As the 2025 Wimbledon Championships unfold, Carlos Alcaraz stands as the towering figure on the men’s side, a 22-year-old phenom chasing a historic third consecutive title at the All England Club. Fresh off a thrilling five-set victory over Fabio Fognini in the first round and a commanding 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 win against British qualifier Oliver Tarvet in the second, the Spaniard is on a 19-match winning streak, bolstered by titles at the French Open, Italian Open, and Queen’s Club. His grass-court prowess, with a staggering 90.9% win rate (30-3), makes him the man to beat, but Rafael Nadal’s former coach and uncle, Toni Nadal, has identified just two players capable of derailing Alcaraz’s quest for a three-peat: Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner. “I sincerely believe that, under normal conditions, very few opponents have the ability to worry Carlos,” Toni wrote in a column. “Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner are the only players who could possibly worry him – in that order.”
Alcaraz’s journey at Wimbledon 2025 has already showcased his resilience. The sweltering 32°C heat on Centre Court tested his endurance against Fognini, a retiring Italian veteran who pushed him to a 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 marathon. “Playing in such a high heat is really difficult to deal with, and it is even tougher when you’re playing long matches, long rallies,” Alcaraz said, acknowledging the physical toll. Yet, his second-round performance was a masterclass in control, saving all but two of eight break points against Tarvet. Alcaraz’s adaptability on grass, where his explosive movement and deft volleys shine, has drawn comparisons to legends like Björn Borg and Rafael Nadal. His 2023 and 2024 Wimbledon triumphs over Djokovic cemented his status as a grass-court maestro, and his recent French Open comeback against Sinner—overcoming a two-set deficit in a five-hour epic—has only amplified his aura.
Toni Nadal’s confidence in Alcaraz is rooted in his nephew’s protégé’s form. “Alcaraz also possesses, as he has demonstrated over the last two years, the almost perfect conditions to perform with ease on the London grass,” Toni noted, pointing to Alcaraz’s seamless transition from clay to grass, highlighted by his Queen’s Club title. With a 27-1 record since April, Alcaraz’s only loss came to Holger Rune in the Barcelona Open final, hampered by injuries. Now, brimming with confidence and morale, he’s a formidable force. “Without a doubt, Carlos is the star of the year and the man to beat,” Toni declared, emphasizing the Spaniard’s mental and physical edge.
Novak Djokovic, the seven-time Wimbledon champion, looms as Alcaraz’s greatest hurdle. Despite losing to Alcaraz in the last two Wimbledon finals, the 38-year-old Serbian remains a relentless competitor, chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title. His four-set victory over Alexandre Muller in the first round showed flashes of his vintage form, though his age and recent physical challenges add uncertainty. Toni Nadal places Djokovic as the primary threat, likely due to his experience and unparalleled grass-court pedigree. “Djokovic has made the past six finals, winning four,” Toni’s analysis implies, recognizing the Serb’s ability to summon brilliance at SW19.
Jannik Sinner, the world No. 1, is the other contender Toni Nadal believes can challenge Alcaraz. The 23-year-old Italian, with three Grand Slam titles, including the 2024 and 2025 Australian Opens and the 2024 US Open, has been a dominant force, holding a 48-4 record since last August. However, his 0-3 record against Alcaraz this year, including losses in the French Open final and Rome, suggests a mental hurdle. Sinner’s first-round 6-4, 6-3, 6-0 rout of Luca Nardi was clinical, but a recent second-round loss to Alexander Bublik at Halle raised questions about his grass-court consistency. “Maybe Sinner still lacks a bit of consistency after the break,” Toni observed, though he remains optimistic: “I don’t think this defeat on grass will undermine his path at Wimbledon. Sinner will start again from here.”
The men’s draw has been rocked by upsets, with 13 seeds, including Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev, falling in the first round—a record in the Open Era. This chaos has cleared a path for Alcaraz, whose potential semifinal opponents, Taylor Fritz or Karen Khachanov, have also faced grueling five-set matches. Toni Nadal acknowledged the grass’s unpredictability, noting, “It’s true that on grass courts, the element of surprise comes into play more.” Yet, he sees Alcaraz’s versatility and current form as nearly untouchable, making him the favorite to join Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, and Djokovic as a three-time consecutive Wimbledon champion. As Alcaraz prepares for his third-round clash with either Felix Auger-Aliassime or Jan-Lennard Struff, the tennis world watches to see if Djokovic or Sinner can rise to Toni’s challenge and halt the Spaniard’s march to history.
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