Wimbledon 2023: Carlos Alcaraz through to quarter-finals with impressive win over Matteo Berrettini

Carlos Alcaraz beat Matteo Berrettini 3-6 6-3 6-3 6-3 on Monday evening to reach his first quarter-final at Wimbledon.

The 20-year-old is one of the favourites at SW19, but his four-set battle with Nicolas Jarry at the weekend showed the remaining players in the draw that he is far from invincible on grass at this stage of his career. Meanwhile, the resurgent Berrettini had displayed his talent with his straight sets victory over Alexander Zverev.

The match went with serve in the opening stages, with the crowd and press box both packed tight for what was one of the most hotly-anticipated matches of the tournament so far.

Both players were able to mix power with deft touches, but for more than half the first set, they were well matched and unable to force a break.

However the 27-year-old Italian seized on some indecisiveness from the world No. 1 as he fought through to break for 5-3, before sealing the set despite being taken to deuce as he attempted to serve it out.

Alcaraz had a break point in the first game of the second set but Berrettini held serve and the Spaniard started to betray some frustration.

But the breakthrough soon came. Two unforced errors from Berrettini gifted Alcaraz three break points at 2-1 and the Spaniard pushed through to break finally, before holding to move 4-1 clear.

Alcaraz’s power and accuracy on his service game soon took him to the set and we were all square.

He broke to go 2-1 up in the third set as his superior movement helped him pick off Berrettini, and at 5-3, he had Berrettini serving to stay in the set.

An unusual, crouching return gave Alcaraz a couple more break points, and he converted to move one set from victory.

The Italian petitioned to have the roof closed, and after he held his service game to love for 2-2 in the fourth, the umpire acquiesced.

While he might have hoped for a change in fortunes, Alcaraz quickly returned to winning ways, and a thudding right-hander set him up to serve for the match.

Alcaraz did not blink and booked a last-eight clash with Danish sixth seed Holger Rune.

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