Jannik Sinner

CARLOS ALCARAZ lost to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon fourth round.

It was saved with a 127mph serve from the 19-year-old but Sinner successfully challenged a ball to deny Alcaraz a game point. Alcaraz saved both but - just like in the third set tiebreak - Sinner wowed the crowd with a cross-court forehand winner and set up his fifth match point. An error from the fifth seed's racket gave the Italian a match point but he dumped the ball in the net again. There were no minibreaks as the young stars changed ends at 3-3 but it was Sinner who was first to crack as he served from the other end, failing to get the ball over the net to gift Alcaraz a 4-3 lead and he held twice to set up three set points. And Alcaraz found himself facing three break points immediately at the start of the third but rallied to hold for 1-0, hitting three winners en route in what looked to be something of a turning point for the Spaniard who started to look more like his usual self. But it was Sinner who got off to a stronger start, breaking the fifth seed for a 3-1 lead in the opener.

Jannik Sinner produced a performance of maturity and excellence to beat Carlos Alcaraz 6-1 6-4 6-7 6-3 to progress to the quarter-finals of Wimbledon.

The 19-year-old Alcaraz continued to chase - and miss - the lines in the opening game of the third set as further unforced errors left him with three break points to defend. The Italian would fashion a further three match points on his opponent's serve, but was unable to convert. He would defend them both, but Alcaraz would again drop serve - this time in the fourth game - after following some errant hitting with a double fault. And when the Spaniard was unable to dig out a testing return at his feet, the 19-year-old had it all to do. He backed it up in the sixth game when a long backhand and a double fault from his opponent offered up two break points. However, the Italian's excellent return game, coupled with his impressive backcourt coverage, unsettled and nullified Alcaraz for large swathes of the contest.

Carlos Alcaraz vs. Jannik Sinner result: The Italian edged a four-set thriller to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals. The Sporting News was on Centre Court ...

3.25pm: Alcaraz and Sinner will be on Centre Court following the conclusion of Heather Watson and Jule Niemeier's match. Alcaraz and Sinner will be making their way to court shortly. A cross-court backhand winner from Alcaraz is the shot of the match so far to level the scores. Sinner gets it as Alcaraz switches things up with a drop shot but it fails to go over. Sinner hits a fierce forehand to the right side of the court, 15-15. Sinner hits a deft drop shot to take the opening point. Alcaraz deceives Sinner with a drop shot but it just fails creep over the net, 15-15. Alcaraz takes Sinner to deuce twice. Alcaraz then opts for a drop shot at the wrong time which doesn't come off and follows up with a forehand into the net. Alcaraz practically jogs to the net to hit an overhead smash as Sinner could only return it high off the serve, 30-15. Alcaraz blasts a forehand way long. Centre Court erupts and people are on their feet as Alcaraz clips a cheeky forehand at his feet just over the net to earn set point of his own.

The young talents made their Centre Court debuts hours after Wimbledon celebrated the main stage's 100th anniversary, and they provided a foil to a ...

You are playing and knowing all the historic matches that were played there that were so important to the game. Though seeded 10th at Wimbledon, Sinner had never won a match on grass on the main tour until arriving at the All England Club, but it was difficult to understand why as he navigated the grass and generated huge punching power with his groundstrokes against Alcaraz off shots hit from all different kinds of heights. I have to manage the nerves better. The temptation to end the exchange was understandable. Sinner has made a smart hire this summer, employing Darren Cahill, a former player, veteran coach and ESPN analyst, as a grass-court consultant. “But it’s more knowing all the story behind this court. Sinner will now face Djokovic, the three-time defending champion at Wimbledon, in the quarterfinals after Djokovic defeated Tim van Rijthoven, a late-blooming Dutch wild-card entrant, 6-2, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, on Sunday night. Sinner was setting a torrid pace from the baseline, but it was a testament to Alcaraz’s talent and competitive fire that he turned a potential straight-sets defeat into something much more compelling. It certainly looks that way, and they have been the present of the game at times, upsetting their elders, winning tour titles and reaching the quarterfinals at Grand Slam tournaments. That seemed to be the key statistic. “I think what we showed today, it’s a great level of tennis, great attitude from both of us,” Sinner said. I think it’s just great for tennis to have also some new names, new players.”