Wimbledon: Carlos Alcaraz through to quarter-finals after hard-fought four-set win over Ugo Humbert | Tennis News

Wimbledon: Carlos Alcaraz through to quarter-finals after hard-fought four-set win over Ugo Humbert | Tennis News


Carlos Alcaraz was again made to sweat on Centre Court before booking a quarter-final spot with a 6-3 6-4 1-6 7-5 win over stubborn 16th seed Ugo Humbert.

Having fought back from two sets to one down to defeat Frances Tiafoe in the previous round, Alcaraz seemed to be enjoying a much easier time of it as he stormed the opening two sets, only for Humbert to produce some sublime tennis thereafter.

The Frenchman too would have felt aggrieved to lose the second set, in fact, as he squandered four break points on Alcaraz’s serve in the fifth game. And then, having only coughed up four points all set on his own serve, Humbert was suddenly broken out of nowhere to lose the set 6-4.

Alcaraz vs Humbert: Tale of the Tape

Alcaraz Match Stats Humbert
14 Aces 10
6 Double Faults 1
66% 1st serve win percentage 67%
43% 2nd serve win percentage 47%
24/34 Net points won 26/41
6/8 Break points won 5/13
45 Total winners 47
33 Unforced errors 35
121 Total points won 117

He was not to be deterred, though, as he proceeded to break the Alcaraz serve on four straight occasions over the course of a dominant third set and early into the fourth.

The defending champion appeared to have no answer for Humbert’s immaculate return game, the 16th seed hitting thumping winners with regularity and mixing in the odd heavy ball to the back of the baseline to do for the flat-footed Spaniard.

That said, Alcaraz himself twice broke Humbert to start the fourth set, but things were back on serve by the end of the sixth game as the determined Humbert continued to dig his heels into the Centre Court grass.

More thunderous groundstrokes off the left-hander’s racket helped set up three break points in the eighth game of the fourth set but, as in the second, a wasteful Humbert would ultimately rue spurning every single one of them as three games later it would be Alcaraz who’d earn the crucial break before serving things out.

Paul wins to set up Alcaraz quarter-final showdown

American 12th seed Tommy Paul raced against the fading light on Court Two to dispatch of Spanish veteran Roberto Bautista Agut 6-2 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 and set up a quarter-final clash with Alcaraz.

Image:
Tommy Paul is in good form, having triumphed at Queen’s in the lead up to Wimbledon

The 27-year-old took just over two hours to beat Bautista Agut who was bidding to reach his second Wimbledon quarter-final in his 10th appearance here.

Paul, whose grass game is finely tuned after he won the Queen’s Club warm-up event last month, had just too much power and variety for the 36-year-old, now ranked 112.

Bautista Agut made the American work in the second set but a couple of unforced errors lost him the chance to draw level and Paul raced through the final set, clinching the match with an ace.

The players had arrived on court late because of rain showers and the shadows were long across the court when they finished.

“He (Alcaraz) plays amazing tennis on grass but I’m playing pretty good too,” said Paul, who is on a nine-match winning streak. They have split their four previous career meetings, winning two each.

Elsewhere in the men’s singles, world No 5 Daniil Medvedev advanced through to the last eight after 10th seed Grigor Dimitrov was forced to retire with a leg injury while trailing 5-3 in the first set.

He will face world No 1 Jannik Sinner next after the Italian made light work of promising American youngster Ben Shelton, beating the 14th seed in straight sets 6-2 6-4 7-6 (11-9).

What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?

Find out all the ways to watch tennis on Sky Sports, including the US Open, ATP and WTA tours

In the run-up to the final Grand Slam of 2024 – the US Open – you can watch all of the biggest tennis stars in action live on Sky Sports as they compete across the hard-court season.

  • Hamburg Open (ATP 500) 15-21 July
  • Newport Hall of Fame Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
  • Swiss Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
  • Bastad Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
  • Palermo Ladies Open (WTA 250) 15-21 July
  • Hungarian Grand Prix (WTA 250) 15-21 July
  • Prague Open (WTA 250) 21-26 July

Watch the WTA and ATP Tours throughout 2024 on Sky Sports Tennis. Stream Sky Sports Tennis and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership. No contract, cancel anytime.

Wimbledon: Carlos Alcaraz makes shaky start against unseeded Australian Aleksandar Vukic | Tennis News

Wimbledon: Carlos Alcaraz makes shaky start against unseeded Australian Aleksandar Vukic | Tennis News



Defending Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz made a shaky start against unseeded Australian Aleksandar Vukic but moved through the gears to seal a 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 6-2 win on Wednesday.

Vukic, 28, had form for upsetting the Spaniard, having beaten the then 17-year-old in French Open qualifying four years ago.

The defending champion from Spain was broken twice by world No 69 Vukic after serving for the opening set.

But there was to be no repeat as Alcaraz managed to break back to force a tie-break, which he dominated, and never looked back.

“I’m really happy about my performance today,” he said. “The first set was the key for me. He served for the set and then I played a really good tie-break.

“In the second and third I played a really high level so I’m really happy about it.”

Alcaraz broke for a 4-2 lead as Vukic miscued an overhead smash at the net but the Spaniard handed the advantage back to his opponent three games later and was broken again in the opening set.

He recovered to force a tie-break, where he took a healthy 5-1 lead, but allowed Vukic to win three straight points only to raise his level again and take the set as Spanish fans breathed a sigh of relief on Court One.

The French Open champion, who is bidding for a fourth Grand Slam title, did not give Vukic any more opportunities and closed out the second set quickly before easing through the third.

Up next for the 21-year-old three-time Grand Slam champion is American Frances Tiafoe.

“I’m going for him,” he added. “We played a really good match in the US Open. I know he is a really talented player, a tough one, even tougher on grass with his style.

“It’s going to be a very difficult match for me. I’m ready to take that challenge, put on a show and hopefully take him.”

