Sinner reaches quarter-finals

Italy’s Jannik Sinner in action during his fourth round match against Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz yesterday. (Reuters)

• Goffin outlasts Tiafoe to set up last-eight date with local hope Norrie, Jabeur enters second consecutive quarter-final

Italy’s Jannik Sinner stunned Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the first time yesterday. The 20-year-old triumphed 6-1, 6-4, 6-7 (8/10), 6-3 to become the youngest man in the last-eight since Nick Kyrgios in 2014. Sinner had never won a grass court match until this year’s Wimbledon. The 10th-seeded Italian needed six match points to seal the deal while 19-year-old Alcaraz was left to regret failing to convert six break points in the fourth set. “Carlos is a very tough opponent and a nice person. It’s always a huge pleasure to play him,” said Sinner after making the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the third time. Sinner swept through the first two sets and appeared on course for a routine win until Alcaraz played a thrilling third set tie-break. The Spaniard saw three set points come and go before having to save two match points, the second of which came courtesy of Sinner taking a wild swipe off a second serve. He converted a fourth set point, much to the delight of the Centre Court crowd. It was tough on Sinner, who faced just one break point over the first three sets. He then saved two more in the opening game of the fourth set before carving out a crucial break himself for 3-1 when Alcaraz double-faulted. Sinner saved another three break points in the fifth game before failing to cash in on three more match points in the eighth game. Alcaraz had one more chance to break – his sixth of the fourth set – but he could not convert and that was his last opportunity. Earlier Belgian David Goffin edged American 23rd seed Frances Tiafoe in a five-set thriller yesterday to match his 2019 quarter-final appearance at Wimbledon when he last played in the Grand Slam. The former world number seven fell to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in 2019 but after a injury-hit last season on Tour has returned to the last eight stage again to match his best performance at the majors. Now ranked 58th, Goffin will next meet local hope Cameron Norrie for a place in Friday’s semi-finals after holding his nerve to outlast Tiafoe 7-6(3) 5-7 5-7 6-4 7-5 in an absorbing contest on court one that lasted four hours 36 minutes. World number two Ons Jabeur reached her second consecutive Wimbledon quarter-final yesterday, beating Elise Mertens 7-6 (11/9), 6-4. The Tunisian fended off five set points for her 24th-seeded Belgian opponent in the first set tie-break to edge ahead. Jabeur broke serve twice in the second set to seal the win and set up a last-eight clash against Czech player Marie Bouzkova. The 27-year-old said she wanted to be a trailblazer for Arab and African players. “I wish I could really give that message to the young generation not just from my country but from the African continent,” she said. “I want to see more players here. I want them to believe more in themselves and believe they can be here. “I don’t come from a rich family so you have to stop finding excuses and just go for it, enjoy it.” Marie Bouzkova reached her first Grand Slam quarter-final when she breezed past Caroline Garcia of France in straight sets. The 23-year-old Czech won 7-5, 6-2 against the big-serving Garcia whose challenge was undermined by her 25 unforced errors to her opponent’s four. “I don’t know how I got here,” said the world number 66 Bouzkova who had never previously got past the second round of a Slam. “Now we will celebrate with strawberries and cream. It’s one of our 100 routines at Wimbledon.”RESULTSMen 4th rd Jannik Sinner (ITA x10) bt Carlos Alcaraz (ESP x5) 6-1, 6-4, 6-7 (8/10), 6-3 David Goffin (BEL) bt Frances Tiafoe (USA x23) 7-6 (7/3), 5-7, 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 Cameron Norrie (GBR x9) bt Tommy Paul (USA x30) 6-4, 7-5, 6-4. Women 4th rd Marie Bouzkova (CZE) bt Caroline Garcia (FRA) 7-5, 6-2 Ons Jabeur (TUN x3) bt Elise Mertens (BEL x24) 7-6 (11/9), 6-4 Tatjana Maria (GER) bt Jelena Ostapenko (LAT x12) 5-7, 7-5, 7-5 Jule Niemeier (GER) bt Heather Watson (GBR) 6-2, 6-4.