Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz triumphed over close friend Frances Tiafoe in a thrilling five-set match to reach the Wimbledon last 16 on Friday. Alcaraz, showcasing his resilience and skill, secured a 5-7, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 victory, powered by 16 aces and 55 winners in a Centre Court battle that lasted nearly four hours.
“Always a big challenge playing against Frances,” admitted Alcaraz, recalling their previous five-set encounter in the semi-finals of the 2022 US Open, where he claimed his first Grand Slam title. “He is a really talented player, really tough to face.”
Alcaraz, aiming to become only the sixth man to win both the French Open and Wimbledon titles consecutively, has now reached the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the 10th time. After the match, Alcaraz and Tiafoe shared a warm embrace at the net. “Just ultimate respect. Him just saying, ‘It’s good to see you play like that.’ Me just saying, ‘I can’t stand you,'” joked Tiafoe.
World number three Alcaraz will next face either Ugo Humbert of France or Brandon Nakashima of the United States. Their match was one of four men’s third-round clashes delayed by heavy rain in London.
World number one Jannik Sinner displayed his dominance, needing just 96 minutes to defeat Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic 6-1, 6-4, 6-2. Sinner, the Australian Open champion and a Wimbledon semi-finalist in 2023, will next play either Canada’s Denis Shapovalov or the United States’ Ben Shelton. This win marked Sinner’s 41st victory of the season, surpassing the 40 wins of Casper Ruud.
In the women’s draw, world number two Coco Gauff ended the remarkable run of British qualifier Sonay Kartal. Gauff secured a 6-4, 6-0 win, allowing Kartal just eight points in the second set. Despite the loss, Kartal, ranked 298th and having earned just over $18,500 in 2024, will leave the All England Club with a substantial prize of more than $182,000.
The tournament continues to see remarkable performances and intense competition as players advance towards the coveted Wimbledon title.