Alcaraz remains on a collision course for a semi-final clash with world No 1 Jannik Sinner, who came through a thrilling four-set tussle with fellow Italian Matteo Berrettini.

The top seed put on a show to beat the 2021 finalist 7-6 (3) 7-6 (4) 2-6 7-6 (4) in a high-level encounter that finished under the Centre Court roof shortly after 10.30pm.

While Berrettini showed flashes of his brilliance with 28 aces and 65 winners, Sinner’s class and growing maturity shone through as he impressively negotiated a three-hour-and-42-minute encounter to progress into the last 32.

Sinner will face Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic in the third round, who came back from two sets to one down to beat Dutch 27th seed Tallon Griekspoor 4-6 7-6(7) 1-6 6-2 6-3.

American Christopher Eubanks, who reached the quarter-finals last year, suffered a 6-4 6-4 6-2 loss to Frenchman Quentin Halys.

Norwegian eighth seed Casper Ruud, a two-times French Open finalist, tumbled out after being beaten 6-4 7-5 6-7 (7-1) 6-3 by 37-year-old Italian Fabio Fognini.

What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?

Find out all the ways to watch tennis on Sky Sports, including the US Open, ATP and WTA tours

In the run-up to the final Grand Slam of 2024 – the US Open – you can watch all of the biggest tennis stars in action live on Sky Sports as they compete across the hard-court season.

  • Hamburg Open (ATP 500) 15-21 July
  • Newport Hall of Fame Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
  • Swiss Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
  • Bastad Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
  • Palermo Ladies Open (WTA 250) 15-21 July
  • Hungarian Grand Prix (WTA 250) 15-21 July
  • Prague Open (WTA 250) 21-26 July

Watch the WTA and ATP Tours throughout 2024 on Sky Sports Tennis. Stream Sky Sports Tennis and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership. No contract, cancel anytime.

Wimbledon: Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff and Jannik Sinner secure second round spot after winning openers | Tennis News

Wimbledon: Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff and Jannik Sinner secure second round spot after winning openers | Tennis News


Carlos Alcaraz endured an early test in his Wimbledon title defence but the Spaniard quelled the challenge of Estonian qualifier Mark Lajal 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 6-2 to move into the second round on Monday.

The 21-year-old Spaniard, seeded third this year, came through in two hours and 22 minutes against Lajal, also 21 but ranked 266 places lower.

The Estonian sported dreadlocks pulled back in a pineapple-style ponytail on his Wimbledon debut.

He took a chunk out of the three-time Grand Slam winner with a break of serve in the opening set.

Lajal broke Alcaraz again early in the next set but he was unable to make the advantage count and his opponent broke back to love immediately before pouncing again in the 11th game.

With the momentum having swung, Alcaraz, who last month added the French Open to his Wimbledon and US Open titles, hit straight back and continued to reel off the points for a two-set lead.

He raised his game further in the third to break with a superb backhand cross-court winner and he never looked back from there to close out the victory.

“He played a really good match,” said Alcaraz. “Obviously he surprised me a little bit because I hadn’t seen him too much.

“He’s young, he’s my age and I’m sure I’m going to see him really soon on the tour and play him more often.

“But I’m really happy to get through and get my first win on Centre Court this year.”

Fifth seed Daniil Medvedev strode confidently and cheerfully into the second round with an assured 6-3 6-4 6-2 win over American Aleksandar Kovacevic on his favourite Court One.

“I’ve still never lost on Court One so hopefully I can play a lot more matches on this court,” a smiling Medvedev told an appreciative crowd in an on-court interview.

“Last year I said it was unfortunate I had to go to Centre Court for the semis and I lost.”

Sinner subdues feisty Hanfmann to advance at Wimbledon

Image:
Jannik Sinner beat unseeded German Yannick Hanfmann 6-3 6-4 3-6 6-3 to advance through the first round of Wimbledon

Jannik Sinner wobbled midway through his Wimbledon first-round clash with unseeded German Yannick Hanfmann but the world No 1 recovered to seal a 6-3 6-4 3-6 6-3 win on Monday and book a meeting with fellow Italian Matteo Berrettini.

The Australian Open champion used his powerful serve and forehand to good effect against Hanfmann as he breezed through the first set on the back of a solitary break and got his nose in front early in the next.

Hanfmann hung on and heaped pressure on Sinner’s serve but was unable to find a way through and the 22-year-old top seed moved two sets ahead.

The world number 110 flipped the script to go 4-0 up in the third set as Sinner appeared to be belatedly hampered by a nasty fall, and the German cupped his ear amid huge cheers after forcing a fourth set with a neat volley.

There was to be no comeback, however, as Sinner rediscovered his rhythm under the lights on Court One to break for a 3-1 lead and held firm from to close out the match.

Sinner, who lifted his first title on the sport’s slickest surface at Halle two weeks ago, could face another tricky test against Berrettini after the 2021 runner-up beat Hungarian Marton Fucsovics 7-6(3) 6-2 3-6 6-1.

Gauff cruises into second round

Coco Gauff celebrates beating Caroline Dolehide on day one of Wimbledon
Image:
Coco Gauff celebrates beating Caroline Dolehide on day one of Wimbledon

World number two Coco Gauff advanced to the second round with a convincing 6-1 6-2 win over compatriot Caroline Dolehide.

On the eve of this year’s grass-court championships, Gauff admitted she had been “in a dark place” following her opening-round exit in London last year but armed with the knowledge that things “couldn’t get any worse” this time round, she was simply unstoppable against her 51st-ranked rival.

“Last year I lost in the first round and it was very tough for me, that’s why I am a little emotional and that’s why I was happy to turn it around,” Gauff told the crowd on court.

The 20-year-old, now a Grand Slam champion having won the US Open in September, dropped only one point on serve during a formidable first-set performance.

