Alcaraz holds off Fritz to reach third straight final at Wimbledon, equals Nadal’s streak
Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz overcame Taylor Fritz in four sets on Friday to match Rafael Nadal’s streak of 20 wins at the Wimbledon Championships
Carlos Alcaraz, Wimbledon, 2025 © Chryslène Caillaud / Psnewz
World No 2 Carlos Alcaraz defeated Taylor Fritz in four sets on Friday to move into a third straight final at the Wimbledon Championships.
Alcaraz needed two hours, 51 minutes to overcome a resilient Fritz 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (6) in sweltering London heat, which twice interrupted play as spectators fell ill on Centre Court.
It was a serving masterclass from the two as they hit 32 aces combined, with the American posting 19. The two-time defending champion, however, fared better in winning first-serve points, averaging 88 percent to his opponent’s 80 percent.
“It was a really difficult match,” Alcaraz said on the court. “It’s always when I have to play against Taylor, even tougher with the conditions today, really hot again. Just really happy with everything I have done today, deal with the nerves. It’s not easy to deal with everything, the nerves and the pressure that you might have. But just happy, in the fourth saving two set points. I’m proud about staying calm and thinking clearly.”
With the win, the Murcian equalled his compatriot Rafael Nadal‘s streak of 20 wins at the SW19. He’s now a win away from a hat-trick at the Championships—a feat only four men, including Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, have achieved in the Open Era thus far.
Though the youngster isn’t focused on numbers as he continued:
“I don’t want to think about Sunday, to be honest. I just want to enjoy this moment, enjoy that I qualified to another final, third in a row here at Wimbledon. I have to take some time and enjoy with my team and close people that I have here. I will have time to think about and play on Sunday. I’m gonna watch the next semi-final as well and that’s it.”
Set 1: Alcaraz gets it done swiftly
Alcaraz won the first point of the match with a signature drop shot and then hit a couple of winners, once helped by the net, to break Fritz’s serve at the outset. He then held easily in his first service game to consolidate the break.
The American kept pressing in every return game that followed, but the Spaniard showcased an impressive serving routine, combined with thunderous forehands, to remain unbroken.
The second seed moved swiftly around his side of the court and didn’t concede a single break point throughout, securing the opening set in 35 minutes. He registered six aces and 12 winners, and won all 15 points on his serve in the set.
Set 2: Alcaraz falters, Fritz equalises
Fritz began the second set positively and dished out a hold to love, but Alcaraz responded in kind and won the second game without dropping a point.
Brisk action ensued as the two players produced straightforward holds until the eighth game, where the American earned his first break point; however, the Spaniard saved it and held, letting out a ‘VAMOS’ from the baseline.
Alcaraz showed vulnerability again in the tenth game, but his opponent couldn’t capitalise as he toughed out a hold with an ace on the T. He then missed three returns on the second serve in the successive game, further growing in frustration.
It all culminated in the Spaniard losing the plot altogether in the 12th game. He lost his serve to love, also committing a double fault, as Fritz equalised.
Set 3: Alcaraz restores his advantage
Fritz opened the third set after a seven-minute toilet break and held to love. Alcaraz, too, came prepared and won four points straight to hold in his first service game.
The two-time defending champion followed it up with a break to love and regained momentum. He won every point on his serve till the seventh game and earned two set points on return in the ninth and cashed in on the second to restore his advantage.
Alcaraz averaged 40 percent on the first serve return and 56 percent on the second. On his serve, he lost a solitary point through a double fault.
Set 4: Alcaraz takes it in a tiebreak
The fourth set saw Alcaraz open for the first time as the Spaniard recovered from 0-30 with explosive first serves to hold. Fritz came out with a hold to love.
The Spaniard employed drop shots frequently to unsettle his opponent and also to Andre Agassi’s amusement in the commentary box. He created a break point in the sixth game, but the American held his nerve and kept the proceedings on serve.
The duo remained inseparable in the stipulated games, thus forcing a tiebreak, where Alcaraz secured a minibreak on the third point, leading 4-2 at the changeover.
Fritz, however, earned the break back to level at 4-4 and went one up, further earning two set points. Alcaraz saved both and further made it four in a row to prevail and become a Wimbledon finalist again, after his opponent pushed a return long on the match point.
