LONDON (SNP Report): Carlos Alcaraz moved a step closer to Wimbledon history on Friday as the two-time defending champion overcame American fifth seed Taylor Fritz in an intense semifinal clash, triumphing 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) to reach his third straight final at the All England Club.
With Hollywood icon Leonardo DiCaprio watching from the stands, the 22-year-old Spaniard held his nerve and showcased world-class shot-making in sweltering 32°C heat on Centre Court. Despite multiple heat-related interruptions as spectators were attended to, Alcaraz remained unfazed, neutralising Fritz’s booming serve with clinical returns and consistent pressure from the baseline.
Alcaraz, who will now face current world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in Sunday’s final, described the match as “really difficult” and praised his own mental resilience. “I’m really proud of the way I stayed calm and thought clearly. Playing a semifinal at Wimbledon is never easy,” he said.
The Spaniard is currently riding a career-best 24-match winning streak and has collected titles at the French Open, Monte Carlo, Rome, and Queen’s Club this season. He now boasts 20 consecutive wins at Wimbledon, a streak that began after a fourth-round loss to Sinner in 2022.
Should Alcaraz win the final, he would become only the fifth man in the Open era, after Björn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic, to win three successive Wimbledon titles. He would also be the second-youngest male player to capture six Grand Slam titles, just behind Borg in 1978.
Despite a spirited effort, Fritz fell short of reaching his second major final. The 27-year-old, a US Open runner-up last year, was undone by Alcaraz’s relentless returning. Though Fritz had fired 95 aces en route to his maiden Wimbledon semi-final, Alcaraz broke him in the very first game and never truly relinquished control.
After losing the second set due to an uncharacteristic lapse, the Spaniard responded with greater purpose, executing breathtaking drop shots, pinpoint lobs, and fearless groundstrokes. In the fourth-set tiebreak, Fritz led 6-4 but squandered two set points as Alcaraz surged back to seal the victory with a stunning finish. “I am not thinking about streaks or records,” Alcaraz said post-match. “This is my dream, to play on these beautiful courts and enjoy every moment. I’ll worry about the final on Sunday.”
Meanwhile, Top seed Jannik Sinner beat seven-time champion and sixth seed Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 to secure a place in the Wimbledon final. For Djokovic, the defeat marks his first defeat in a Wimbledon semifinal since 2012, where he lost to Roger Federer in four sets. Djokovic also lost the 2023 and 2024 finals to Alcaraz.
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