Such was her confidence she conjured an incredible cross-court lob into the far corner which she greeted with a one-armed salute as the Centre Court crowd jumped to their feet to roar their approval.

The world No 2 kept up the barrage of winners in the second set and despite overcooking a forehand on her first match point, she made no mistake on her second.

What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?

Find out all the ways to watch tennis on Sky Sports, including the US Open, ATP and WTA tours

In the run-up to the final Grand Slam of 2024 – the US Open – you can watch all of the biggest tennis stars in action live on Sky Sports as they compete across the hard-court season.

  • Hamburg Open (ATP 500) 15-21 July
  • Newport Hall of Fame Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
  • Swiss Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
  • Bastad Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
  • Palermo Ladies Open (WTA 250) 15-21 July
  • Hungarian Grand Prix (WTA 250) 15-21 July
  • Prague Open (WTA 250) 21-26 July

Watch the WTA and ATP Tours throughout 2024 on Sky Sports Tennis. Stream Sky Sports Tennis and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership. No contract, cancel anytime.

Wimbledon 2024: Order of Play with Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu in action | Tennis News

Wimbledon 2024: Order of Play with Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu in action | Tennis News



Take a look at the Order of Play for Day Two of the Wimbledon Championships on all courts at the All England Club.

(All times are BST, from 11am unless stated. Seeds in brackets, Brits in Bold)

Centre Court – 1.30pm

  • Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (Spa) vs (6) Marketa Vondrousova (Cze)
  • Vit Kopriva (Cze) v (2) Novak Djokovic (Ser)
  • Andy Murray (Gbr) v Tomas Machac (Cze)

Court 1 – 1pm

  • (4) Elena Rybakina (Kaz) v Elena Gabriela Ruse (Rom)
  • Roberto Carballes Baena (Spa) v (4) Alexander Zverev (Ger)
  • (1) Iga Swiatek (Pol) v Sofia Kenin (USA)

Court 2 – 11am

  • Ashlyn Krueger (USA) v (5) Jessica Pegula (USA)
  • (6) Andrey Rublev (Rus) v Francisco Comesana (Arg)
  • (28) Jack Draper (Gbr) v Elias Ymer (Swe),
  • (10) Ons Jabeur (Tun) v Moyuka Uchijima (Jpn)

Court 3 – 11am

  • (7) Hubert Hurkacz (Pol) v Radu Albot (Mol)
  • (32) Katie Boulter (Gbr) v Tatjana Maria (Ger)
  • Cameron Norrie (Gbr) v Facundo Diaz Acosta (Arg)
    (11) Danielle Collins (USA) v Clara Tauson (Den)

Court 4 – 11am

  • (30) Tomas Martin Etcheverry (Arg) v Luca Nardi (Ita)
  • Rebeka Masarova (Spa) v (15) Ludmilla Samsonova (Rus)
  • Roman Safiullin (Rus) v (26) Francisco Cerundolo (Arg)
  • Maria Lourdes Carle (Arg) v Katie Volynets (USA)

Court 5 – 11am

  • Cristina Bucsa (Spa) v Ana Bogdan (Rom)
  • Anhelina Kalinina (Ukr) v Elina Avanesyan (Rus)
  • Emil Ruusuvuori (Fin) v MacKenzie McDonald (USA)
  • Quentin Halys (Fra) v Christopher Eubanks (USA)

Court 6 – 11am

  • Yoshihito Nishioka (Jpn) v Nuno Borges (Por)
  • Bernarda Pera (USA) v Anastasia Potapova (Rus)
  • Kei Nishikori (Jpn) v Arthur Rinderknech (Fra)

Court 7 – 11am

  • Constant Lestienne (Fra) v (25) Lorenzo Musetti (Ita),
  • Arthur Fils (Fra) v Dominic Stricker (Swi),
  • Oceane Dodin (Fra) v Daria Snigur (Ukr)

Court 8 – 11am

  • Laura Siegemund (Ger) v Kateryna Baindl (Ukr)
  • Jacob Fearnley (Gbr) v Alejandro Moro Canas (Spa)
  • Mayar Sherif (Egy) v Dalma Galfi (Hun)
  • Viktorija Golubic (Swi) v Jule Niemeier (Ger)

Court 9 – 11am

  • Alexei Popyrin (Aus) v Thiago Monteiro (Bra)
  • Marie Bouzkova (Cze) v Julia Riera (Arg)
  • Flavio Cobolli (Ita) v Rinky Hijikata (Aus), Maria Camila
  • Osorio Serrano (Col) v Lauren Davis (USA)

Court 11 – 11am

  • Xin Yu Wang (Chn) v Viktoriya Tomova (Bul)
  • Federico Coria (Arg) v Adam Walton (Aus)
  • Robin Montgomery (USA) v Olivia Gadecki (Aus)
  • Lucas Pouille (Fra) v Laslo Djere (Ser)

Court 12 – 11am

  • James Duckworth (Aus) v (9) Alex De Minaur (Aus)
  • Ajla Tomljanovic (Aus) v (13) Jelena Ostapenko (Lat)
  • Yulia Putintseva (Kaz) v Angelique Kerber (Ger)
  • Daniel Evans (Gbr) v (24) Alejandro Tabilo (Chi)

Court 14 – 11am

  • Paul Jubb (Gbr) v Thiago Seyboth Wild (Bra)
  • (23) Caroline Garcia (Fra) v Anna Blinkova (Rus)
  • Aslan Karatsev (Rus) v (21) Karen Khachanov (Rus)
  • Magdalena Frech (Pol) v (20) Beatriz Haddad Maia (Bra)

Court 15 – 11am

  • Jaume Munar (Spa) v Billy Harris (Gbr)
  • (17) Anna Kalinskaya (Rus) v Panna Udvardy (Hun)
  • Henry Searle (Gbr) v Marcos Giron (USA)
  • Francesca Jones (Gbr) v Petra Martic (Cro)

