Alcaraz survives Rublev test to stay on course for Wimbledon hat-trick

Carlos Alcaraz tested the nerves of his legions of fans on Sunday before dismissing Andrey Rublev to reach the Wimbledon men's singles quarterfinals and stay on track for a third straight title. 

The Spaniard lost the first set to the Russian 14th seed under the Centre Court roof but found his feet to win the match 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

While Alcaraz's main rivals, seven-time winner Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Italy's World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, are in ominous form, the second seed has blown hot and cold so far.

On Sunday, he struggled to find his rhythm early in the match, despite occasional flashes of brilliance, before raising his level.

Rublev took the first set on a tie-break but Alcaraz engineered a break in the eighth game of the second set and served out to level the match.

The Russian matched his opponent blow for blow in the third set but squandered chances and Alcaraz brought the crowd to its feet with a sensational forehand winner to force a break, sealing the set with an audacious drop shot.

The writing was on the wall when Rublev lost his serve in the fifth game of the fourth set and Alcaraz made no mistake.

Having vanquished Djokovic in the past two Wimbledon finals, the two-time defending champion is looking to join an elite group of Wimbledon icons, as he looks to become the fifth man in the Open era to win at least three consecutive Wimbledon titles after Bjorn Borg (Sweden), Roger Federer (Switzerland), Pete Sampras (USA) and Djokovic.