Carlos Alcaraz secured a 6-4 5-7 6-3 7-6 win over Taylor Fritz on Friday to reach the Wimbledon men’s singles final for the third year in a row.
Alcaraz has landed the last two trophies in SW19, with back-to-back final wins over Novak Djokovic, as the Spaniard now looks to make it a hat-trick.
The 22-year-old second-seed was the favourite to progress past American world No.5 Fritz and got the job done in boiling conditions on Centre Court, fending off two set points in a dramatic fourth set tie-break at the end.
Alcaraz will face either Djokovic or world No.1 Jannik Sinner in Sunday’s final as he looks to get his hands on a sixth Grand Slam singles title.
Carlos Alcaraz’s victory in numbers
- 6 – Alcaraz reaches sixth major final, winning previous five
- 24 – Alcaraz’s consecutive ATP Tour wins
- 20 – Alcaraz’s consecutive Wimbledon wins
- 18 – Alcaraz’s consecutive grass wins
- 35-3 – Alcaraz’s record on grass in his career (92.1 per cent)
What did Alcaraz say after his win over Fritz?
‘I’m not thinking about the winning streak or the results at all,’ Alcaraz said on the court after his victory. ‘This is my dream – stepping on these beautiful courts and playing tennis in the most beautiful tournaments in the world.
‘That’s all I try to think at every tournament and why I try to bring the joy to the courts. Right now I don’t want to think about [the final on] Sunday. I just want to enjoy this moment and that I’ve got to a third final in a row.
‘I will have to time think about Sunday, I’m going to watch the other semi-final (Djokovic vs Sinner) as well and let’s see. This is one of the most exciting matches we have on tour right now. As a huge fan of tennis, I’ll try to watch as much as I can.’
How Alcaraz produced superb semi-final victory
Alcaraz got off to the perfect start against Fritz – but only after a bird interrupted play – with a backhand smacking the top of the net and bobbling over to secure a break in the very first game of the match.
Alcaraz then asserted his dominance with a comfortable hold to love, with his athleticism and physicality far too much for Fritz to handle early-on.
The defending champion was briefly troubled by grass in his eye, but it didn’t seem to have any impact on his incredible level of tennis.
Having built up a reputation as a ‘servebot’, Fritz kept fighting but the Alcaraz’s early break was enough for him to take the first set at 6-4.
Fritz enjoyed a better start to the second set – despite his failed tweener – settling down to improve his percentage on serve as the duo traded a number of service games.
In game eight of the second set, Fritz finally conjured up his first chance to break, but wastefully fired a shot into the net as Alcaraz secured a hold.
But a huge moment came in game 12 as Alcaraz’s two unforced errors and a double fault saw Fritz go 40-love up with a number of chances to break.
Fritz made no mistake, taking the second set 7-5 to level up the match, with statistics showing that he was winning more points on his first and second serves, hitting more winners and registering less unforced errors.
While Alcaraz’s focus and intensity levels dropped in the second set, he came roaring back in the third, securing the first break to lead 3-1 by drawing his opponent to the net and then brilliantly lobbing him.
Fritz was serving to stay in the set but after hitting a forehand long, Alcaraz broke him again to take the third set 6-3 and edge towards victory.
Alcaraz turned the statistics on their head in the third set with the Spaniard making half the amount of unforced errors as Fritz and also winning more points on his first and second serves.
Fritz needed to produce something special to force a decider – and at once point in the fourth set – he reeled off four aces in a row during a service game to let Alcaraz know he wasn’t prepared to go down without a fight.
Alcaraz had the chance to break while leading 3-2 in the fourth set but Fritz saved it with a stunning ace to keep his hopes of a turnaround alive.
The fourth set eventually went to a dramatic tie-break, with Alcaraz going 4-1 up before Fritz won the next five points in a row to lead 6-4 and give himself set point. Alcaraz fended it off – and then denied Fritz again to level it up at 6-6 – before coming out on top 8-6 to reach the Wimbledon final.
‘It was a really difficult match as always when I have to play against Taylor,’ Alcaraz added. ‘Even tougher with the conditions, it was really hot today.
‘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.’