Court 16 – 11am

  • (20) Sebastian Korda (USA) v Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (Fra)
  • (15) Holger Rune (Den) v Soon Woo Kwon (Kor)
  • Caroline Wozniacki (Den) v Alycia Parks (USA)
  • (31) Barbora Krejcikova (Cze) v Veronika Kudermetova (Rus)

Court 17 – 11am

  • Luciano Darderi (Ita) v Jan Choinski (Gbr)
  • Lucia Bronzetti (Ita) v (30) Leylah Fernandez (Can)
  • Marina Stakusic (Can) v (27) Katerina Siniakova (Cze)
  • (17) Felix Auger-Aliassime (Can) v Thanasi Kokkinakis (Aus)

Court 18 – 11am

  • Harriet Dart (Gbr) v Zhuoxuan Bai (Chi)
  • Taro Daniel (Jpn) v (11) Stefanos Tsitsipas (Gre)
  • (13) Taylor Fritz (USA) v Christopher O’Connell (Aus)
  • Magda Linette (Pol) v (21) Elina Svitolina (Ukr)

Wimbledon in 2024: 10 to watch as Iga Swiatek, Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, Jannik Sinner descend on SW19 | Tennis News

Wimbledon in 2024: 10 to watch as Iga Swiatek, Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, Jannik Sinner descend on SW19 | Tennis News


The world’s best tennis players are descending on SW19 hoping for success at
Wimbledon.

Rafael Nadal is missing and Novak Djokovic battling to recover from knee surgery in time, but a host of contenders remain.

Here are 10 players trying to follow in the footsteps of last year’s champions Carlos Alcaraz and Marketa Vondrousova…

Iga Swiatek: A clay master, who is yet to conquer grass

Swiatek has already proved herself as this generation’s clay-court master, winning her fourth French Open title in five years last month. Grass, though, remains a work in progress for the Pole, despite her success at junior level.

Image:
Poland’s Iga Swiatek clinched her fourth French Open title in the last five years in June – her fifth Grand Slam title

Indeed, the 23-year-old has yet to taste trophy success on grass at WTA 250, 500 or 1000 level, in addition to Grand Slams, amongst her 22 titles to date (12 won on hard court, 10 won on clay).

Swiatek showed promising signs last year before a quarter-final loss to Elina Svitolina and will look to continue a 19-match winning streak.

Highlights of Swiatek against Aryna Sabalenka from the Rome final

Carlos Alcaraz: Tennis’ next superstar?

Alcaraz showed remarkably fast development on grass last summer, winning Queen’s and then his second Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, defeating Djokovic in a pulsating five-setter.

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz kisses the trophy after winning the men's final of the French Open tennis tournament against Germany's Alexander Zverev at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Sunday, June 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Image:
Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz heads to Wimbledon as the French Open champion for the first time

The Spaniard, 21, added a first clay-court Slam title in Paris last month and is a man very much for the big occasion.

Defeat by Britain’s Jack Draper at Queen’s last week was a blow but only a minor setback.

Highlights of Alcaraz’s sensational victory vs Jan-Lennard Struff at the Madrid Open

Coco Gauff: The up-and-comer on the women’s tour

Gauff has left her teenage years behind and returns to Wimbledon as a Grand Slam champion having lifted the US Open trophy last year.

Highlights of the US Open final between Coco Gauff against Aryna Sabalenka at Flushing Meadows in New York

She followed that up with semi-final appearances at the Australian Open and in Paris, losing to the eventual champion each time.

The 20-year-old suffered a shock first-round loss at Wimbledon last year, something she will no doubt be keen to rectify.

A look back at 19-year-old Gauff’s first Grand Slam win at the US Open

Jannik Sinner: 2024’s world No 1

Sinner has been the man of 2024 so far, winning his first Slam title at the Australian Open and usurping Djokovic as world No 1.

The world No 1 Jannik Sinner beat Hubert Hurkacz to win his first ATP Tour title on grass last week

The 22-year-old Italian has lost only three matches all season and began his grass-court campaign with a first title on the surface in Halle.

It would be no surprise if the final was another clash between the sport’s two biggest young stars in Sinner and Alcaraz.

Aryna Sabalenka: The power player on the cusp at Wimbledon

Is this Sabalenka’s year to go all the way at the All England Club?

The big-hitting Belarusian has a game built for grass but has fallen just short of reaching the final on her last two appearances.

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka holds the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after defeating China's Zheng Qinwen in the women's singles final at the Australian Open
Image:
Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka clinched the Australian Open Grand Slam title this year

The 26-year-old powered her way to a second successive Australian Open title in January without dropping a set but is nursing a shoulder problem.

Tommy Paul: The American athlete

Winning the Queen’s Club title on Sunday lifted 27-year-old Paul above Taylor Fritz to become the new American No 1.

Watch Tommy Paul hit a superb tweener to help take the point against Sebastian Korda at the Libema Open

He has already shown his capabilities at the Slams, reaching the semi-finals at the Australian Open last year, while his solid groundstrokes and brilliant athleticism make him a hard nut to crack.

Mirra Andreeva: The promising youngster

Andreeva only turned 17 in April but she has already racked up two Grand Slam fourth-round appearances and a semi-final, having beaten a poorly Sabalenka in the last eight at Roland Garros.

Mirra Andreeva talks about her rise to the top of the women’s game at the age of 17

The Russian, whose game is mature well beyond her years, will be seeded at a Slam for the first time and will look to go further than last year’s run to the last 16.

Jack Draper: The Brit in form

Paul edged out Draper in the quarter-finals at Queen’s, bringing to an end the best week of the 22-year-old’s career.

After winning his first ATP event in Stuttgart, Jack Draper continued his fine form by beating the defending Queen’s Club champion Carlos Alcaraz and said there is no place he’d rather be right now

The young British star claimed his first ATP Tour title in style in Stuttgart before earning his biggest win against Alcaraz on home soil.

Just as encouragingly, he has stayed fit this year, and he will be seeded at a Slam for the first time.

Katie Boulter: Britain’s next hope on the women’s side

Katie Boulter is a name no player will want to find in their section of the draw.

British No 1 Katie Boulter reveals which five guests she would invite to a dinner party. Listen to the full episode here on the Sky Sports Tennis podcast

The British No 1 has built brilliantly on her grass-court breakthrough last summer, winning a WTA Tour 500 title in San Diego and then successfully defending the trophy in Nottingham earlier this month.

She will be seeded for the first time and will hope her powerful game can do some real damage.

Alexander Zverev: A contender for sure

The German is yet to go beyond the fourth round at Wimbledon but, having recovered from ankle surgery two years ago, he is in the form of his life.

The best of the action from Alexander Zverev’s clash with Nicolas Jarry in the final of the Italian Open

Zverev reached his second Grand Slam final in Paris last month, losing agonisingly in five sets to Alcaraz. If he can find his feet on the grass, the 27-year-old could be a hard man to stop.

What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?

In the run-up to the third Grand Slam of 2024 – Wimbledon – you can watch the biggest tennis stars in action live on Sky Sports.

  • Mallorca Championships (ATP 250) – June 23-29
  • Bad Homburg (WTA 500) – June 23-29

Watch the WTA and ATP Tours throughout 2024 on Sky Sports Tennis. Stream Sky Sports Tennis and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership. No contract, cancel anytime.

Ad content | Stream Sky Sports on NOW

Stream Sky Sports live with no contract on a Month or Day membership on NOW. Instant access to live action from football, darts, cricket, F1, tennis, golf, rugby league, rugby union and more.

Carlos Alcaraz plans ATP talks over ‘new’ shot clock rule after defeat at Queen’s Club | Tennis News

Carlos Alcaraz plans ATP talks over ‘new’ shot clock rule after defeat at Queen’s Club | Tennis News



Carlos Alcaraz said he would speak to the ATP about a “new” shot clock rule being trialled after feeling rushed during his defeat by Jack Draper at Queen’s Club.

Alcaraz’s preparations for his Wimbledon title defence suffered a setback with a shock 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 loss to new British No 1 Draper in the last 16 in front of his home crowd.

The 25-second shot clock was previously started only when the chair umpire called the score but the tweak to the rule in the trial means that the countdown to a serve begins almost immediately after a point is concluded.

Jack Draper claimed the biggest win of his career with a straight-sets victory over defending champion Alcaraz at Queen’s Club

The new regulation, aimed at streamlining game flow and ensuring consistent time management, has been on trial since the French Open concluded and it is believed the trial will continue in ATP tournaments until the end of the season.

Alcaraz said that he had no time to go through his regular routine during the match and that he had expressed his concerns to chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani.

“He told me that there is a new rule, this new thing, that the clock never stops. After the point is finished, the clock is putting on,” the world No 2 said.

“I think for the players it’s something bad. I finish the point at the net and I had no time to ask for balls. I’m not saying to go to a towel and take my time. I feel like I can’t ask for the balls.

“It’s crazy. I have time just to ask for two balls and no bounces. I’ve never seen something like that in tennis.

“If you play a long point or finish at the net, you have time just to go for a towel or ask for your routine, ask for, in my case, four balls, I’m concentrating on the next point, just bouncing my bounces and serve as best as I can.

“Today I felt like I was in a rush all the time. I had no time to bounce and do my routine.”

Draper said there is no place he’d rather be right now than at Queen’s Club

The umpires are understood to have the ability to pause the shot clocks in the event of disruptions beyond player or tournament control.

French Open champion Alcaraz was asked if he had spoken to the governing body.

“Not yet, but I will, for sure,” said the Spaniard, who will now head to Wimbledon, which begins on July 1 having only played two grass matches.

What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?

Find out all the ways to watch tennis on Sky Sports, including the US Open, ATP and WTA tours

In the run-up to the third Grand Slam of 2024 – Wimbledon – you can watch all of the biggest tennis stars in action live on Sky Sports as they compete across the grass-court season.

  • Berlin Open (WTA 500) – June 17-23
  • Halle (ATP 500) – June 17-23
  • Mallorca Championships (ATP 250) – June 23-29
  • Bad Homburg (WTA 500) – June 23-29

Watch the WTA and ATP Tours throughout 2024 on Sky Sports Tennis. Stream Sky Sports Tennis and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership. No contract, cancel anytime.

Queen’s Club Championships: Jack Draper stuns Carlos Alcaraz to move into quarter-finals | Tennis News

Queen’s Club Championships: Jack Draper stuns Carlos Alcaraz to move into quarter-finals | Tennis News


Britain’s Jack Draper is through to the quarter-finals at the Queen’s Club Championships, after a stunning defeat of defending champion Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 6-3.

A tight first set with no break points saw Draper excel in a tie-break to clinch it 7-3 and claim the opening set, before storming through the second to lead 5-2 with two match points on the Alcaraz serve.

The Spaniard recovered to hold from there, but Draper then held his nerve, serving out the match for victory.

Image:
Alcaraz’s Queen’s defence is over after a straight-sets defeat to Britain’s Draper

Spanish superstar Alcaraz, who won the French Open earlier this month, had not been beaten in seven weeks or lost a match on grass in almost two years.

But Draper served notice that he is ready to mix it in the upper echelons of the game by becoming the first British man to beat a top-two player on grass since Andy Murray against Novak Djokovic in the 2013 Wimbledon final.

“It was a really tough match,” said Draper. “Carlos is the defending champion, he won Wimbledon, he’s an incredible talent and amazing for the sport.

“I had to come out and play well and luckily I did.

