Alcaraz displays control and patience to take down Struff and reach the round of 16

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Carlos Alcaraz struggled against Fognini, gained confidence against Tarvet, and consolidated his confidence against Struff, already building the best possible image to attack the second week, as his goal of a third Wimbledon title grows ever closer. He trembled against Fognini, consolidated his position against Tarvet, and is showing the most expeditious, controlled, and serious version of himself against the dangerous Struff, and that wasn't easy.

I had written down serve and return on my to-do list, which hadn't worked out against Fognini. And against the German, there's a double fault to start things off. It's the trigger for Alcaraz, who completes his first turn with three superb unanswered body serves and takes a run at the first set.

Somewhat imprecise in the early stages, he displays composure and courage as soon as he warms up. And that ability to raise the bar when his opponent demands it. And Struff was crying out for it. The German, ranked 125th in the world because he has only three consecutive wins in two tournaments in 2025 out of 17 contested, had pushed him to the limit in previous matches, such as at this Wimbledon, precisely, in the 2022 opener. He also showed his composure in the 2023 Madrid Masters 1000 final. That's why he had to come out swinging from the start. Thus, although he faces two break points on his second serve, with that shot still in progress, he breaks the German's next serve to take the lead with all the advantage that entails against a 193-centimeter-tall server.

Because he destroys the German's confidence in his serve with the leg speed that was evident at Queen's and that he hadn't been able to showcase yet at the Cathedral. He's already got it ready. Light, agile, and adept at responding to cannon shots, he's a hounding and knocking down attack with a crushing 5-1. His firmness with his return is complemented by a forehand that delivers with flying colors and precision, breaking down the opponent's resistance brick by brick, disoriented without his first shot and with no answers to the Murcian's backcourt proposals.

He's already flying through the Cathedral against Struff. Because the serve was missing, there was a double fault on the first point of the match, and the first shots were fired at 224 kilometers per hour, and the seconds were converted into an ace to close out the first set (6-1) in 27 minutes.

The adrenaline rush led him to enjoy another break at the start of the second set, which angered the German. Lethargic from the barrage of shots, he reacted after half an hour and began to attack. His serve held, and he pressured the Murcian from the return, without moving an inch from the baseline and even closer to the net. He was the Struff of close matches, the one who caused difficulties due to the speed of the ball and because the errors of the first half hour were now winning. A change of pace surprised the Murcian, who lost two serving turns and surrendered the set in the face of pressure, the rise in level and the speed of his opponent.

The Murcian lets off steam with a "let's go" of relief and adrenaline when he adds his first game in the third round. He knew it wouldn't be as easy as it was at the beginning, and he needs to get serious, and magical, if he wants to aspire to the round of 16. He uses his forehand, which can do damage, but also his drop shots, as mobility isn't Struff's strongest suit. And he remains alert to opportunities for the rest.

He doesn't take long to find it, consolidating his serve, putting pressure on the German with two long forehands, his hand trembling as he feels Alcaraz's encouragement, two double faults to give away the break and relief to the Spaniard on the bench. There are few first serves, but a good percentage of effectiveness, and nods when he consolidates the break and they see the concentrated expression of someone who doesn't want to be surprised again, someone in control and wants to remain in that state until the end of the match. The world number 2 complies, his next two serves remaining blank, and with champion-like tricks to find another opening for the German. Control, seriousness, drop shots, and a decisive finish to impose his criteria and prevail in a third set.

He knows it's not over yet, that Struff is having streaks of ease and first serve. That's why Alcaraz stalks as much as he can, whenever and wherever he can, to build some minimal opportunity to tip the balance definitively in his favor. It's hard, though, as the German once again becomes solid at the back and leaves no gaps or time to breathe, as if he's in a hurry to serve, to return, to move up and down the court waiting for the ball. It's up to Alcaraz to maintain composure, and quick bounces, and dizzying points, and net runs, which bring him rewards and ovations, although the table tennis exchange they engage in in the fourth game brings a smile to his face even though the point belongs to his opponent.

The German complicates the play, all in another burst of adrenaline, but the Spaniard finds solutions, magic, come on, a raised fist and a standing ovation to save a break point in the fifth game with two forehands, a foreshortened volley, and a lot of confidence. Believing in himself, in winning his serve with authority despite the difficulties, and believing that there will be another opportunity to return.

The Spaniard searches and searches and searches for the chance to break as quickly as possible, as Struff remains dangerous and on a roll on serve again. He's patient, serious, and doesn't complain about wasted opportunities, and he persists and persists in the ninth game. He knows he has it in his grasp, even though Struff continues to serve effectively. But he's also in too much of a hurry, and he could hit an ace or a double fault, or he could reach deuce with a backhand down the line that lands an easy volley into the net. And there, in his seriousness and maturity, Alcaraz is already a master, hammering away at that intermittent style until he finds the key to knocking down Struff's tower.

The mature, serious, and controlled Alcaraz prevailed against the German and will play the round of 16 as a better version of himself. A warning, the champion is here. "I suffered on every serve. It was very stressful. He pushed me and put a lot of pressure on me every time. But I'm happy I took advantage of the opportunities he gave me. The key was to get the ball in to see if I could miss any."