Wimbledon 2024: Carlos Alcaraz into quarter-finals with win over Humbert

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz overcame a mid-match slump to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals on Sunday, beating France's Ugo Humbert in four sets on Centre Court.

The Spanish world No 3 came through 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 against his 16th-ranked opponent to book a spot in the last-eight of a Grand Slam for the seventh time in a row and the ninth in just 14 appearances.

However, it was another mixed afternoon for Alcaraz, who had needed five sets to see off the American Frances Tiafoe in the third round.

His erratic performance on Sunday saw him drop serve five times and commit an uncharacteristic 33 unforced errors.

The 21-year-old, seeking to become just the sixth man to win the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back, eased through the first set under the Centre Court roof before crucially saving four break points in the fifth game of the second. A set he sealed in thrilling style having hit the deck mid-rally.

Humbert stormed back, though, breaking the champion three times in the third set as Alcaraz went off the boil.

Alcaraz was twice unable to hold on to breaks in the fourth set and had to fend off three break points in the eighth game to stay level at 4-4.

Left-hander Humbert then lost his edge to hand over a service break in the 11th game and Alcaraz took full advantage to quickly seal the tie.

Alcaraz will take on either American 12th seed Tommy Paul or 36-year-old compatriot Roberto Bautista Agut, a semi-finalist in 2019.

"Playing lefties is always tricky, no matter the surface," said Alcaraz in his on-court interview after the match.

"I played my first leftie at Queen's so I learnt a little bit from that. I felt great playing today, I think I played a really high level and playing a leftie I tried not to