“There’s no place I’d rather be right now, with my family, my friends and the British support. I’ve got my grandad here, who’s just turned 80, he’s doing well.”

Draper became the new British No 1 on Monday, having secured the first ATP Tour title of his career by beating Matteo Berrettini in the Stuttgart Open final on Sunday.

Draper will play American fifth seed Tommy Paul, a 6-3 6-4 winner over Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo, in the quarter-final.

With top seed Alcaraz now out, second seed Alex de Minaur and third seed Grigor Dimitrov are already eliminated as well, as are sixth, seventh and eighth seeds Ben Shelton, Holger Rune and Ugo Humbert.

Alcaraz had no complaints about the result as his 13-match unbeaten streak on grass came to a shuddering halt.

“I’m not too good right now. I felt like I didn’t play well, I didn’t move well,” he said.

“Of course I have to give credit to Jack. I think he played really good tennis today,”

Draper was joined in the last eight by another Briton, wild card Billy Harris.

The 29-year-old journeyman from Nottingham, who usually travels to lower-tier tournaments in his camper van, has made a huge breakthrough this week.

He celebrated the news that he had been given a wild card for Wimbledon – and a guaranteed £60,000 pay day – by beating French qualifier Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-4 7-5.

Harris said: “It’s massive for my confidence. I came into this match knowing it would be tough with his serve.

“The games went quick and I had to keep my focus. I got the breaks when I needed them and I thought I played well.

“I didn’t know how I’d react to coming out here but as soon as I came on court I got great support from the crowd and they helped me through the match.”

The Billy Harris story

Harris, 29, ranked outside the top 300 just eight months ago, defeats Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-4 7-5 to reach his first ATP quarter-final at Queen’s Club, an ATP 500 and one of the biggest grass-court events

Spent years on the ITFs, now inside the top 140

There was more British success in the doubles as Joe Salisbury and American partner Rajeev Ram beat scratch pairing Sebastian Korda and Alex De Minaur.

In the quarter-finals, Salisbury will face another Briton, Neal Skupski, who is playing alongside New Zealander Michael Venus.

What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?

Find out all the ways to watch tennis on Sky Sports, including the US Open, ATP and WTA tours

In the run-up to the third Grand Slam of 2024 – Wimbledon – you can watch all of the biggest tennis stars in action live on Sky Sports as they compete across the grass-court season.

  • Berlin Open (WTA 500) – June 17-23
  • Halle (ATP 500) – June 17-23
  • Mallorca Championships (ATP 250) – June 23-29
  • Bad Homburg (WTA 500) – June 23-29

Watch the WTA and ATP Tours throughout 2024 on Sky Sports Tennis. Stream Sky Sports Tennis and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership. No contract, cancel anytime.

Cinch Championships: Andy Murray and Carlos Alcaraz make winning starts as Dan Evans forced to retire | Tennis News

Cinch Championships: Andy Murray and Carlos Alcaraz make winning starts as Dan Evans forced to retire | Tennis News



Andy Murray secured a 6-3 3-6 6-3 victory over Alexei Popyrin at the cinch Championships at The Queen’s Club, moving him through to the last 16.

It was a passionate and hard-fought victory for Murray in what was his 1,000th professional tennis match, ramping up the home crowd in front of whom he has won the tournament on five occasions.

The 37-year-old continued his preparation for Wimbledon with only his second victory at The Queen’s Club since he last won the tournament in 2016.

Murray took the first set 6-3 but Popyrin fought back in the second to win 6-3 and take the match to a decider.

However, the two-time Wimbledon champion stood resolute, taking the deciding set to 4-1, Popyrin fighting back to bring it to 4-2, before Murray ground it out to 6-3 and secured a crucial win.

Murray, who is reportedly set to retire either after Wimbledon or the Olympics this summer, said: “I’ve not got too many wins this year, it’s been a difficult season, and I did well to come through in the end.

“Any win you can get is important, that’s why we play. With Wimbledon a few weeks away I want to get some matches in my legs and some confidence. It’s great to get another win here.”

Murray has struggled with an ankle injury and a back issue this year to add to fact that he is still competing at the top level with a metal hip.

He added: “I’ve felt better! But it was enough today.

“My mum told me it was my 1,000th match and that’s a lot of matches, a lot of wear and tear on the body and it’s not easy, but I managed to push through it.”

Carlos Alcaraz began the defence of his cinch Championship crown with a straight-sets win over Francisco Cerundolo.

The reigning king of Queen’s, and Wimbledon champion, stretched his winning streak on grass to 13 matches with a 6-1 7-5 victory.

World No 26 Cerundolo was last seen pushing Novak Djokovic to five sets, and subsequently into a hospital bed, at the French Open.

The Argentinian proved a minor irritant to Alcaraz, too, by breaking the world No 2 early in the second set.

Alcaraz had to fend off three set points at 4-5 before the Spanish superstar wrapped up victory in an hour and 22 minutes.

Jannik Sinner survived a first-set scare on his World No. 1 debut against Tallon Griekspoor at the Halle Open

Meanwhile, Italy’s Jannik Sinner made it five wins out of five against Tallon Griekspoor on Tuesday – and in the process booked his place in the last 16 at the Halle Open.

Sinner pulls off a superb dive to break serve against Griekspoor

The top seed and Roland Garros semi-finalist, Sinner was making his season debut on grass – by no means his favourite surface.

Dutchman Griekspoor edged the opener before falling away 6-7 6-3 6-2.

Sinner’s venomous serve breaks the net against Griekspoor

Brit watch: Evans retires as Draper victorious at Queen’s

Britain’s Dan Evans had to retire from his first-round match at the cinch Championships through injury.

The 34-year-old had shared the opening two sets with America’s Brandon Nakashima when he slipped and fell at the back of the court.

After a medical time-out and lengthy treatment to his right leg, Evans was forced to withdraw, a worrying sight with Wimbledon less than two weeks away.

He was the second player to retire after slipping on the grass at Queen’s Club this week, with Frances Tiafoe injuring his hip on Monday.

Dan Evans’ frustrations with umpire Mohamed Lahyanat during his match at the Rome Masters against Fabio Fognini mirrors a very similar experience for Andy Murray almost one year ago

“I’m worried, no doubt,” Evans said. “I mean, a good thing, I thought it was my groin. That settled down pretty much straight away.

“But I think it’s MCL, sort of a bit inside of the knee. There is an issue there, that’s for sure after the testing so far with the physios.

“So I’ve got to wait 48 hours, let it settle, and then get a scan. I’m worried. That’s the bottom line, of course. I’m in limbo a bit.

“It’s frustrating. If I miss the Olympics or Wimbledon it would be a tough one to swallow, no doubt.

“I don’t know. I’m just heartbroken at the minute to be honest. It’s tough.”

On the back of his Boss Open victory, Jack Draper continued on his winning streak with a 6-3 6-2 win over Mariano Navone.

A look back at the story of Jack Draper’s sensational victory at the Stuttgart Open.

Draper clinched the win in rapid time, just a few days after his first ATP Tour title.

There was also good news for British wildcard Billy Harris.

The 29-year-old from Nottingham picked up the biggest win of his career by beating world No 32 Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-4 3-6 6-3.

What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?

Find out all the ways to watch tennis on Sky Sports, including the US Open, ATP and WTA tours

In the run-up to the third Grand Slam of 2024 – Wimbledon – you can watch all of the biggest tennis stars in action live on Sky Sports as they compete across the grass-court season.

  • Berlin Open (WTA 500) – June 17-23
  • Halle (ATP 500) – June 17-23
  • Mallorca Championships (ATP 250) – June 23-29
  • Bad Homburg (WTA 500) – June 23-29

Watch the WTA and ATP Tours throughout 2024 on Sky Sports Tennis. Stream Sky Sports Tennis and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership. No contract, cancel anytime.

Carlos Alcaraz: Crowning of a new ‘King of Clay’ at the French Open symbolises dawn of a new era for tennis | Tennis News

Carlos Alcaraz: Crowning of a new ‘King of Clay’ at the French Open symbolises dawn of a new era for tennis | Tennis News



With Carlos Alcaraz clinching his maiden French Open title, the tennis world is witnessing the changing of the guard and a new ‘King of Clay’.

It’s poetically appropriate that the man who takes the throne spent his youth running home to watch his idol, compatriot and previous chief of the red dirt, Rafael Nadal, lift the trophy.

When Alcaraz dispatched a valiant Alexander Zverev 6-3 2-6 5-7 6-1 6-2 on court Phillipe Chatrier the Spaniard, still just 21, made history as the youngest man to win Grand Slams on all three of the sport’s surfaces following his Wimbledon and US Open titles.

Alcaraz had come into the tournament with doubts over his fitness. He had missed the Italian Open due to an injury he sustained to his right forearm, arrived in Paris with barely any matches under his belt and saw out the French Open with an arm sleeve. The pre-tournament uncertainties added to his achievement.

“This is the moment I’m really proud about,” Alcaraz said. “Winning the US Open when I reached for the first time the No 1 [ranking], was something that I dreamt about since I started playing tennis. So it was pretty special.

“The way I won Wimbledon, beating Djokovic in five sets, has been a great achievement for me. Right now, lifting the Roland Garros trophy, knowing everything I’ve been through the last month with the injuries, is the proudest one.”

Alcaraz said himself that his “game suits every surface.” He first learned the sport on clay, he finds himself most comfortable on hard courts – he sought to excel there because that’s what is used at most tournaments – and his always-look-to-attack style is a perfect fit for grass, as his win over seven-time Wimbledon champion Djokovic in last year’s final at the All England Club proved. Alcaraz’s title defence there begins on July 1.

Of course, he said, he works on his defence. And his drop shots and volleys are valuable tools, as Zverev and so many others can bear rueful witness to.

But Alcaraz’s underlying principle is this: “My main goal is being aggressive, as much as I can.” He plied his aggression on centre court at Roland Garros, under a quote from Garros – an aviation trailblazer – that reads: “Victory belongs to the most tenacious.”

In the semi-finals in Paris, he beat Jannik Sinner – who replaced the injured Djokovic at No 1 in the rankings – and came back from a two-sets-to-one deficit by grabbing eight of the last 11 games in a four-hour, nine-minute match. The final saw Alcaraz wear down Zverev, again erasing a 2-1 deficit in sets, this time by rolling through 12 of the last 15 games in a four-hour, 19-minute match.

Tennis has a new hero

The influence of the “big three” is waning. Nadal fell to eventual finalist Zverev; despite Djokovic’s efforts, injury forced his withdrawal; and Roger Federer retired in 2022. A gaping hole has been left in the centre of the sport and none seem more prepared to fill it than Alcaraz.

In clinching his third Grand Slam, he followed the footsteps of his childhood hero Nadal who was dubbed the ‘King of Clay’ for his 14 French Open championships across his illustrious career. He may have 13 more championships to claim to equal Nadal, but the youngster has time – and no little ability – on his side.

Djokovic holds the record for the greatest number of men’s Grand Slam singles titles with 24, while Nadal sits next on 22 and Federer two further back on 20. However, Djokovic won his first major at the 2008 Australian Open when he was 20, while Federer did so at Wimbledon in 2003 aged 21. Alcaraz picked up his first aged 19 at the US Open, and the world has been at his feet ever since.

The Spaniard is just an eighth of the way towards Djokovic’s haul, but that has not stopped him dreaming of achieving the feat.

“I hope so,” Alcaraz said when asked whether he could eventually match Djokovic’s record tally.

