Alcaraz's tennis is so often a highlight reel but on grass, he does his most devastating work in the negative spaces of points.

Alcaraz’s unseeded opponent was ranked 125th in the world and was competing in the Wimbledon third round for the fourth time, having never gone beyond. The Spaniard ensured the wait continues for the 35-year-old, who was a 2018 Australian Open doubles semi-finalist.

Carlos Alcaraz survived another erratic performance on Friday, battling to a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff to stay on track for a third straight Wimbledon crown. Alcaraz made 28 unforced errors in an inconsistent display on Centre Court but conjured enough moments of magic to eventually subdue the world number 125 and book his place in the last 16.