One of the highlights of the sporting summer is Wimbledon and all eyes will be on Carlos Alcaraz as he bids to become only the fifth male in the Open era to claim the SW19 title in three consecutive seasons.
One of the highlights of the sporting summer in Britain is Wimbledon and all eyes will be on Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz as he bids to become only the fifth male in the Open era to claim the All England Club crown in three consecutive seasons.
It has already been a summer to remember for Alcaraz, who landed his fifth Grand Slam title at the French Open before enjoying the perfect preparation for Wimbledon with his second victory at Queen’s Club.
Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who locked horns in a thrilling five-set Paris final earlier this month, have shared the last six Grand Slam titles between them and they are starting to take complete control of the ATP Tour.
That irresistible duo are likely to take some stopping in the third Grand Slam of the season, with seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic and home favourite Jack Draper considered to be the biggest dangers to their supremacy according to the Wimbledon odds.
Wimbledon tips
Carlos Alcaraz to win Wimbledon @ 5/4
It is starting to become a bit of a coin toss between Alcaraz and Sinner in Grand Slam competition and their recent French Open final strengthened the case that they are in a world of their own.
That was a missed opportunity from Sinner, who had three match points on serve in the fourth set, and there is a sense that Alcaraz now feels that he has his fiercest rival’s measure.
Alcaraz has won five of his last six meetings with Sinner and he enjoyed the perfect by winning last week’s title at Queen’s Club, while his Italian counterpart suffered a last-16 exit as top seed in Halle.
The pair avoid each other until the final and the Spaniard also has the luxury of dodging 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic and Draper in his half of the draw.
So, having won the Wimbledon title in the last two years and suffered only defeat in his last 26 matches on grass, it is hard to avoid the obvious with Alcaraz fancied to claim his sixth Grand Slam crown.
Taylor Fritz to win Wimbledon each-way @ 33/1
If Alcaraz fails to fire in the bottom half of the draw then big-serving American Taylor Fritz – a potential semi-final opponent for the Spaniard – could be the man to capitalise.
Fritz is fifth seed at the All England Club and has been rejuvenated by playing on grass, claiming silverware in Stuttgart earlier this month before enjoying another title charge in Eastbourne.
In Germany, Fritz defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime and home favourite Alexander Zverev on his way to the title and this is a surface that suits his ultra-attacking style.
Big servers tend to prosper at SW19 and, having made the quarter-final in two of the last three years, the 27-year-old could be ready to take another step forward.
Fritz showed his class when making the final of the US Open last year and he is fancied to have the measure of Daniil Medvedev and Zverev in the third quarter of the draw, making him a prime candidate to make at least the semi-finals.
