Carlos Alcaraz targets historic Wimbledon three-peat, chases place among legends

India Today

9 hours ago

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz returns to Wimbledon with the poise of a champion and the perspective of someone learning to live in the eye of the storm. On Monday, he will take his place on Centre Court for the opening match of the men's singles draw-a tradition reserved for the defending champion-and face Italy's Fabio Fognini.The 21-year-old Spaniard is chasing a rare three-peat at the All England Club, having won back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024. Last year, he dismantled seven-time champion Novak Djokovic in straight sets to become only the ninth man in the Open Era to successfully defend a Wimbledon crown-joining a list that includes Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Boris Becker, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, and Djokovic himself.advertisementAlcaraz enters this year's tournament with a perfect 5-0 record in Grand Slam finals. His most recent triumph came at Roland Garros, where he clawed back from two sets down to beat World No. 1 Jannik Sinner. He's also a former champion on the hard courts of the US Open, making him the youngest man to win Grand Slams on all three surfaces-grass, clay, and hard.
Now ranked No. 2, Alcaraz holds an 18-2 record at Wimbledon, with his 89.5% win rate putting him in elite company. Only Borg (92.7%) and Sampras (90 percent) boast higher percentages on the grass in the Open Era. Another title here would make him the third-youngest man to win multiple Wimbledon titles, behind only Becker and Borg.Beyond that, history beckons. A sixth major would make him the second-youngest man in the Open Era to reach the milestone, after Borg in 1978. A successful defence at SW19 would also place him among the few to win three or more Wimbledon titles in a row-joining the likes of Federer, Sampras, Borg, and Djokovic. He could also become only the fourth man to complete multiple Channel Slams (winning both Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year), after Laver, Borg, and Nadal.advertisementBut Alcaraz is in no mood to chase numbers."I'm in no doubt that I have nothing to prove," he said ahead of his opener. "It's my life and I live it the way I think is correct. The key is not to think about what people say, or their expectations, but to focus on what I really need and what makes me feel good." His rise has been meteoric, but methodical. Under the guidance of coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, a former World No. 1, Alcaraz has built a game suited for all terrains-and a mindset that's increasingly unfazed by pressure. After a disappointing early exit in Madrid, he bounced back by winning Roland Garros and then Queen's Club, where he didn't drop a set in the final.That win in Queen's extended his unbeaten streak on grass to 12 matches. His movement is sharper, his timing more precise, and his confidence on the surface is unmistakable. He attributes much of that to the stability of his inner circle."They play an essential role," Alcaraz said of his team. "Being with them helps me forget about everything going on externally. That feeling is very necessary What matters most is to feel good and to be surrounded by people that I love and who help me switch off from the world."advertisement"All of us being together in a house creates more of a family atmosphere," Alcaraz said. "Throughout the year we go from hotel to hotel, and although that's fine, it's not the same. Here we make more plans, we play board games... That really helps me relax and enjoy myself more, both on and off the court."His first hurdle is Fognini, a 38-year-old former top-10 player now ranked outside the top 100. The Italian has never progressed beyond the third round in 14 Wimbledon appearances and arrives with little momentum. Still, Alcaraz knows better than to underestimate a veteran with nothing to lose.The draw, meanwhile, presents opportunities. Djokovic hasn't been in the best of forms this year, Daniil Medvedev has looked inconsistent, and Sinner-on the opposite hand-is a potential rematch waiting to happen if both make the final on July 13.But Alcaraz is not looking that far ahead. For now, it's all about the first serve on opening day.The pressure may be rising, the accolades piling up, but the joy in his game remains untouched. If he continues striking the ball with the same blend of flair and focus, it might take something extraordinary to stop him.- Ends
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