Carlos Alcaraz’s Dominating Victory over Ugo Humbert to Reach Wimbledon 2024 Quarterfinals
Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning Wimbledon champion increased his Grand Slam winning run to 11 games, with a tough win over Ugo Humbert.
In the fourth round of his Wimbledon title defense, Carlos Alcaraz was playing off part-time pianist Ugo Humbert, 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5. He was hitting all the correct notes.
The No. 3 seed defeated the No. 16 seed in two hours and fifty-eight minutes under the Center Court roof, winning an unprecedented 11th straight match at the majors as well as at the All England Club.
After a thrilling third-round match against close friend Frances Tiafoe, the defending Roland Garros champion was only six points away from victory when Alcaraz stormed back in five sets. The 21-year-old maintained his form into the second week of play, breaking twice to win the first set and serving his way to a two-set lead with a late break in the second. This was his first encounter with Humbert.
Humbert, who had a career-high ranking of No. 14 back in April, entered a Grand Slam fourth round for the first time since 2019 (also at Wimbledon). Humbert dominated Alcaraz in the third set thanks to three breaks and just two unforced errors.
After taking the first break of the fourth set and leading 3-1, Alcaraz looked to have the match back on his terms. However, Humbert, 26, rallied, claiming three games in a row and posing a threat to force a fifth set.
Alcaraz hung on when Humbert erred off the backhand side and, after serving to stay in the set, turned the tables on the musically inclined Frenchman, giving himself the opportunity to serve for the match. This allowed Alcaraz to come back from a 0–40 disadvantage that would have given Humbert the opportunity to serve for the set.
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Humbert managed to maintain hope for one more rally, but Alcaraz prevailed with to some excellent serving and a skillfully placed drop shot to tie the score. Alcaraz crossed the finish line in little under three hours by nailing one last strong serve when the finish line was in sight.
A potentially fascinating matchup with Tommy Paul, the No. 12 seed who is riding high after winning the Scottish Championships at Queen’s Club, could be waiting for him in the round of eight.
The American player needs to overcome Roberto Bautista Agut, the former world No. 9 who is ranked unseeded and hasn’t advanced past the second round of a Grand Slam since 2019 Wimbledon, when he reached the quarterfinals. Paul and Alcaraz have split their head-to-head match at two wins apiece.
