Alcaraz dispatches Berrettini to set youngest men’s quarter-final in Wimbledon history with Rune

Carlos Alcaraz recovered from a one-set deficit to end the Wimbledon hopes of 2021 runner-up Matteo Berrettini on Centre Court, the 20-year-old powering to a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 victory in three hours and five minutes to reach the last eight at the All England Club for the first time.

How does the young Spaniard feel after breaking through to the last eight for the first time at SW19?

“I’m hungry for more,” Alcaraz said. “It’s something that I really wanted, last year I lost in the fourth round and I really wanted to play the quarter-final here.

“I came in with that goal this year, to first get into the quarter-final, and now that I got it, I am looking for more – it’s my dream to play a final here, to win this title one day, so I hope to reach that dream this year, but right now it’s great to be in the quarter-finals.”

Alcaraz, making his third appearance in Wimbledon’s main draw, will face fellow 20-year-old Holger Rune, who defeated Grigor Dimitrov in four sets earlier on Monday, next.

"I hope to reach that dream this year"@carlosalcaraz has big ambitions for The Championships 2023#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/AWkJtt6i2g

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 10, 2023

Both players have proven to be quick studies on the grass this year. Alcaraz, entered the season with a 4-2 record on the surface and has won all nine matches he has played on grass in 2023. Rune was 0-3 on grass prior to this summer. He has gone 7-1 to reach the quarter-finals.

The youngest men’s quarter-final in Wimbledon history

Alcaraz, who turned 20 on May 5, and Rune, who turned 20 on April 29, will do battle in the first Wimbledon final featuring two players under 21, and the first Grand Slam quarter-final featuring two 20-year-olds since Juan Martin del Potro defeated Marin Cilic at the US Open in 2009.

The Young Guns on Grass 💥 🌱@carlosalcaraz | @holgerrune2003
#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/m4Hqivg6Ak

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 10, 2023

Alcaraz and Rune last met in Paris in 2022, with the Dane coming through 6-3, 6-6 RET, when Alcaraz retired due to injury. They also played for the title at the ATP’s Next Gen Finals in Milan in 2021, with Alcaraz coming through, 4-3, 4-2, 4-0.

Berrettini finally broken

It had been a spotless run to the second week from the service stripe for Berrettini, and a splendid first set, but from the moment that Alcaraz snapped the Italian’s run of 60 consecutive service holds and 10 consecutive break points saved early in the second set.

From there Alcaraz was able to take control. He finished the match with four service breaks from 16 opportunities to improve to 9-0 on the grass in 2023.

The 20-year-old Spaniard defeated Frenchman Jeremy Chardy (6-0, 6-2, 7-5), Frenchman Alexandre Muller (6-4, 7-6 (2), 6-3) and Chilean Nicolas Jarry, the No 25 seed (6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3, 7-5) ahead of his victory.

Earlier in the tournament, Berrettini, ranked No 38, won against Lorenzo Sonego (6-7 (5), 6-3, 7-6 (7), 6-3), Australian Alex De Minaur, the No 15 seed (6-3, 6-4, 6-4) and German Alexander Zverev, the No 19 seed (6-3, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5)).

London (Grand Slam), other last 16 results (All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, grass, GBP 16.077.000, most recent results first):

• Holger Rune beat Grigor Dimitrov (21): 3-6, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (4), 6-3
• Novak Djokovic (2) beat Hubert Hurkacz (17): 7-6 (6), 7-6 (6), 5-7, 6-4
• Christopher Eubanks beat Stefanos Tsitsipas (5): 3-6, 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
• Daniil Medvedev (3) beat Jiri Lehecka: 6-4, 6-2 ret.
• Jannik Sinner (8) beat Daniel Elahi Galan: 7-6 (4), 6-4, 6-3
• Roman Safiullin beat Denis Shapovalov (26): 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-3
• Andrey Rublev (7) beat Alexander Bublik (23): 7-5, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-7 (5), 6-4

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