Tennis: Alcaraz faces reformed Rublev as Sabalenka eyes Wimbledon glory - Omni sports
World number one Aryna Sabalenka is the big favourite for the women's title ahead of her meeting against Elise Mertens, while British hopes now lie in the hands of Sonay Kartal and Cameron Norrie.
AFP Sport looks at the matches to watch on day seven of the tournament at the All England Club:
Win or lose 'in the right way' for Rublev
Alcaraz has yet to hit top gear in south-west London after dropping three sets in his three matches en route to round four.
Yet, Rublev is aware he has to be at the top of his game to cause an almighty upset and break his curse of never progressing beyond a Grand Slam quarter-final.
The world number 14 has reached the last eight on 10 occasions without ever making it to a semi-final.
"You cannot show any weaknesses," said Rublev on the challenge of facing Alcaraz.
Rublev has already enjoyed a much happier time at Wimbledon than 12 months ago when he repeatedly smashed his racquet over his own leg during a shock first-round exit.
But he has credited the influence of two-time Grand Slam champion Marat Safin, himself a notorious hothead in his prime, for bringing some calm to his game.
"There are two options," he added. "Try to go deeper. Or if I lose, to lose it in a mature, adult way.
"That would be success as well, to lose it in the right way."
Pressure-proof Sabalenka a 'new person'
Sabalenka is the only woman left standing of the top six seeds, and is keen to make up for lost time at the All England Club.
The three-time Grand Slam champion missed last year's Wimbledon due to a shoulder injury and was excluded in 2022 as part of a blanket ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes.
Sabalenka overcame a stern test of her tennis and temperament to end British favourite Emma Raducanu's run in the third round in arguably the match of the tournament so far.
After losing control of her emotions in defeat to Coco Gauff in the French Open final last month, the Belarusian said she feels like a "different person".
She added: "Whatever happens on the court, you just have to be respectful, you have to be calm, and you just have to keep trying and keep fighting.
"I was just reminding myself that I'm strong enough, and I can handle this pressure."
Kartal enjoying the spotlight
After the exits of Raducanu and world number four Jack Draper, Kartal and Norrie are tasked with maintaining British interest.
South Africa-born Norrie, a Wimbledon semi-finalist three years ago, will fancy his chances of progressing against Chilean qualifier Nicolas Jarry.
Kartal, meanwhile, is enjoying the spotlight after reaching her first ever Grand Slam fourth round, where she will face Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
"I enjoy it. I think it's an honour. Obviously you've got a lot of attention on you, it means you're doing good things," said the 23-year-old.
"I feel like I'm going to go out on the court in the next round kind of with nothing to lose at the minute. I'm going to go swinging," she added.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
Follow us on:
Short link:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al-Ahram Weekly
an hour ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Tennis: Alcaraz vows to avoid Murray after defeat on golf course - Omni sports
Carlos Alcaraz joked that he did not want to play Andy Murray again... in any sport after losing to the former world number one on the golf course. The two-time defending Wimbledon champion revealed last week that he and the retired British star were level at 1-1 after two games of golf. Murray tweeted on Saturday: "We played the deciding match this afternoon. Maybe ask him what happened after the next match." Alcaraz, who had just beaten Russian 14th seed Andrey Rublev to reach the fourth round at the All England Club on Sunday, pretended he had forgotten his defeat. "I didn't remember playing any matches yesterday," joked the 22-year-old during his on-court interview. "I have to show up. I have to say he beat me. "We were playing in his home, so it could be really bad for him if I beat him in his home so I let him win once. "But I lost against him as a player, as a coach, on the golf course, so I'm not going to play against him anymore." Murray, 38, retired last year after a career in which he won three Grand Slams, including two Wimbledon titles. The two men met twice on the tennis tour, with one win apiece. Murray also helped mastermind a win for Novak Djokovic against Alcaraz when he was coaching the Serb at this year's Australian Open. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
20 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Tennis: Sabalenka downs former doubles partner to power into Wimbledon quarters - Omni sports
