Former French tennis star and BeIN Sports commentator Fabrice Santoro praised Carlos Alcaraz’s resilience during his fourth-round Wimbledon 2025 match against Andrey Rublev on July 6, stating, “Despite the loss of the first set, I still have the impression that it’s Carlos Alcaraz who has the cards in hand in this match. He’s behind on the scoreboard, but he’s not dominated by his opponent,” per @Rambalconcord on X (July 7, 2025). Alcaraz, the two-time defending champion, battled through a 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory to reach the quarter-finals, showcasing his ability to seize control despite early setbacks, per *The Telegraph*.
The match saw Alcaraz struggle initially, with Rublev’s aggressive baseline play and 71% first-serve win rate pushing him to a tiebreak loss in the first set, per *ATP Tour*. However, Alcaraz’s adaptability shone through, as he unleashed 32 winners, including a crucial forehand passing shot, and improved his first-serve percentage to 68% after a shaky 49% against Fabio Fognini in the first round, per *BBC Sport*. Santoro’s comment highlighted Alcaraz’s mental edge, echoing his French Open 2025 heroics, where he saved three match points to defeat Jannik Sinner in a five-set epic, per *The Guardian*. Alcaraz’s ability to “calculate exactly what he must do to win,” as noted in *The Guardian*, was evident as he broke Rublev in the third and fourth sets to shift momentum.
Despite frustrations with Wimbledon’s new Hawk-Eye Live system, which he criticized after a disputed call against Oliver Tarvet, Alcaraz maintained composure, per *Metro Sport*. His 20-match Wimbledon win streak and 5-0 Grand Slam final record underscore his clutch performance, per *Tennis.com*. As he prepares to face Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarter-finals, Alcaraz’s ability to hold the cards, even after losing a set, positions him as a favorite for a third straight Wimbledon title.[]
