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Alcaraz passes Wimbledon test – ARN News Centre
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GLYN KIRK/ AFP
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz survived his first big test at this year’s Wimbledon on Saturday and women’s champion Elena Rybakina doused British hopes as the big names moved through the gears into the second week.
Despite more rain on day six, the slow-burner tournament began to heat up with women’s second seed Aryna Sabalenka, two-time champion Petra Kvitova and last year’s runner-up Ons Jabeur all reaching the last 16.
In the men’s draw, third seed Daniil Medvedev and fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas both swept through while 2021 runner-up Matteo Berrettini set up a showdown with Alcaraz.
World number one Alcaraz has raised expectations sky high after his title at Queen’s Club last month and a showdown next Sunday against seven-times champion Novak Djokovic is already being pencilled in by many.
What is sometimes forgotten, however, is that the 20-year-old Spaniard is playing just his fourth tournament on grass.
That showed at times against Chile’s Nicolas Jarry as he was pushed out of his comfort zone.
But despite at one stage heading towards a fifth-set decider he managed to land the telling blows when required to emerge with a 6-3 6-7(6) 6-3 7-5 victory on Centre Court.
With the big-serving Berrettini up next, Alcaraz, who was a break down in the fourth set, said Saturday’s test was just what he needed.
“This match made me a lot of confidence honestly. Every match that I win on Centre Court is better for me to get into this court, this atmosphere,” he told reporters.
Berrettini, unseeded after a season plagued by injury, looked razor-sharp as he beat former world number two Alexander Zverev in a high-octane Court One clash which ended under the roof after rain fell late on Saturday.
His 6-3 7-6(4) 7-6(5) defeat of the German 19th seed included 15 booming aces and umpteen seismic forehands as he made up for lost time after missing last year’s tournament because of a positive COVID-19 test.
Elena Rybakina ensured a demoralising 48 hours for Britain as she demolished Katie Boulter 6-1 6-1 to end home hopes in the singles. On Friday, Andy Murray, Cameron Norrie and Liam Broady all exited the men’s singles.
With Rybakina suffering with a virus at the French Open and having a disrupted preparation, British number one Boulter was tipped to cause a huge third-round shock.
But she lasted only 57 minutes as Kazakhstan’s Rybakina sent out an ominous warning to those wanting her title.
Next she will face Beatriz Haddad Maia who beat Sorana Cirstea 6-2 6-2 and who is aiming to become the first Brazilian woman to reach the last eight here since the great Maria Bueno in 1968.
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Tributes have poured in after the son of former Chelsea star Eddie Newton was found dead alongside his friend following a hike in the UAE, where temperatures soared to 50C.
Cassius Newton, 34, and his friend Aran Martinson, 33, were found by rescuers on July 18 after setting out on a hike in the mountainous Wadi Naqab region.
The pair, from Dorset and Essex respectively, both lived and worked in the UAE. Their bodies were discovered between 3km and 4km from their vehicle.
According to a report, Chelmsford area coroner Michelle Brown said their provisional causes of death included cardiac and respiratory arrest.
Cassius, a non-league footballer, was the son of former Chelsea midfielder and coach Eddie Newton, who spent more than a decade with the club.
His wife was in the UK when she became concerned after Cassius failed to contact her following the hike and reported him missing.
The two men had been living at a luxury resort in Ras Al Khaimah.
Tributes after desert tragedy
Tributes poured in after the deaths.
Aran’s wife described him as “incredibly driven, hardworking and ambitious”, saying he had recently begun a new chapter in his career and was excited about the future.
Blackfield & Langley Football Club paid tribute to their former player, saying: “It is with heavy hearts that we share the sad news of the passing of former player Cassius Newton; our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with his family and friends during this difficult time.”
National League club Eastleigh, where Cassius had previously played, said it was “deeply saddened” by his death.
Chelsea connection
Cassius’ father Eddie Newton played for Chelsea from 1990 to 2001 and famously scored in the club’s 1997 FA Cup final victory.
The former midfielder also represented Cardiff City, Birmingham City, Oxford United and Barnet.
After retiring as a player, Newton moved into coaching, working as assistant manager at MK Dons and West Brom before returning to Chelsea.
He later served as assistant manager under Roberto Di Matteo and Rafael Benítez.
(With inputs from BBC, The Sun)
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