Tennis

Wimbledon's quarter-finals promise thrilling encounters as the tournament's next generation of stars take center stage. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, the world's top-ranked players, will face off in a highly anticipated clash, while Lulu Sun, a qualifier from New Zealand, aims to make history.Sinner vs. Medvedev: A Rivalry RenewedWorld number one Jannik Sinner and fifth-ranked Daniil Medvedev have a storied rivalry, with Sinner winning the last five of their 11 meetings. Their Wimbledon quarter-final will be a rematch of the Australian Open final, where Sinner triumphed in a thrilling five-set battle. Medvedev acknowledges Sinner's remarkable improvement, praising his consistency and power.Alcaraz Eyes Double GloryDefending champion Carlos Alcaraz faces American Tommy Paul, hoping to reach his sixth Grand Slam semi-final. Alcaraz, who is also a close friend of Spain's Euro 2024 captain, is eager to finish his Wimbledon match in time to support his national team. Alcaraz is aiming to become the sixth player to win the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back.Sun Shines BrightLulu Sun, the first New Zealand woman to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals, is making waves with her aggressive style. Despite being ranked 123rd, Sun has defeated top players like Zheng Qinwen and Emma Raducanu. Her opponent, Donna Vekic, is also in her first Wimbledon quarter-final but has previous experience in the last eight at the US Open and Australian Open.Paolini's Cinderella RunJasmine Paolini, ranked seventh in Italy, has exceeded expectations by reaching her first Grand Slam quarter-final. After a runner-up finish at Roland Garros, Paolini faces Emma Navarro, who stunned Coco Gauff in the fourth round. Navarro has a 3-0 record against Paolini, but the Italian is determined to continue her Cinderella run.

Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning Roland Garros champion, continued his impressive Wimbledon title defense with a hard-fought 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 victory over Ugo Humbert in the fourth round.Alcaraz, the No. 3 seed, started strongly, breaking Humbert twice in the opening set and once in the second to take a commanding 2-0 lead. However, Humbert, a part-time pianist, staged a remarkable comeback in the third set, blitzing Alcaraz with three breaks and just two unforced errors.Undeterred, Alcaraz regained control in the fourth set, breaking Humbert early and taking a 3-1 lead. But Humbert fought back, winning three straight games and threatening to force a fifth set.Alcaraz dug deep, holding on despite facing a 0-40 deficit and eventually breaking Humbert's serve to take a 5-4 lead. The Spaniard then served out the match, hitting a deft drop shot to set up match point and sealing the victory with a powerful serve.Alcaraz's victory sets up a potential quarterfinal clash with No. 12 seed Tommy Paul, who is enjoying a career-best stretch after winning the cinch Championships at Queen's Club. Paul and Alcaraz have split their head-to-head at two wins apiece, but the American must first get past former world No. 9 Roberto Bautista Agut.

Defending Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz sets his sights on the quarter-finals as he faces piano-loving Frenchman Ugo Humbert on Sunday. Humbert, ranked 16th in the world, is a passionate pianist who finds solace in music away from the tennis court.Alcaraz, the world number three, aims to become the sixth man to win the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back. Despite trailing by a set twice against Frances Tiafoe in the third round, Alcaraz's resilience and ability to push his opponents to their limits proved decisive.British fans are hopeful that Emma Raducanu can replicate her 2021 US Open triumph at Wimbledon. The 21-year-old, now ranked 135th, has a potential path to the semi-finals if she can overcome Lulu Sun and either Paula Badosa or Donna Vekic. Raducanu's victory over Maria Sakkari on Friday marked her second win over a top 10 player in as many weeks.American Ben Shelton is following in his father's footsteps at Wimbledon. Thirty years after Bryan Shelton reached the fourth round, Ben has matched his father's achievement. On Sunday, he faces world number one Jannik Sinner for a place in the quarter-finals. Shelton defeated Sinner in their first meeting in 2023 but has since lost twice to the Italian.

Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning Wimbledon champion, paid homage to England's rising star Jude Bellingham by replicating his signature goal celebration on Friday. After a grueling five-set victory over Frances Tiafoe, Alcaraz spread his arms wide as he basked in the applause on Centre Court, mirroring Bellingham's iconic celebration.Alcaraz, a self-proclaimed Real Madrid fan, holds Bellingham in high regard. The 21-year-old Spaniard had previously copied the footballer's celebration at the 2023 US Open, posting a photo on social media with the caption "Hey, Jude.""We're in London," Alcaraz explained. "He is England. So that's why. I told him that the big win deserves a big celebration."Alcaraz's admiration for Bellingham extends beyond their shared love of sports. The world number three also respects the midfielder's on-field demeanor. "He's a great player," Alcaraz said. "He's very humble and he works hard. I think he has a great future ahead of him."Bellingham, who scored a spectacular overhead winner for England against Slovakia at Euro 2024, has become a fan favorite for his skill and charisma. His trademark celebration, which involves spreading his arms wide and running towards the corner flag, has been widely imitated by fans and players alike.Alcaraz's gesture not only acknowledges Bellingham's talent but also highlights the growing bond between the worlds of football and tennis. As both sports continue to captivate global audiences, it is becoming increasingly common for athletes to draw inspiration from each other.

Defending Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz and US Open winner Coco Gauff advanced to the fourth round on Friday, showcasing their dominance on the grass courts.Alcaraz, the world number three, faced a stern test from close friend Frances Tiafoe in a thrilling five-set encounter. After dropping the first set, Alcaraz rallied to win the next two before Tiafoe forced a fourth-set tiebreak. However, Alcaraz's powerful serve and aggressive play proved too much for the American, as he sealed the victory 5-7, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-2."It's always a big challenge playing against Frances," said Alcaraz. "He's a really talented player, really tough to face, and he has shown again that he deserves to be at the top and fight for big things."Gauff, the world number two, had an easier time against British qualifier Sonay Kartal, winning 6-4, 6-0. The American dominated the second set, allowing her opponent just eight points."This is my first time playing a British player here, so I was a little nervous because I knew you'd be for her, which is understandable," said Gauff. "Thankfully, you guys were pretty nice to me, so that helped."Other notable results included Tommy Paul's straight-sets victory over Alexander Bublik, Grigor Dimitrov's defeat of Gael Monfils, and Madison Keys' advancement to the second week.Lulu Sun made history by becoming the first woman from New Zealand since 1959 to reach the last 16. The 23-year-old upset Chinese eighth seed Zheng Qinwen in the first round and continued her impressive run with a straight-sets win over Zhu Lin."Practically more sheep and deer than people," joked Sun about her hometown of Te Anau. "I hope this win will be big news there."

Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning Wimbledon champion, faced his toughest test yet in his title defense, engaging in a thrilling five-set battle against the inspired Frances Tiafoe. Despite a slow start, Alcaraz displayed his resilience and determination, ultimately triumphing 5-7, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2 in a match that lasted three hours and 50 minutes.Tiafoe, seeded 29th, had been candid about his struggles this season, but he played with renewed vigor against Alcaraz. The American took advantage of Alcaraz's sluggish start, winning the first set. However, Alcaraz regrouped and leveled the match by taking the second set.The third set was a tense affair, with Tiafoe breaking Alcaraz's serve in the seventh game to take a 2-1 lead. The fourth set was equally competitive, with both players holding serve until the tiebreaker. Alcaraz found his best form in the tiebreaker, winning the first five points and ultimately taking the set.In the deciding set, Alcaraz broke Tiafoe's serve twice to take a commanding 5-1 lead. Tiafoe fought back to hold serve in the seventh game, but Alcaraz proved too strong, sealing the victory with a forehand winner.Alcaraz's victory extends his record in five-set matches to 12-1, including nine consecutive wins. He will now face Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinals, another rising star who has impressed at Wimbledon this year.

Frances Tiafoe's recent struggles have been evident, with the American admitting to losing to "clowns" in recent times. While his choice of words may have been harsh, Tiafoe's performance has indeed dipped since his impressive semifinal run at the 2022 US Open.Tiafoe's third-round opponent at Wimbledon, Carlos Alcaraz, is no ordinary player. The Spaniard is the defending champion and has already won three Grand Slam titles, including the French Open last month. Alcaraz's dominance on clay and hard courts is well-known, but his grass-court game is still a work in progress.Despite Alcaraz's recent straight-set victories, his opponents have had their chances. Both Mark Lajal and Aleksandar Vukic took Alcaraz to a tiebreaker in the first set, while Lajal also lost a set 7-5. Tiafoe, with his powerful serve and comfortable net play, poses a greater threat than either of those players.Tiafoe's ability to hold his serve and his sharp baseline game make him a dangerous opponent on grass. If he can maintain his focus and avoid unforced errors, he has the potential to cover the 7.5-game spread against Alcaraz.While Alcaraz remains the favorite, Tiafoe's charisma and crowd support could give him an edge. The American has the ability to put pressure on Alcaraz and potentially even win a set.

Defending Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz and fifth seed Daniil Medvedev overcame early challenges to advance to the third round, while eighth seed Casper Ruud suffered a disappointing exit on a rain-affected Wednesday.Alcaraz faced a stern test from Australian Aleksandar Vukic, narrowly escaping a first-set loss before finding his rhythm to secure a 7-6(5) 6-2 6-2 victory. The Spaniard expressed confidence in rediscovering the form that propelled him to the title last year.Medvedev also encountered difficulties against Alexandre Muller, ranked 102nd in the world. The Russian struggled on Centre Court but eventually prevailed 6-7(3) 7-6(4) 6-4 7-5.Second seed Coco Gauff displayed signs of improvement despite a shaky start against Anca Todoni. The American acknowledged the need to minimize errors after winning 6-2 6-1.Wild card Emma Raducanu showcased her dominance with a 6-1 6-2 victory over Elise Mertens. However, former U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka's Wimbledon journey ended with a 6-4 6-1 defeat to American Emma Navarro.Rain disrupted play on the outer courts, leading to the early elimination of Ruud. The Italian Fabio Fognini upset the Norwegian 6-4 7-5 6-7(1) 6-3. Ruud expressed disappointment but acknowledged his limitations on grass courts.Later in the day, world number one Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini will face off in a highly anticipated Centre Court clash.

Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning Wimbledon champion, is eagerly anticipating his third-round clash against American Frances Tiafoe, who has been making bold statements about his intentions to challenge the Spaniard.Alcaraz, who has been struggling in the first sets of his matches but has managed to overcome his opponents in straight sets, is aware of Tiafoe's threat. "I know that he's a really talented player, a really tough one and maybe even tougher here on grass with his style," said Alcaraz.Tiafoe, who has slipped out of the Top 10 and has had a disappointing 12 months, is determined to turn things around at Wimbledon. "I'm barely seeded here, losing to clowns, I mean..." said Tiafoe after winning his first round. "I hate to say it, but I'm just gonna be honest with you guys...I took the game for granted and got a little too comfortable."Despite their friendly relationship off the court, Alcaraz is ready to put business first when they face off on Friday. "Frances, a great player, a great person as well. He always smiles," said Alcaraz. "He always seems like he's enjoying his time on the court, off the court as well. It's pretty impressive. Try to put a show every time he steps on the court, as well."It's going to be a really fun match to play, to watch. I'll try to put my good weapons on the match and try to beat him."Tiafoe, who pushed Alcaraz to the brink in the 2022 US Open semifinals, will be Alcaraz's first major test of the fortnight. The American is confident in his abilities and is eager to prove himself on the grass courts of Wimbledon.The match between Alcaraz and Tiafoe is expected to be a thrilling encounter between two of the most exciting young players in the game. The crowd at Wimbledon is sure to be in for a treat as these two rising stars battle it out for a place in the fourth round.