Carlos Alcaraz overcame a shaky start in the first set to go to the Wimbledon third round.
After serving for the first set, Australian world number 69 Aleksandar Vukic broke Spain’s defending champion twice.
Vukic, 28, had previous success against the Spaniard, defeating the then-17-year-old in French Open qualifying four years ago.
Alcaraz, however, was able to rally and force a tie-break, which he won handily, ending any chance of a rematch.
The 21-year-old only needed an hour and forty-eight minutes on Court One to record a 7-6 (5) 6-2 6-2 triumph.
He declared, “I’m really happy about my performance today.” For me, the opening set was crucial. I played an excellent tie-break after he served for the entirety of the set.
“I’m really happy about it because I played at a really high level in the second and third.”
Carlos Alcaraz, you CAN’T do that 😱#Wimbledon | @carlosalcaraz pic.twitter.com/DYUN6cwBjR
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 3, 2024
On Friday, Alcaraz will take on Frances Tiafoe, an American, in the third round.
“I intend to pursue him,” he said. “We performed incredibly well in our US Open match. I know he is a really talented player, a tough one, even tougher on grass with his style.
“It’s going to be a very difficult match for me. I’m ready to take that challenge, put on a show and hopefully take him.”
After a thrilling four-set battle with fellow Italian Matteo Berrettini, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner will square off against Alcaraz in the semifinals.
In a thrilling match that concluded under the Center Court roof just after 10.30pm, the top seed put on a show to defeat the 2021 finalist 7-6 (3) 7-6 (4) 2-6 7-6 (4).
Casper Ruud, the eighth seed, was eliminated, although it was scarcely shocking.
Forza, Fabio 🇮🇹
The ever-entertaining @fabiofogna is into the third round after defeating Ruud, 6-4, 7-5, 6-7(1), 6-3 🍿#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/1h9v5VlNm6
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 3, 2024
The Norwegian is a two-time French Open runner-up, but his aversion to grass was evident again in a 6-4 7-5 6-7 (1) 6-3 defeat to Italian Fabio Fognini.
In five visits to SW19, 25-year-old Ruud has never made it past the second round.
Fifth seed Daniil Medvedev won his first match on Centre Court in seven years.
Strangely, the Russian has never dropped a game on Court One. The only time he lost was in the 2017 semifinals when he had to move to Center and was defeated by Alcaraz.
However, he ended his skid in spectacular fashion, defeating Frenchman Alexandre Muller after falling behind. 6-7 (3) 6-4 7-5 (4) 7-6.
He remarked, “Centre Court feels much slower for some reason.” “I must adjust to it. I have more opportunities to grow accustomed to it the more I play with it.
“If I win, I’m always happy to play in Center Court.”