Carlos Alcaraz Outlasts Taylor Fritz to Reach Third Straight Wimbledon Final
WIMBLEDON, England — Carlos Alcaraz is now just one win away from securing a third consecutive Wimbledon title and his sixth Grand Slam crown — all at just 22 years old. The No. 2 seed battled past American Taylor Fritz in a thrilling four-set semifinal on Friday, winning 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (6) to extend his winning streak to 24 matches.
Awaiting Alcaraz in Sunday’s final is either world No. 1 Jannik Sinner or 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic — a rematch in the making no matter who advances.
“I’m not thinking about the winning streak or the results,” Alcaraz said after the match. “Right now, I just want to enjoy this moment. I’m in another Wimbledon final — that’s a dream.”
Alcaraz, undefeated in major finals at 5-0, has already claimed wins over Djokovic in the 2023 and 2024 Wimbledon finals. Just a month ago, he came from behind to defeat Sinner in a five-set thriller at Roland Garros.
Fritz, seeded No. 5 and last year’s US Open runner-up, was hoping to become the first American man to reach the Wimbledon final since Andy Roddick in 2009. He put up a strong fight, out-acing Alcaraz 19 to 13 and hitting more winners — 44 to 38. At one point, he led 6-4 in the fourth-set tiebreak and was just two points from forcing a fifth set.
But Alcaraz showed his championship poise, rattling off four straight points to close out the match with a signature scream and arms raised wide.
“I’m just really proud of how I stayed calm and thought clearly when it mattered most,” he reflected.
Despite dropping the second set, Alcaraz responded with grit. From the third set on, he didn’t face a single break point. His aggressive shot-making and court coverage thrilled the crowd, which included tennis legend Bjorn Borg and celebrities like Anna Wintour and Leonardo DiCaprio.
One of the most charming moments came during the tense fourth set, when Fritz paused to gently remove a butterfly from the court — a brief display of calm in a match full of intensity.
On a scorching 85-degree day, with spectators wilting under the sun and a few requiring medical assistance, Alcaraz kept the heat on his opponent. He started strong, winning 10 of the first 12 points and showcasing a full arsenal — from 137 mph serves to pinpoint drop shots. His 31-for-41 success rate at the net was a testament to his tactical variety.
Fritz, wielding a neon-orange racket, played some of the best grass-court tennis of his career — just not enough to stop the defending champ.
As Sunday approaches, all eyes are on Alcaraz to see if he can continue his historic run and claim yet another title at the All England Club.
