The hallowed grass courts of Wimbledon welcomed a familiar figure this week as Carlos Alcaraz, the two-time defending champion, arrived in London to prepare for the 2025 Championships, running from June 30 to July 13. The 22-year-old Spaniard, fresh off a commanding victory at Queen’s Club, is chasing a rare third consecutive Wimbledon men’s singles title, a feat achieved by only four men in the Open Era: Björn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic. With his sights set on joining this elite group, Alcaraz’s arrival has electrified the tennis world, signaling his intent to cement his legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats. “I’m repeating my dream,” Alcaraz said after his 2024 Wimbledon triumph, recalling a childhood interview at age 11 where he declared winning Wimbledon as his ultimate goal. “This is the most beautiful tournament, the most beautiful court, and obviously the most beautiful trophy.”
Alcaraz’s journey to this moment has been nothing short of extraordinary. Born in Murcia, Spain, he picked up a racket at four under his father’s coaching at the Real Sociedad Club de Campo de Murcia. His meteoric rise began with a 2022 US Open title at 19, making him the youngest year-end world number one in men’s tennis history. In 2023, he stunned Djokovic in a five-set Wimbledon final, ending the Serbian’s 34-match winning streak at the All England Club and becoming the first non-“Big Four” player to win the men’s title since Lleyton Hewitt in 2002. “I came here with no expectations at all,” Alcaraz reflected after his recent Queen’s Club win, where he defeated Jiri Lehecka 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-2 to claim his fifth title of 2025. That victory, his second at Queen’s, extended his career-best winning streak to 18 matches and solidified his 25-1 record on grass since 2023, making him the bookmakers’ favorite at +150 odds.
The 2025 Wimbledon campaign is a pivotal chapter for Alcaraz, who has already claimed five Grand Slam titles, including two French Opens (2024, 2025) and a Channel Slam in 2024, joining legends like Rod Laver and Rafael Nadal. His 2025 Roland Garros final against Jannik Sinner, a five-hour, 29-minute epic where he rallied from two sets down, showcased his resilience. “I still can’t believe that I came back from that moment,” he said, referencing the match point he saved. Now, as the world number two, Alcaraz faces a formidable field, including Sinner (+160 odds), Djokovic (+550), and British hopeful Jack Draper (+900). “Grass-court mode is activated,” Alcaraz declared after Queen’s, signaling his readiness for Wimbledon’s slick surfaces, where his nuclear forehands, deft drop shots, and athleticism have thrived.
Alcaraz’s preparation is meticulous. Arriving in London on June 21, he began training on June 25, with a session scheduled on Centre Court to acclimate to the surface he’s dominated. Coached by Juan Carlos Ferrero, who joins him alongside physio Juanjo Moreno and agent Albert Molina, Alcaraz will open play on Centre Court at 1:30 PM on June 30 as the defending champion. “It’s a huge honor for me to be part of those players who have achieved Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year,” he said after his 2024 double, a feat he aims to repeat. Despite a grueling French Open, he skipped additional warm-up events to rest, choosing to “enjoy London a little bit” while fine-tuning his game.
The pressure is immense, but Alcaraz’s ambition burns brighter. “I want to sit at the same table as the ‘Big Three,’” he told reporters, eyeing the legacy of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic. A third Wimbledon title would tie him with Boris Becker and John McEnroe for titles at SW19 and position him to surpass Nadal and Borg’s six Grand Slams before age 23. With the Princess of Wales and a star-studded crowd expected, Alcaraz’s pursuit of history promises to captivate. As former champion Pat Cash declared, “You can’t really expect better form… he’s the player to beat.”
Catching up in SW19 😁#Wimbledon | @carlosalcaraz | @SabalenkaA pic.twitter.com/P3a0XPl6YZ
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 25, 2025
Leave a Reply