LONDON: Carlos Alcaraz continued his quest for a third consecutive Wimbledon title by battling his way past Jan-Lennard Struff during a testing third round encounter.
The second seed withstood some speedy serving from his German opponent to prevail 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, and claim his 21st win in a row, which is a new record for the Spaniard. Alcaraz’s latest triumph featured 38 winners as he capitalised on Struff’s unforced error count, which was also 38. The 22-year-old is the seventh man from his country to reach the last 16 at Wimbledon for a fourth time.
“I knew that it was going to be really difficult, I had to focus on every serve, my service game and returns,” said Alcaraz.
“I think his games suit the grass pretty well. Big serves, approaches the net.
“I’m pleased about everything that I have done today. I tried to make use of the opportunities that he brought to me in the match. I’m proud to get the win in four sets. “
Alcaraz is fairly familiar with the game style of Struff, who he has played every year on the Tour since 2021, including the first round of Wimbledon three years ago when he prevailed in a five-set battle. On paper, it looked to be a straightforward encounter for the second seed against a player who has only won back-to-back matches twice since January.
However, 35-year-old Struff isn’t somebody to underestimate as the world No.125 recovered from a first-set beatdown to snatch the second frame with the use of some powerful hitting and coming to the net to finish points numerous times. Providing plenty of thought for Alcaraz, who also dropped two sets in the first round against Fabio Fognini.
Despite the blip, Alcaraz managed to regroup and establish his lead. Breaking once en route to seal set number three without facing a break point. Then in a tightly contested fourth set, he somehow managed to squeeze through after Struff hit a forehand into the net granted him another break and the opportunity to serve the match out. A task he did with relative ease.
“I was suffering in every service game,” admitted Alcaraz.
“It was stressful. Every time he could push me, he did it. It was about surviving, I guess. I’m happy in the end that I got the break.”
Alcaraz faces his biggest challenge next in the shape of Russian 14th seed Andrey Rublev, who beat Adrian Mannarino 7-5, 6-2, 6-3. Rublev is a 10-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist who has been ranked as high as fifth in the world. They locked horns on the Tour twice last season, with Alcaraz winning their meeting at the ATP Finals but losing in Madrid on clay.
“You’re playing the best players. They know how to do everything,” Rublev said of the challenges of playing Alcaraz and co.
“They know how to hit. They know how to defend. They know how to be patient. They know how to be strong mentally. They know how to serve, how to return. It’s like, I will have a chance (to win) if I play my best tennis, then maybe I have a chance.
“If I show weaknesses, you’re done. So you cannot show any weaknesses.”
Alcaraz has won 45 matches so far in 2025, with eight of those being on grass.
