Carlos Alcaraz, the youngest man in the draw, secures a brilliant victory against Jan-Lennard Struff
Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz is through to the second round of Wimbledon after beating Jan-Lennard Struff in five pulsating sets. Like one of his title rivals, Novak Djokovic, Alcaraz had to overcome a big scare to keep his Wimbledon dream alive and eventually saw off the stubborn Struff 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-7 4-6 after a four-hour-and-14-minute marathon.
Spanish teenager prevails in five tough sets against Jan-Lennard Struff on No.1 Court
On grass court it might be a more appropriate label, where, until his five set triumph over Jan-Lennard Struff on Monday, he had won only one of his two matches on the surface.
The Spaniard was beginning just his second Wimbledon campaign when he took to No.1 Court under a closed roof, but the poise he displayed through four hours and 11 minutes belied his 19 years.
His 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 victory was his fifth in six five set showdowns.
“Well, I feel pretty good playing here,” he said on court without even a pause to catch his breath.
“To get the win after this unbelievable match is amazing, amazing for me.”
The teenager was the youngest to line up among his 127 fellow contenders at The Championships this Fortnight.
He had admitted to watching YouTube clips of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray to “copy the moves” on grass.
“I don’t feel the pressure ’cause I rank myself not one of the favourites to win this tournament,” he said following his dismissal of Struff.
“Obviously if I play well, I have [the] level to win the tournament.
“But there are a lot more experienced players on grass, more players [who] play better on grass than me.”
Earnest and short on matches on the turf, no doubt, but this is no ordinary teenager.
“I didn’t expect to move as well as I did today,” he said. “I mean, I played really well, I felt really well playing on grass and I still don’t know how I served today.
“This is probably my best match serving. This was a weapon that I used [and] that’s why I won today – the serve, for sure.”
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