Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz avoided a surprise exit at Wimbledon by holding off American Frances Tiafoe in a five-set thriller.
The Spaniard won an intense match 5-7 6-2 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 in front of a raucous Centre Court crowd.
It keeps Alcaraz’s hopes of winning back-to-back major titles alive after triumphing at the French Open last month.
“Obviously it is always a big challenge playing against Frances,” said third seed Alcaraz.
“All I was thinking is ‘fight one more ball’.”
Friday’s first match on the main show court lived up to the pair’s previous meeting in the semi-finals of the 2022 US Open.
Alcaraz was the victor on that occasion as well, beating Tiafoe in a five-set epic on the way to winning his first Grand Slam title.
World number one Jannik Sinner is also through to the last 16 after an emphatic 6-1 6-4 6-2 win against Miomir Kecmanovic.
Source – Wimbledon 2024 results: Carlos Alcaraz wins five-set thriller against Frances Tiafoe – BBC Sport
