Carlos Alcaraz Defeats Fritz to Reach Third Straight Wimbledon Final
Carlos Alcaraz, the two-time defending Wimbledon champion, booked his place in a third consecutive final on Friday with a hard-fought 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(6) win over American Taylor Fritz.
On a scorching Centre Court, the 22-year-old Spaniard delivered 88% accuracy on first serves and displayed his trademark composure and consistency. After a dip in form late in the second set, Alcaraz rebounded strongly, using his power from the baseline and sharp drop shots to control the match. He showed grit in the fourth-set tiebreak, saving two set points at 4/6 before winning four straight to avoid a decider.
“It was a really difficult match, especially with today’s heat,” Alcaraz said. “Playing Taylor is always a battle. I’m really proud of how I handled everything — the nerves, the moments — and stayed calm to play my best.”
Now riding a 24-match winning streak, Alcaraz is on the verge of tennis history. A win on Sunday would make him only the fifth man to win three consecutive Wimbledon titles and just the second in the Open Era, after Bjorn Borg, to complete back-to-back Roland Garros–Wimbledon doubles. Borg achieved that feat from 1978 to 1980.
Alcaraz isn’t focused on records. “This is my dream — stepping onto these beautiful courts and playing the best tournaments in the world,” he said. “That’s what drives me every day.”
Awaiting him in the final is either World No. 1 Jannik Sinner or seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic. Alcaraz defeated Sinner in a grueling five-hour French Open final last month, but trails Djokovic 3-5 in their head-to-head, though he won their last two Wimbledon encounters.
Fritz, playing in his second Grand Slam semifinal, had fought through two five-setters to get this far and aimed to become the first American man to reach the Wimbledon final since Andy Roddick in 2009. The 27-year-old served well, winning 80% of his first-serve points, but struggled to break through Alcaraz’s powerful ground game and clutch serving.
He came close to forcing a fifth set, leading 6/4 in the tiebreak, but Alcaraz elevated his level — saving both set points with nerveless play before sealing the win on his first match point. The Spaniard now leads Fritz 3-0 in their head-to-head, with this being their first meeting on grass.
Alcaraz cannot reclaim the World No. 1 ranking from Sinner after Wimbledon but currently leads the ATP Live Race to Turin, which determines the year-end No. 1.
Since a shaky opening-round win over Fabio Fognini, Alcaraz has been in top form, defeating Andrey Rublev and Cameron Norrie en route to the final.
Among those watching from the Royal Box were Leonardo DiCaprio, Rami Malek, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Ford, and Anna Wintour — all witnessing Alcaraz improve to 48-5 this year, with five titles already under his belt in 2025, including Roland Garros, Rome, Monte-Carlo, Rotterdam, and Queen’s Club.
