English Woman's Journal - Alcaraz struggles into Wimbledon last-eight as tearful Keys quits

World number three Alcaraz defeated French 16th seed Ugo Humbert 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 to make the last-eight of a Grand Slam for the ninth time in just 14 appearances.

However, it was another uncomfortable afternoon for Alcaraz, who had needed five sets to see off 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, bidding 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.

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

Alcaraz was twice unable to hold onto 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 bearings to hand over a service break in the 11th game and Alcaraz took full advantage to quickly seal the tie.

- 'Fight to last ball' -

"I will be there, fighting until the last ball," said Alcaraz, who is chasing a fourth Grand Slam title.

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

Over on Court One, US 12th seed Madison Keys was just one game away from a third quarter-final at the All England Club when she was forced to quit against Italy's Jasmine Paolini.

After dropping the first set to the seventh seeded Italian, Keys hit back to level the match at 3-6, 7-6 (8/6).

The 2017 US Open runner-up then raced into a 5-2 lead in the decider when she suffered a left leg injury in the eighth game.

Keys took a 10-minute medical time-out when she was leading 5-4.

The 29-year-old returned with a heavy strapping on her thigh and was distraught as she struggled to move and was immediately broken by Paolini.

Keys gamely tried to continue but, after failing to run for a Paolini drop shot, she retired with the score level at 5-5.

Paolini will face reigning US Open champion and second seed Coco Gauff or 19th seed Emma Navarro for a place in the semi-finals.

- 'It's sad' -

"I'm very sorry for her. It's sad," said French Open runner-up Paolini, who had never won a match at Wimbledon before this year.

Three years after her historic US Open title, Emma Raducanu is attempting to become Britain's first Wimbledon women's champion since 1977.

The British star, now ranked 135, finds herself with a potentially clear run to the semi-finals.

On Sunday, the 21-year-old faces Lulu Sun, the first New Zealand woman in the fourth round since 1959.

If she gets through that, a quarter-final date with either Paula Badosa or Donna Vekic awaits.

Raducanu's win over Maria Sakkari on Friday was just her second over a top 10 player -- both have come in the last two weeks.

"I'm just trying to cherish every moment I have here," said Raducanu.

On Saturday, Raducanu pulled out of the mixed doubles where she had been set to play alongside Andy Murray.

That decision meant Murray's All England Club career ended with a whimper.

Sun, a 123rd-ranked qualifier, had played and lost her only Grand Slam match before this Wimbledon.

The 23-year-old is guaranteed to earn at least $340,000 for her efforts -- more than she has made in her entire career.

Ben Shelton has made Wimbledon a family affair, reaching the fourth round 30 years after his father Bryan made the same stage.

"We're back, big dog," the 21-year-old American told his dad after seeing off Denis Shapovalov in the third round.

The 14th-ranked Shelton takes on world number one and Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner for a place in the quarter-finals.

L.Scott--EWJ