Wimbledon: Alcaraz ends Taylor Fritz's spirited run to enter third straight final
New Delhi: Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz reached his third successive Wimbledon final after edging past Taylor Fritz in a thrilling semifinal at the All England Club. The second seed saved two set points in the fourth set tie-break to prevent the match from going into the decider and ended the American hopes with a 4-6, 7-5, 3-6, 6-7 (6-8) victory.
The 22-year-old won four points on the trot to turn the tie-break – and the match – on its head. The second seed, who won his 20th Wimbledon match in a row, will face the winner of the second semifinal between Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner.
Missed chance for Taylor Fritz as Alcaraz eyes historic third title at Wimbledon20 Wimbledon wins in a row ✨
Carlos Alcaraz defeats Taylor Fritz 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(6) to reach his third consecutive #Wimbledon final pic.twitter.com/b3WXyK8Cuy
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon)
For the fifth seed Taylor Fritz, it was a case of missed opportunity in the fourth set, and one that ended his spirited run at SW19.
Fritz, the runner-up at the 2024 U.S. Open, missed the chance to become the first American men’s singles player in the Wimbledon final since Andy Roddick lost to Roger Federer in 2009.
Speaking after the win on the Centre Court, Alcaraz said: “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. 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.”
The Spaniard is now just one win away from becoming only the fifth men’s player after Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic to win three consecutive Wimbledon titles.
He beat Djokovic in the 2023 and 2024 summit clashes and holds a remarkable 5-0 record in major finals, with his latest Grand Slam coming at the French Open a month ago after a five-set comeback win over Sinner.