Holder Alcaraz into last eight after Humbert battle

Carlos Alcaraz inched a measurement person to successfully defending his Wimbledon title pinch a hard-fought triumph complete Ugo Humbert.

The 21-year-old Spaniard held disconnected a precocious complaint from 16th seed Humbert to triumph 6-3 6-4 1-6 7-5 and move into nan past 8 astatine SW19.

It took Alcaraz's winning streak astatine Grand Slams to 11 pursuing his French Open triumph past month.

"I consciousness awesome playing today, I deliberation I played a really precocious level," he said.

"Playing a leftie, I effort not to deliberation astir it and play my ain game."

Alcaraz will adjacent look compatriot Roberto Bautista Agut aliases American 12th seed Tommy Paul, nan Queen's Club champion.

It seemed improbable Sunday's opening lucifer connected Centre Court would unrecorded up to nan five-set classical Alcaraz played against Frances Tiafoe connected Friday.

And it became moreover much improbable when, pinch small effort, he recovered himself 2 sets up successful what appeared a comparatively dull encounter.

But nan three-time awesome victor abruptly faltered successful nan 3rd group and Humbert stepped up to return advantage.

The Frenchman, 26, raised his intensity, hitting nan chalk pinch superb winners and breaking service 3 times to unit a 4th set.

Both players struggled to clasp successful a tense set, and an progressively disappointment Alcaraz turned to nan crowd and his squad for help, waving his arms animatedly to operation up support.

With their backing, nan defending champion recovered different gear, impressively holding his service nether immense unit and breaking for a 6-5 lead. Alcaraz past served retired nan lucifer and, relieved, he applauded each 4 corners of Centre Court successful appreciation.