Carlos Alcaraz solves Ugo Humbert, surges into Wimbledon quarterfinals

Carlos Alcaraz was hitting all the right notes in the fourth round of his Wimbledon title defense, resolving a minor-chord third set to play off part-time pianist Ugo Humbert, 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5.

The No. 3 seed won an 11th straight match, both at majors and at the All England Club, ultimately solving the No. 16 seed in two hours and 58 minutes beneath the Centre Court roof.

The reigning Roland Garros champ was coming off a titanic third-round encounter with good friend Frances Tiafoe, who led by two sets to one and stood a mere six points from victory before Alcaraz roared back in five. Carrying that momentum into the second week, the 21-year-old started strong in his first meeting with Humbert, breaking twice to take the opening set and serving his way to a two-set lead with a late break in the second.

Into a Grand Slam fourth round for the first time since 2019 (also at Wimbledon), Humbert, who earned a career-high ranking of No. 14 back in April, set to work on an impressive comeback, blitzing Alcaraz in the third set behind three breaks and just two unforced errors.

Alcaraz appeared to have the match back on his terms when he nabbed the first break of the fourth and took a 3-1 lead, but the 26-year-old Humbert battled back, winning three straight games and threatening to force a fifth set.

Digging out of a 0-40 deficit that would have handed Humbert the chance to serve for the set, Alcaraz held on as 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 chance to serve for the match.

Though Humbert kept hopes for one last comeback alive, Alcaraz beared down behind some strong serving and made it to match points with a deftly-struck drop shot.

With the finish line in sight, Alcaraz nailed one last big serve to edge over the finish line in just under three hours.

Awaiting him in the last eight could be a potentially intriguing match-up 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, who is unseeded but into the second week of a Grand Slam for only the third time since 2019 Wimbledon, when he reached the semifinals.