On a day where defending champion Carlos Alcaraz fended off another tricky challenge in France’s Ugo Humbert to secure his seventh consecutive Major quarter-final berth, five maiden Wimbledon quarterfinalists were confirmed – headlined by New Zealand-Swiss qualifier Lulu Sun after an aggressive approach paid dividends to stun Emma Raducanu in their round four matchup.
Alcaraz avoids deciding set in four-set Humbert victory
- Donna Vekic wins 6-4 in deciding set against Paula Badosa to make her first Wimbledon quarterfinal after an emotional rollercoaster – three rain delays – and says: “Really happy to win and be finished, last-eight at my favourite tournament is really special. I used to train in London so am used to the weather! I’m serving really well to get me out of trouble.”
- The Croatian will now play Emma Raducanu’s conqueror Lulu Sun on Tuesday, after the 23-year-old hit a WTA-tournament high 52 winners and was deadly at the net during a three-set victory over the home favourite
- Jasmine Paolini vs. Emma Navarro is the other women’s quarter-final between debutants, as Madison Keys (adductor) tearfully withdrew deep into a decider with the French Open runner-up while Navarro was a clear winner against US Open champion Coco Gauff in an all-American duel
Carlos Alcaraz’s highlight reel was on full display as the defending champion showed a bit of everything during a four-set win (6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5) over #16 seed Ugo Humbert where he escaped trouble down the stretch too. Playing just shy of three hours, the 21-year-old hit 45 winners to 33 unforced errors – Humbert had 47 and 35 – but crucially saved break opportunities more, navigating pressure points better.
Perhaps the height of the Spaniard’s inspired brilliance came here, in true Alcaraz fashion on set point to give a two-set cushion he didn’t know he needed:
Humbert responded well though, using variety and disrupting the rhythm soon afterwards, aided by half-a-dozen double-faults and some particularly errant play in set three, before having three break points evaporate to go 5-3 up in the fourth set.
Alcaraz’s shotmaking under duress improved and the Frenchman’s resistance gradually faded after being peppered into the corners behind the baseline, then lulled to sleep, with expert touch and hard-hitting power in equal measure.
“Playing lefties are always tricky, doesn’t matter the surface… his backhand slices were difficult to catch but I feel great, playing a really high level and try not to think about it, just do my own game. I just try to fight every ball, every point, doesn’t matter which part of the court I am on, just run and give myself the chance to stay alive in the point,” the third seed said during his interview.
Up next is Queen’s champion Tommy Paul on Tuesday, where he’ll look to again venture into his bag of tricks against a familiar foe – their H2H is split 2-2 after four entertaining meetings in the last two seasons, this representing a first over five sets.
Sun stifles Raducanu run with style
Lulu Sun is the first qualifier to reach the ladies’ quarter-finals since Kaia Kanepi in 2010, after working tirelessly and slamming a tournament-high 52 winners over three sets (6-2, 5-7, 6-2) against Britain’s final remaining hope Emma Raducanu on Centre Court.
2021 champion Ashleigh Barty praised her Oceanic neighbour for an exceptional fortnight already on BBC’s coverage, and it’s not over – Donna Vekic beckons on Tuesday afternoon – after dominating from the off with her serve-and-plus one, as the 23-year-old’s forehand was firing on all cylinders and presumably took the Brit by surprise.
The difference in their assertiveness from the back of the court was clear, utilising more variety while crucially being consistently able to pose different looks with floaty rally balls, slice shots and topspin as Raducanu intensified her efforts in set two.
Sun’s serve percentages dropped in that frame, playing double the amount of second serves (20) and subsequently being made to work harder with Raducanu cleaning up her play while long service games saw both save break points.
Raducanu had an injury scare early in set three after landing awkwardly mid-rally and that set the tone for a forgettable decider from those willing her to score a rousing comeback victory, as she was broken in the opening game and playing catch-up.
Sun was rewarded for her refreshingly aggressive play and proved full value for that victory, but given her exertions already – this her seventh match of the tournament – it’ll be interesting to see how she fares against a more seasoned Vekic next.
Picture source: Getty Images, quotes via BBC TV
Mo and Sports 