Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, seeded number one and two, continue to head for a giant duel in the final in Wimbledon.
On the way there, however, Alcaraz was more convincing: In contrast to Alexander Zverev, he managed to decode the Italian Matteo Berrettini and his game. With a 3: 6, 6: 3, 6: 3, 6: 3, the 20-year-old Spaniard made it into the quarter-finals against Holger Rune from Denmark, who was the same age – there was a younger duel for a place in the semi-finals on the holy lawn never.
“I knew it would be very difficult,” said Alcaraz, who after his first entry into the round of the top eight in Wimbledon also addressed a small challenge to Djokovic: “I wanted to reach the quarter-finals, I did it, but I did I’m hungry, I want more.”
Djokovic had a much harder time there. Increasingly frustrated, he saw 33 aces from Hubert Hurkacz fly past him, he was only able to take the serve from his Polish opponent once, and yet: despite all the resistance, the defending champion could not be defeated. In a match over two days, the champion of the past four years won 7: 6 (8: 6), 7: 6 (8: 6), 5: 7, 6: 4.
“I can’t remember the last time I felt so miserable on the return,” said Djokovic after the 32nd win in a row at Wimbledon. “This match could have ended differently, it was not a joy for me,” he added. Djokovic has won on the sacred turf on the past four occasions and seven times in total. Roger Federer (8) holds the record.