Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is back in the Wimbledon final after a 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (6) victory on Friday against fifth-seeded Taylor Fritz in London.
On Sunday, the second-seeded Spaniard will face either top seed Jannik Sinner of Italy or No. 6 seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia, a seven-time champion of the grass-court Grand Slam.
Alcaraz owns an 8-4 head-to-head lead against Sinner. He has defeated Djokovic in each of the past two Wimbledon finals but is 3-5 in his career against the 24-time Grand Slam winner.
Alcaraz, 22, fought off two set points in the fourth-set tiebreak before finishing off Fritz on a sunbaked Centre Court in two hours, 48 minutes.
“It was a really difficult match as always when I have to play against Taylor. Even tougher with the conditions — it was really hot today,” Alcaraz said. “I’m just really happy with everything that I’ve done today. I dealt with the nerves. Playing here in a semi-final is not easy. I’m really proud with the way I stayed calm and thought clearly. I’m pleased about my level today.”
Alcaraz fired 13 aces and won 88 percent (64 of 73) of the points on his first serve, losing serve only once. Fritz had more aces (19) and more winners (44-38) but had his serve broken three times.
Fritz, 27, fell short of becoming the first American man to reach the Wimbledon final since Andy Roddick in 2009. He has lost all three of his matches against Alcaraz.
Alcaraz extended his career-best winning streak to 24 matches and is attempting to join Swedish great Bjorn Borg as the only men to sweep the French Open and Wimbledon three straight years. Borg did it from 1978-80.
“I’m not thinking about the winning streak or the results at all. This is my dream, stepping on these beautiful courts and playing tennis in the most beautiful tournaments in the world,” Alcaraz added. “That’s all I try to think at every tournament and why I try to bring the joy to the courts.”
Alcaraz is trying to become the fifth man in the Open Era to win at least three straight Wimbledon titles, joining Djokovic, Roger Federer, Pete Sampras and Borg.
–Field Level Media
