Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz avoided a surprise exit at Wimbledon by holding off American Frances Tiafoe in a five-set thriller.
The Spaniard won an intense match 5-7 6-2 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 in front of a raucous Centre Court crowd.
It keeps Alcaraz’s hopes of winning back-to-back major titles alive after triumphing at the French Open last month.
“Obviously it is always a big challenge playing against Frances,” said third seed Alcaraz.
“All I was thinking is ‘fight one more ball’.”
Friday’s first match on the main show court lived up to the pair’s previous meeting in the semi-finals of the 2022 US Open.
Alcaraz was the victor on that occasion as well, beating Tiafoe in a five-set epic on the way to winning his first Grand Slam title.
World number one Jannik Sinner is also through to the last 16 after an emphatic 6-1 6-4 6-2 win against Miomir Kecmanovic.
Alcaraz survives scare against ‘talented’ Tiafoe
Tiafoe was seeded 10th at Wimbledon last year, but he has since dropped down the rankings and suffered second-round exits at this year’s Australian Open and French Open.
Now 29th in the world rankings, he frustrated Alcaraz throughout and received the early backing of the crowd after coming back from a break down to take the opening set.
“He is a really talented player, really tough to face,” Alcaraz added. “He deserves to be at the top, he deserves to fight for big things.”
Alcaraz, who had not dropped a set at the Championships until then, regained control in the second, but a single break of serve was enough for Tiafoe to win the third.
The American waved to the crowd and pointed to his ears, calling for more noise under the closed Centre Court roof.
The fans willingly obliged, cheering on the 26-year-old through the fourth set until it reached a tie-break after both players’ serve held firm.
Sensing the crowd were on his opponent’s side, Alcaraz whipped up emotion with cries of “vamos” after striking huge winners and he cruised his way through to force a decider.
From there it was plain sailing for the three-time major winner, who broke twice before raising his arms in celebration after sealing the victory with a delightful drop shot.
He will play American Brandon Nakashima or French 16th seed Ugo Humbert in the fourth round.