Carlos Alcaraz continues to live up to his billing as tennis’ next superhero, moving within one victory of defending his Wimbledon title and becoming the sixth man to win the “Channel Slam”. Australian legend Rod Laver (1969), Bjorn Borg (1978-80), Rafael Nadal (2008, 2010), Roger Federer (2009) and Novak Djokovic (2021) are the only men to capture the Roland Garros-Wimbledon double in the Open Era in the same year. Carlos Alcaraz could become the sixth man to win the Roland Garros-Wimbledon double in the same year.
Credit: AP The Spanish sensation, already a triple grand slam winner, can join that illustrious company on Sunday after dispatching Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals for the second straight year, 6-7 (1-7), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, albeit in a more competitive affair than 12 months ago. At age 21, Alcaraz – pronounced “Alca-rath”, for anyone still going with “razz” at the end – would be a year younger than Borg and Nadal when they achieved the feat for the first time. Loading Djokovic is waiting for him in a much-anticipated rematch of last year’s final, which Alcaraz won across five enthralling sets.
The former world No.1, barely a month removed from knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee, downed Italian Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 in a high-quality second semi-final. Djokovic is attempting his own history: to match Federer’s record eight Wimbledon championships, and move clear of Australia’s Margaret Court with a 25th gra.