Preview: Alcaraz aims for a ten at Wimbledon | ATP Tour

Wimbledon

Preview: Alcaraz wants a ten at Wimbledon

Bautista Agut and Sinner also play this Friday

July 04, 2024

Ten matches without defeat, both at Wimbledon and Grand Slams, that is what Carlos Aclaraz will be looking for this Friday at the All England when he faces American Frances Tiafoe in the third round of the London major.

The No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings, the reigning champion of both Wimbledon and Roland Garros, has a Lexus ATP HeadToHead with Tiafoe of 1-1. The first was taken by the American in Barcelona 2021, and the most recent, the Spaniard in the semifinals of the US Open 2022.

It’s not just the track record that predicts a close duel. The performance of each on the surface is also a factor, with Alcaraz’s performance only slightly better. Tiafoe has more matches won on grass: 23, compared to the Murcia native’s 19. But the latter has one more title. He prevailed at Queen’s and Wimbledon in 2023; while the American, No. 29 in the ranking, only has one (Stuttgart 2023).

The stage where they will clash has also been a place of joy for both. The team managed by Juan Carlos Ferrero aims to be in the fourth round of the tournament for the third time (also in 2022 and 2023). And the 26-year-old right-hander aims to qualify for the second week of this event for the second time (also in 2022).

Whoever wins this duel, which opens the action on the centre court at 1:30 p.m. in London, will face either Frenchman Ugo Humbert or American Brandon Nakashima in the round of 16, who will meet for the first time this Friday in an ATP Tour main draw.

On the same centre court, but in the final round, Jannik Sinner will once again take on the court to take on a new big challenge in London. After beating his compatriot Matteo Berrettini and the German Jan-Lennard Struff, last year’s semi-finalist will now face Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic, against whom he has a 3-0 record.

A win would mark his 20th victory on grass and set up a super-matchup between American Ben Shelton and Canadian Denis Shapovalov, who will be the protagonists of one of the most attractive clashes of the day.

Another duel to watch on Friday will be between Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut and Fabio Fognini. It will be a duel of veterans (36 and 37 years old, respectively) and with many precedents. The Italian, who leads the Lexus ATP HeadToHead between them 7-3, will be looking for his first qualification to the round of 16 in the tournament; Bautista, semi-finalist in 2019, his fourth.

The winner of this tie will face American Tommy Paul or Kazakh Alexander Bublik, who will open the action on Court No. 2 at 11:00 a.m. in London. See the full schedule.