Carlos Alcaraz, the 22-year-old Spaniard, delivered a captivating performance in Friday’s Wimbledon semifinal, defeating American Taylor Fritz 64, 57, 63, 76 (6) under a scorching London sun.
This victory not only secured his third consecutive final appearance at the All England Club but also maintained his unbeaten streak at Wimbledon at an astonishing 24 matches
Playing before a packed Centre Court, Alcaraz showcased his mental resilience.
He overcame two set points in the fourth-set tiebreak, prevailing in the heat and high pressure. Reflecting on the match, he said:
“It was a really difficult match as always when I have to play against Taylor. Even tougher with the conditions … I dealt with the nerves. Playing here in a semifinal is not easy. I’m really proud with the way I stayed calm and thought clearly. I’m pleased about my level today.”
Alcaraz’s game plan and key stats
From the outset, Alcaraz dictated the tempo. He broke Fritz early in the first set, capitalizing on the American’s return to establish a 20 lead.
Riding a wave of confidence, he converted break opportunities and sealed the set 64, hitting 12 winners to Fritz‘s nine.
Fritz fought back in the second, capitalizing on Alcaraz‘s struggles under the heat, including a double fault, to take the set 75.
But Alcaraz regrouped impressively. In the third set, he reeled off 13 straight points at one stage, breaking Fritz twice to seal it 63.
The fourth set was a rollercoaster. In the tiebreak, Fritz surged forward, earning two set points.
Yet Alcaraz held firm, defused the pressure, and clinched the win. He finished the match with 13 aces and an 88 percent firstserve success rate, winning 64 of 73 firstserve points while surrendering only one break.
Alcaraz closes in on history
Alcaraz now stands one match away from achieving a rare feat in men’s tennis: becoming only the fifth player in the Open Era to win three successive Wimbledon titles, joining the likes of Björn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic.
A triumph on Sunday would also mark his sixth Grand Slam title, a remarkable achievement at such a young age.
Further adding to the excitement, Alcaraz will face world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in Sunday’s final.
The Spaniard holds an 8-4 career record against Sinner.
In a tournament that has seen Alcaraz dominate both personally and statistically, remaining undefeated in Grand Slam finals with a 5-0 record, his weekly form has been almost surgical.
In Court tradition, he demonstrated his full range: precision serving, nimble volleys, accurate drop shots, and fearless defensive stretches.
His semifinal win extended his careerlong streak to 24 consecutive victories, underlining a season of absolute dominance.
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