“I talked to coach Juan Carlos Ferrero a few days ago. Before the final, he told me how I’m going to fight for a third Grand Slam title ‘with everything you have been through, and you know how difficult winning a Grand Slam is – and Djokovic has 24!’ So it is unbelievable.

“Right now I can’t think about it. I just want to keep going and let’s see how many I’m going to take at the end of my career.

“Hopefully I’ll reach the 24, but right now I’m going to enjoy my third one, and let’s see in the future.”

What next for Alcaraz?

Alcaraz will be eyeing a return to the No 1 ranking having beaten the recently-installed No 1 Sinner in the semi-final, and there is no questioning his ambitions to reclaim the spot he held in 2022.

At 3-0 in Grand Slam finals, we can only watch in awe at what Alcaraz can achieve next. Whatever lies in the young man’s future, he’ll take to it with his infectious beaming smile that continues to draw in support.

What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?

Find out all the ways to watch tennis on Sky Sports, including the US Open, ATP and WTA tours.

In the run-up to the third Grand Slam of 2024 – Wimbledon – you can watch all of the biggest tennis stars in action live on Sky Sports as they compete across the grass-court season.

  • Stuttgart Open (ATP 250 with Andy Murray in action) – June 10-16
  • Rosmalen Open (ATP/WTA 250) – June 10-16
  • Berlin Open (WTA 500) – June 17-23

Watch the WTA and ATP Tours throughout 2024 on Sky Sports Tennis. Stream Sky Sports Tennis and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership. No contract, cancel anytime.

Carlos Alcaraz: Spaniard beats Alexander Zverev to claim maiden French Open title at Roland Garros | Tennis News

Carlos Alcaraz: Spaniard beats Alexander Zverev to claim maiden French Open title at Roland Garros | Tennis News


Carlos Alcaraz was made to sweat but clinched his first French Open title by outlasting Alexander Zverev 6-3 2-6 5-7 6-1 6-2 in Sunday’s final at Roland Garros.

The 21-year-old filled a Rafael Nadal-sized void at Roland Garros with a marathon victory in four hours and 19 minutes.

Fourth seed Zverev had sent old warrior Nadal out on his shield for probably the last time in the first round.

But young pretender Alcaraz vanquished the German to join fellow Spaniard Nadal as the only men to lift the Roland Garros trophy aged under 22.

Carlos Alcaraz is now…

The youngest man ever to become World No. 1 (19 years, 4 months, 6 days old).

The youngest man ever to win a Grand Slam title on all three surfaces (21 years, 1 month, 3 days old).

The first man to win his first three major titles on three different surfaces.

“I’m really grateful to have the team that I have and the people I have around me,” said the Spaniard, who became the youngest man to win a Grand Slam title on all three surfaces, adding the Paris clay to his hard-court US Open success and last year’s win on the Wimbledon grass.

“I know everyone in my team gives their heart just to make me improve as a player and as a person.

“I just have good words for the fans – it’s been unbelievable the support I’ve received. I feel like I’m at home here. The fans make this tournament so special. A huge thanks to them.”

He boasts a perfect record in major finals, while for Zverev it is two defeats from two following his loss to Dominic Thiem at the US Open four years ago.

Alcaraz was the clear aggressor as the first set wore on and he took it in 43 minutes.

But the Zverev forehand began firing and he broke for 3-2 in the second set after Alcaraz’s mistimed return flew into the crowd.

A sizzling pass from Zverev sent a cloud of dust exploding off the court as he brought up a double break on his way to levelling the match.

Alcaraz found his range again early in the third when a superb volley brought up three break points – his first on the Zverev serve all set – and he dispatched the first to lead 4-2.

But Alcaraz was suddenly missing more often than his opponent and Zverev reeled off five games, saving a break point at 6-5, to move ahead.

But having finally got a service hold on the board and returning from so far back he was almost sitting on the lap of Bjorn Borg in the front row of the presidential box, Alcaraz broke with a vicious forehand down the line.

Alcaraz needed treatment on his left thigh but held out to take the match to a deciding set.

A tired service game from Zverev, who has spent almost 24 hours on court this fortnight, gave Alcaraz the early advantage.

‘Carlos, Carlos’ chanted the crowd on Philippe Chatrier in scenes usually only reserved for 14-time winner Nadal.

They were on their feet again when an astonishing flicked backhand cross-court winner helped secure another break.

Four minutes later the man from Murcia was lying on his back, Nadal style, celebrating a victory he has always seemed destined for.

“You’re already a Hall of Famer and you already achieved so much,” said Zverev. “You’ve already achieved so much at 21 years old – incredible player. It’s not the last time he’ll win this.

“It’s been amazing, I really love to play on this beautiful court – I’ll be back next year.”

The list of men in the Open Era to win a singles major title on hard court, grass court and clay court

Andre Agassi

Jimmy Connors

Novak Djokovic

Roger Federer

Rafael Nadal

Mats Wilander

Carlos Alcaraz

Tale of the Tape

Social media reaction

‘This sport needs Alcaraz!’

Three-time French Open champion Mats Wilander on Eurosport:

“We need Alcaraz more than anything in our sport right now. He needs to keep winning majors every year.

“If he does that he’ll change our sport in many ways because he’s such a breath of fresh air, his smiling is great and he’s humble. This is great for professional tennis.”

What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?

Find out all the ways to watch tennis on Sky Sports, including the US Open, ATP and WTA tours

In the run-up to the third Grand Slam of 2024 – Wimbledon – you can watch all of the biggest tennis stars in action live on Sky Sports as they compete across the grass-court season.

  • Stuttgart Open (ATP 250 with Andy Murray in action) – June 10-16
  • Rosmalen Open (ATP/WTA 250) – June 10-16
  • Berlin Open (WTA 500) – June 17-23

Watch the WTA and ATP Tours throughout 2024 on Sky Sports Tennis. Stream Sky Sports Tennis and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership. No contract, cancel anytime.