Wimbledon 2025 Men’s Day 5

Carlos Alcaraz squeezed out a late break to wrap up his 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 defeat of Jan-Lennard Struff which the two-time holder characterised as “stressful,” as he advanced at Wimbledon on Friday.

The Spanish second seed won his 23d straight match as he reached the fourth round as winner of the previous two editions.

“It was a stressful match, I was suffering in every service game,” the Spaniard said. “Either love 30 or break points down.

“It was survival out there.,

“I knew it would be difficult, I had to be focus. He has a big serve and comes to the net as much as he can.

“I was pleased with everything I did today. I had to fight on every shot and use the opportunities he gave me. I was glad to win in four sets.”

Alcaraz earned a key break at 4-all in the fourth set to snap the German resistance before he served it out a game later with three match point chances.

“He missed a volley one metre from the net, I can’t believe I’m standing here.”

Taylor Fritz joined Alcaraz in the fourth round as the fifth seed posted a 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-1 result over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in another energetic diving display on the grass.

The Californian cut his right elbow for a second consecutive match as he hit the turf in pursuit of a ball in a three-hour-plus defeat of his Spanish opponent.

Fritz is on a seven-match win streak and has claimed 11 victories on grass to lead the ATP. 

The winner of five lawn titles – including Stuttgart and Eastbourne over the past month – said the fast pace of the surface is right up his street.

“There is lots in my game that works well on grass. It’s nice to play quick points. You get rewarded instantly and I get the chance to play aggressively.

“Strangely, the body is feeling better after each match. Somehow it felt the worst in the first round,” he said after 14 sets in three matches.

Fritz’s 10th-seeded compatriot Ben Shelton made quick work of Australian Rinky Hijikata 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 in just over two hours, with the final mini-chapter lasting barely a minute and comprising three aces and an unreturned serve.

The match began on Thursday but was halted for bad light and the 11 p.m. Wimbledon neighborhood curfew, with steely club officials refusing to budge on the deadline..

Shelton said finishing the next day – the fourth time for him here – was no stress even if he complained vigorously at the time when play was surprisingly called.

“It’s normal, It’s part of tennis,” Shelton said of the timing situation. “Everything’s not going to be the same whether it’s weather conditions, whether it’s the sun going down, just normal things they (officials) have to deal with.

“I’m just happy with the way I handled it coming out today and taking care of my business. It’s never ideal mentally having to wake up and know that it’s a match day. 

“I went out there prepared to play two and a half sets. I’m really happy with the
win.”

Andry Rublev took a win as 14th seed, defeating French qualifier Adrian Mannarino 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 while Australian Jordan Thompson stopped Italy’s Luca Darderi 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. 

Unseeded Cam Norrie flew the flag for Britain with his 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-3 win over Brazilian Mattia Bellucci.

French showman Gael Monfils came up short as Marton Fucsovics finished off their delayed third-rounder, winning 6-1, 4-6, 1-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 after three and three-quarter hours of struggle over two days.

“I think today didn’t serve much better, my return was really poor. I couldn’t really return good,” the 38-year-old Monfils said.

“I struck the ball poorly today. I couldn’t adapt myself to the sun as quickly as he did.

“One (final) set on grass is very quick. So credit to him. He was better than me.”