Wimbledon 2024 Men’s Day 5

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz battled from two sets to one down on Friday, returning to the Wimbledon fourth round 5-7, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2 at the expense of upset-minded rival Frances Tiafoe.

The American challenger, whose season has been compromised by a knee injury and a win-loss record which now stands a dead-level 15-15, had been hoping to jump start his event with a knockout of the third seed.

But after thwarting the upset scenario by levelling the sets at two apiece with a winning tiebreak, Alcaraz cut loose in the fifth set, earning a 5-1 lead and advancing with a drop shot on his first match point after nearly four hours.

The win was a repeat of a semi-final success the Spaniard earned over the American at the US Open last autumn.

“It’s always a big challenge playing Frances, he’s a talented player and tough to face

“It was difficult for me to adapt my game, find solutions. and put him in trouble. I was happy to do it at the end of the match.”

Alcaraz said the tight fourth set was a turning point. “I kept telling myself to fight for one more ball. I wanted to know that I had gone for everything all the time.”

American 12th seed Tommy Paul duplicated his best showing here by reaching the fourth round 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 over Alexander Bublik, the dropshot-prone Kazakh, winning in 85 minutes.

The match was one of a handful which were completed in between showers which passed over the club throughout the day.

“It was weird getting ready for the match. You never really know when you’re

going to go on and you definitely don’t know if you are going to finish.

“I got lucky in being able to get the whole match done.. I was very happy with that.”

He added: “I actually was surprised, I thought the court was going to be a little more slippery.

“Normally I feel like when it’s slick, you would kind of slide out there. That gave me a little confidence to move a little harder – it helped me out in the match.” 

Grigor Dimitrov, a semi-finaliste here a decade ago, showed flashes of his best tennis at age 33 as he defeated fellow veteran Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.

The move into the fourth round put the Bulgarian into the Wimbledon second week for a fourth time.

Monfils, who had beaten Stan Wawrinka in the previous round, went all out, with 16 aces among 27 winners plus 38 unforced errors in a match between former junior champions from nearly two decades ago.

The veteran pair have now played six times, but their last meeting came eight years ago.

Dimitrov, once billed as the successor to Roger Federer when he first emerged, was pleased with his showing under the roof of Court No. 1.

“It’s been awhile since I’ve felt that good on the court. It was a clean match and I’m happy. I’m glad I recovered from yesterday (rain-interrupted five-set conclusion against Shang Juncheng).

He added: “I’m playing a better tennis; you never know when you might produce an amazing match or amazing tournament.

“I’m enjoying it out there and I want to make the most of this. Whatever comes next – good or bad – I’m ready for it.

“But I’m not thinking too far ahead, I want to stay in the present.”

Main photo:- Carlos Alcaraz celebrates victory over Frances Tiafoe by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd