Carlos Alcaraz, the two-time defending champion, booked his place in a third straight Wimbledon final on Friday after overcoming a stern test from American fifth seed Taylor Fritz.
Take it all in, Carlos. You`re a #Wimbledon finalist once more ♥️ pic.twitter.com/47JyzDGRc2
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 11, 2025
The Spaniard prevailed in a high-intensity battle, winning 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) in two hours and 49 minutes under scorching Centre Court conditions. With temperatures soaring close to 32°C (90°F), and Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio among the spectators, the match was briefly halted as several fans in the crowd required medical attention due to the heat. Yet amidst the sweltering conditions, Alcaraz held his composure, using his exceptional returning skills and flawless serving to outlast Fritz.
Catch Carlos if you can 😎#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/5eG3rCwoi2
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 11, 2025
The 22-year-old world No. 2 will now face either seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic or current world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in Sunday’s final. Alcaraz boasts a strong head-to-head record against both, he defeated Djokovic in the last two Wimbledon finals and has an 8-4 advantage in 12 encounters with Sinner.
Alcaraz, who had shown flashes of inconsistency earlier in the tournament, now appears to be back in full flight. His current form is formidable: he is on a 24-match unbeaten streak dating back to his loss in the Barcelona final to Holger Rune in April. That run includes a memorable French Open victory over Sinner, as well as titles in Monte Carlo, Rome, and at Queen’s Club. On grass, Alcaraz has an outstanding record, winning 35 of his 38 matches, with a 20-match winning streak at Wimbledon since a fourth-round defeat to Sinner in 2022.
Victory on Sunday would make him only the fifth man in the Open era, after Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, and Djokovic, to win three consecutive Wimbledon titles. It would also see him become the second-youngest male player to claim six Grand Slam titles, following Borg who achieved the feat in 1978.
Fritz, who had blasted 95 aces en route to his first Wimbledon semi-final, gave a valiant effort but fell short. Despite grabbing the second set after capitalising on a rare lapse from Alcaraz, he couldn’t maintain momentum. The fourth-set tie-break saw Fritz lead 6-4, but Alcaraz clawed back both set points before sealing the win with a blistering series of groundstrokes. Unflappable and focused, Alcaraz once again proved why he remains the man to beat on grass.
(With AFP inputs)