World number one Aryna Sabalenka marched into the Wimbledon quarter-finals on Sunday as her former doubles partner Elise Mertens fell short of upsetting the US Open champion. Sabalenka has never reached a final at the All England Club but is the player to beat as the only one of the top six seeds in the women's draw still standing. The 27-year-old missed last year's Wimbledon due to injury and was banned in 2022 as part of a blanket suspension on Russian and Belarusian athletes due to the invasion of Ukraine. Sabalenka looks determined to make up for lost time and, just like in her third-round victory over Emma Raducanu, had to overcome a tough test from Mertens to progress 6-4, 7-6 (7/4). The pair won the 2019 US Open and 2021 Australian Open together as a doubles partnership, but Sabalenka has now won their last 10 meetings against each other in singles. "It's tough to play against someone you know quite close, it's tricky facing her," said Sabalenka. "I know how smart she is, I know she is going to fight until the very end. "She really challenged me today and I'm super happy with the win." A fast start from Sabalenka saw her stretch out to a 4-1 first set lead, only for Mertens to battle back and level at 4-4. The three-time Grand Slam winner responded in style, winning eight of the next 11 points, to take the set. Mertens got the early break in the second, but the world number 23 could not hold on. Sabalenka broke back to tie up the second set at 3-3 and after six straight holds of serve, the match was decided in a tie-break. Mertens again had the early advantage, but Sabalenka's blistering ground strokes forced the Belgian onto the back foot before a volleyed winner sealed victory in just over 90 minutes on court. Sabalenka faces Germany's Laura Siegemund in the last eight on Tuesday. "It's such a beautiful tournament. I always dreamed of winning it," she added of potentially claiming a first Wimbledon title. "I'm just trying to give my best and really hope for the best." Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
20 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Tennis: Wimbledon's underdogs enjoy their week in the sun - Omni sports
As a series of big names melted under the Wimbledon heatwave, a number of surprise names are looking to make an impact on the second week at the All England club. AFP Sports looks at those who have grabbed their chance to shine. Clara Tauson Denmark's Clara Tauson plays a backhand return to Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina during their women's singles third round tennis match on the sixth day of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London. AFP The world number 22 had never won a match at Wimbledon in three previous attempts prior to this year but shocked a former champion in Elena Rybakina on Saturday. "I never expected it. I've never had very good results on grass," said the Dane, who next faces five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek. Tauson has enjoyed a breakthrough year on hard courts, winning in Auckland in January before beating world number one Aryna Sabalenka on the way to making the final of the WTA 1000 in Dubai a month later. The niece of former pro Michael Tauson, her big serve is ideally suited to grass court conditions. Her 223 aces this year before Wimbledon was the second highest on the Tour behind only Rybakina. A graduate of the Justine Henin Academy in Belgium, her boyfriend Kasper Elsvad is now her coach. "We're both really perfectionist. It's hard to achieve in tennis, but we're working towards it," added Tauson. Jessica Bouzas Maneiro Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro plays a backhand return to Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska during their women's singles third round tennis match on the sixth day of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London. AFP The Spaniard has reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time but does have previous for shining at Wimbledon. The then world number 83 beat defending champion Marketa Vondrousova in the first round last year to register her first Grand Slam win. Now 62 in the rankings, the 22-year-old has seen off Ella Seidel, Sofia Kenin and Dayana Yastremska to set up a fourth round meeting with Liudmila Samsonova. Marin Cilic Croatia's Marin Cilic plays a backhand return to Britain's Jack Draper during their men's singles second round tennis match on the fourth day of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London. AFP A former finalist, Cilic has rolled back the years in his first appearance at the All England Club since 2021 after multiple knee surgeries. The 2014 US Open champion had fallen outside the world's top 1,000 but is on the comeback trail and back inside the top 100. Cilic broke British hearts with a shock defeat of world number four Jack Draper in the second round and followed that up with victory over Jaume Munar to reach the last 16. "My emotions are just incredible. Where I was two years ago, I can't even describe. It has been a long journey but I never lost any faith," Cilic said. "It was a long and testing period, plus a huge challenge for me in this part of my career to come back and play at this level." Flavio Cobolli Italy's Flavio Cobolli plays a forehand return to Britain's Jack Pinnington Jones during their men's singles second round tennis match on the fourth day of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London. AFP The 23-year-old Italian is yet to drop a set in three matches, including a destruction of Miami Open champion and rising star Jakub Mensik. "I think I played one of the best matches ever of my life. I think almost perfect," said the delighted world number 24. Cobolli has surprised himself with his quick adjustment to a surface he claimed to have "hated" in the past. "Three years ago, as a junior, I really hated playing on grass," added. Coached by his father, Stefano Cobolli, Flavio already has two titles to his name this year in Hamburg and Bucharest on the clay. Alongside world number one Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Sonego, he has made history this week as three Italians have reached the last 16 of the men's draw for the first time. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
