Carlos Alcaraz took another step toward Wimbledon greatness, outlasting Taylor Fritz in four tight sets to reach his third consecutive final at SW19.
Alcaraz, the No. 2 seed, defeated the American 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(6) in a match packed with power, flair, and raw emotion. The Spaniard now stands one win away from a sixth Grand Slam title at just 22 years old.
He will face Jannik Sinner in Sunday’s final. The world No. 1 dominated Novak Djokovic in straight sets, setting up a blockbuster showdown between the top two seeds.
For Alcaraz, it was not smooth sailing. Fritz, the No. 5 seed, pushed him hard, serving 19 aces and leading 6-4 in the fourth-set tiebreak. But the defending champion rallied, reeling off four straight points to close the door.
“I’m just really proud about the way that I stayed calm,” Alcaraz said. “And then [was] thinking clearly.”
Fritz had more winners (44 to 38) and pushed Alcaraz to the edge at times. But when it mattered most, the Spaniard delivered, clutch on serve, sharp at the net, and ruthless in rallies.
There were moments of beauty and tension. One fan fainted in the heat, prompting a brief stoppage. A butterfly landed on court before the tiebreak, which Fritz gently moved aside. Even amid high stakes, grace remained.
Alcaraz opened the match with a storm, winning 10 of the first 12 points. He broke with a net-cord winner, delivered 137 mph serves, and executed delicate volleys with ease. He finished with 31 net points won.
Fritz admitted he threw everything he had at the Spaniard. “That’s the best I’ve seen him serve,” he said. “He has so many ways to win.”
