'I really want to win': Confident Alcaraz targets rare Wimbledon three-peat
Carlos Alcaraz is chasing a slice of tennis immortality as he arrives at Wimbledon's pristine lawns, where he has the opportunity to join an illustrious but short list of men who have won the grasscourt Grand Slam three years in a row.
The Spaniard could join an elite club of just four men -- Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic -- who have claimed three consecutive Wimbledon titles in the Open era.
Yet the 22-year-old Alcaraz, radiating confidence that belies his youth, says the only thing on his mind is the trophy itself and not its legacy.
"I'm coming here thinking that I really want to win the title, I really want to lift the trophy, not thinking about how many players have won three Wimbledons in a row," Alcaraz told reporters on Saturday.
"I just want to be ready, to prepare myself in the best way possible to start the tournament with a lot of confidence. Obviously I feel a lot of confidence right now," he added with a smile.
"Two weeks could be really long in a Grand Slam but right now I'm not thinking about who I could join if I win three Wimbledons in a row."
Such confidence is not misplaced, after he cemented his status as the Prince of Clay when he won a 5-1/2 hour epic to beat Jannik Sinner in the French Open final earlier this month.
The world number two is now seeking to extend his reign on the grasscourts as well, warming up for Wimbledon by winning the Queen's Club Championship for a second time.
Once billed as a claycourt specialist as he climbed up the rankings, Alcaraz now speaks of grasscourts with the reverence of a true convert, saying that the "most beautiful tennis that we can watch" is on grass.
"The style that the people bring to the court when they play on grass, I think is so beautiful. The sound of the ball, the movement is really tough -- but when you get it, it's like you're flying," he said.
"It's just pretty to me because I really want to hit slices, dropshots, go to the net all the time and play aggressively. I think on grass it's the style that you have to play, so that's what I like the most."
What truly sets Alcaraz apart from other players is his fearlessness in the face of adversity, evident from how he saved three championship points against Sinner to eventually lift a second straight title at Roland Garros.
"When I'm playing without thinking about anything else, but just playing or just thinking about the enjoyment, I think I get that freedom to play whatever I like -- I just enjoy," he explained.
"When that happens, I always show my best tennis, my best level. So far I'm feeling the most freedom that I've played." REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Mixed Martial Arts-Topuria knocks out Oliveira to win UFC lightweight title
LAS VEGAS - Spain's Ilia Topuria scored a stunning first-round knockout victory over Charles Oliveira to claim the UFC lightweight title at UFC 317 on Saturday, with Alexandre Pantoja securing a third-round submission win over Kai Kara-France to retain the flyweight title in the co-main event. Former featherweight champ Topuria announced in February that he was going to step up to the 155-pound division to fight for the belt vacated by former champ Islam Makhachev's move up to the welterweight division. Standing between him and the title was 35-year-old Brazilian former lightweight champ Oliveira, who briefly brought his vast experience to bear before being defeated. After a dominant run at featherweight that saw him move to 16-0 as a professional, Topuria, who was born in Germany to Georgian parents, looked small in the cage compared to Oliveira, but he defended well against the Brazilian's grappling before showcasing his striking power. Oliveira, who was stripped of the lightweight belt in May 2022 when he missed weight for a defence against Justin Gaethje, looked good during a brief exchange on the mat, but Topuria disengaged to bring the fight back to the feet, and shortly afterwards Oliveira's evening ended. The 28-year-old stunned Oliveira with a right hook and followed it up with a crunchin left that sent Oliveira crashing to the mat, his eyes glazed as his back hit the canvas as Topuria fulfilled his pre-fight prediction of a first-round knockout win. "I already said it - I represent the new generation of the mix of martial arts, this is the next level of the game. This is the next thing, and this is what I represent," Topuria said in a post-fight interview. "I did exactly what we had planned, lot of jabs, right hand, left hook, and boom - his lights were out." In the co-main event, Brazil's Pantoja dominated New Zealander Kara-France before taking his back and locking in a rear naked choke 1:55 into the third round, REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Vega's strike, Madu's own goal send Mexico to semis with 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia
Jun 28, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Saudi Arabia defender Ali Majrashi (26) and Mexico forward Alexis Vega (10) battle for the ball in the second half during a quarterfinal match of the 2025 Gold Cup at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images REUTERS Jun 28, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Mexico forward Alexis Vega (10) celebrates after scoring a goal against Saudi Arabia in the second half during a quarterfinal match of the 2025 Gold Cup at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images REUTERS Alexis Vega's strike just after the break and an own goal by Abdullah Madu secured a 2-0 victory for Mexico over Saudi Arabia in the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-finals in Glendale, Arizona on Saturday, setting up a clash with Honduras in the last four. Fulham forward Raul Jimenez's quick through ball set up Vega's sprint into the box, and although keeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi blocked the first attempt, the Toluca striker found the target from the rebound, putting the 12-time champions ahead in the 49th minute. Tournament debutants Saudi Arabia had done well to stay even in the first half, with Ali Majrashi's overhead kick clearing Roberto Alvarado's dangerous ball and Vega shooting wide off a cross from Gilberto Mora, who became the youngest to play for Mexico at 16. But Matteo Chavez's cross from the left took a deflection off defender Madu and went into the net in the 81st minute, ending Saudi Arabia's hopes of making a comeback and ensuring Mexico's progress to Wednesday's semi-finals. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
Chelsea boss lashes out at Club World Cup organisers after yet another weather delay
Soccer Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Round of 16 - Benfica v Chelsea - Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. - June 28, 2025 Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca celebrates after the match REUTERS/Mike Segar Chelsea boss lashes out at Club World Cup organisers after yet another weather delay CHARLOTTE, North Carolina - Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca lashed out after a two-hour weather delay disrupted his team's last-16 Club World Cup victory over Benfica on Saturday, suggesting the United States was not a suitable country for the competition - a year before it is due to host the men's World Cup. Chelsea beat Benfica 4-1 in extra-time to qualify for the quarter-finals after a game that ended four hours and 39 minutes after kicking off, following a two-hour interruption due to a storm warning. It was the sixth time that a game was stopped at the 32-club tournament because of the risk of lightning. "For me personally, it's not football," Maresca told a press conference. "I think it's a joke. It's not football. "I can understand that for security reasons, you have to suspend the game. But if you suspend seven or eight games, that means that probably this is not the right place to do this competition. "It's a fantastic competition. It's the Club World Cup, all the best clubs are here," he added. "But six, seven games suspended? It's not normal. In a World Cup how many have they suspended? Probably zero. In a European (championship), how many games? Zero. There is some problem." FIFA, which organised the tournament, was not immediately available for comment. Chelsea were 1-0 up when the players were asked to leave the pitch and play only resumed almost two hours later. "The game was very good for 85 minutes, then we stopped for two hours, and when we started it was a completely different game. It's not the same game because you break the tempo," Maresca said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
