Alcaraz Advances to Wimbledon Last 16 as Sabalenka Outlasts Raducanu
Carlos Alcaraz battled past Jan-Lennard Struff to secure his spot in the last 16 of Wimbledon, while women’s top seed Aryna Sabalenka showcased her resilience in a hard-fought victory over Emma Raducanu in a thrilling encounter.
On Friday, Alcaraz, the second seed, overcame the German world number 125 with a score of 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, keeping his hopes alive for a third consecutive Wimbledon title. The match marked another test for Alcaraz, who has faced challenges in his earlier rounds, including a tough five-set win against 38-year-old Fabio Fognini.
“I knew it was going to be really difficult. I had to be really focused,” said Alcaraz. Despite making 28 unforced errors, his determination shone through as he managed to subdue Struff with a mix of skill and perseverance. He will next face Russia’s Andrey Rublev in the fourth round.
Women’s Draw in Disarray
The women’s draw has seen a significant shakeup, with only Aryna Sabalenka remaining among the top six seeds after a series of upsets. Madison Keys, the sixth seed, was eliminated by Germany’s Laura Siegemund, leaving the competition wide open.
Sabalenka faced a spirited challenge from Raducanu, who drew energy from an enthusiastic crowd. The match was intense, with Sabalenka saving a critical set point in the first set before closing it out in a tiebreak. She ultimately secured a 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 victory, demonstrating her ability to rise to the occasion in high-pressure moments.
“What an atmosphere,” Sabalenka remarked, reflecting on the crowd’s support for Raducanu. “I had to fight for every point like crazy. My ears are still hurting; it was super loud.”
More Upsets and Notable Matches
In other matches, Naomi Osaka suffered a setback, losing to Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in three sets, marking her continued struggle to reach the later stages of Grand Slam tournaments since her 2021 Australian Open victory.
British players also made their mark, with Sonay Kartal, 13th seed Amanda Anisimova, and Elise Mertens all securing spots in the next round. American fifth seed Taylor Fritz avoided a third consecutive five-set match, defeating Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-4, 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1.
Cameron Norrie advanced to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2022, defeating Italian Mattia Bellucci in straight sets. Meanwhile, Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca was ousted by Chilean qualifier Nicolas Jarry.
