rublev held to 30 with a monster serve out wide. Alcaraz opened the third with an ace up the tee and held to 15 following three unforced errors from his opponent.

Rublev, serving with new balls, struck his second ace and held at love to level at two. Alcaraz missed 4/5 first serves yet held to 15 while Rublev held at love for 3-3. Alcaraz struck three consecutive volley winners and held at love for 4-3.

Rublev faced 0-30, reached 30-30 but dropped the next two points, including a double fault to dump serve. Alcaraz opened the ninth with his tenth ace and held at love to seal the set 6-3.

Rublev served first in the third and held at love while Alcaraz opened with a double fault, faced deuce and double break point, yet held with an ace out wide and an unreturnable serve on game point.

Rublev opened the third with his third ace and held to 30 with an outstanding cross-court forehand while Alcaraz held easily to 15 to level. Rublev serving with authority made 4/6 first serves and held for 3-2 with a marvelous inside-in forehand.

Alcaraz faced 0-30 and break point, and while he struck an ace, he gifted a double fault. Following two deuce points, the five-time grand slam champion hit a monster serve out wide and held to level when his opponent’s backhand went wide.

Rublev opened the seventh with an ace up the tee but dropped serve following his third double fault and two consecutive forehand winners from Alcaraz. The world #2 missed 4/6 first serves but held to 30 to consolidate the break.

Rublev serving to stay in the set, opened and closed with aces for 4-5, forcing Alcaraz to serve it out. The Spaniard opened with an ace up the tee and with a splendid slice backhand drop shot, held at love to secure the set.

Rublev served first in the fourth and, with a fantastic forehand crosscourt held at love, while Alcaraz hit three winners, including two consecutive aces to hold at love to level.

Rublev made it a hat-trick with an ace out wide and another love hold, while Alcaraz hit two additional aces and held to 30 for 2-2. Rublev missed 5/8 first serves, including a double fault, faced deuce and four break points, and dropped serve when he netted a forehand off a deep return.

Alcaraz, firing on all cylinders, consolidated the break at love for 4-2. Rublev, relentless off the ground, refused to yield. He faced three deuce and three break points yet held with a colossal serve out wide and a netted forehand from his opponent. The Spaniard, employing all the tools at his disposal, struck an ace up the tee and held easily to 15 for 5-3 while Rublev, serving to stay in the match, hit two remarkable forehand winners and held easily to 15 for 4-5.

Alcaraz, serving for a coveted spot in the quarters, opened with an ace out wide and reached match point with an ace up the tee. He earned his second match point with an overhead smash and converted when Rublev netted the return.

It was an exceptionally hard-hitting and entertaining match. Both played with measured aggression, but it was the Spaniard’s serving, variety of shots, and poise under pressure that separated them.

Alcaraz finished with 22 aces, 3 double faults, and won 82% of first and 68% of second serve points. He saved 3/4 break points while converting 4/11 and struck 41 winners to 36 unforced errors.

To reach the penultimate round, he must dispatch hometown hero Cam Norrie. The British leftie, once ranked #8, has fallen outside the top fifty. The 29-year-old, currently ranked #61, has scored impressive wins this fortnight over an in-form Roberto Bautista Agut, the 12th seed Frances Tiafoe, and former #16 Nicolas Jarry in a five-set thriller.

Will the former top-ten star with the centre court crowd behind him be able to dethrone the two-time defending champion? Alcaraz leads the head-to-head 4-2, with Norrie winning their last match in 2023 in Rio on the dirt. This will be their first meeting on grass with a place in the final four on the line.