World No.2 Carlos Alcaraz had to fight it out against Andrey Rublev in the round of 16 clash at Centre Court in the ongoing Wimbledon on Sunday. Rublev was able to get a break in the fourth game of the opening set and raced to a 4-1 lead. But Alcaraz bounced back and broke Rublev’s serve in the seventh game.
The Spaniard then had a 5-3 lead in the tiebreaker but squandered it as the Russian took the first set. However, Alcaraz was able to bounce back in the next three sets after two-hour, 43-minutes to book his berth in the quarterfinals at the championship.
“Andrey is one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful player that we have on Tour,” said Alcaraz in his on-court interview. “Without a doubt, with how aggressive he is to the ball, with that forehand, with those shots, it’s really difficult. To face him, you feel like he’s pushing you to the limit with every ball, [making you] run side to side.
“That makes it really difficult to face him, but I’m just really happy with the way I moved today. I think I played intelligently and smart today against him. Tactically it was a really good match, which I am really proud about.”
In the second set, Alcaraz got a break in the eight game of the set.
In the third set, Alcaraz was able to break Rublev’s serve in the seventh game and said keeping the belief at every point in the match is imperative for him.
“I always say it’s just about belief in yourself. It doesn’t matter that you are one set to love down,” said Alcaraz. “Tennis is a sport where it can change in just one point. One point can change the match completely and turn everything around, so you just have to stay there all the time. Be strong mentally.
“I knew that I was going to play better. In the first set it was a few points, so I just thought, ‘Keep it going, try to make the most of the chances he brings to me’. The break that I did in the second set turned everything around, and I just started to feel more comfortable and calmer, and I was thinking more clearly.”
Alcaraz will play Cameron Norrie in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.
