Carlos Alcaraz explains how he adopted a skill that optimised Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals.
It has been a challenging title defence for the Spaniard and he has needed to dig deep to overcome the adversity he has faced.
Despite not always playing at his fluent and belligerent best, Alcaraz has progressed to his second successive semi-final at the All-England Club.
The second seed will now face Daniil Medvedev in a rematch from their battle in the last four in 2023.
Carlos Alcaraz was inspired by Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic to reach Wimbledon semi-finals
For the second time in the tournament Alcaraz lost the first set, this time against America’s Tommy Paul.
He was even up 2-0 in the second, but the 21-year-old upped his aggression on the return and clawed his way back into the match.
Paul’s serve was broken seven times across the second, third and fourth sets and eventually Alcaraz secured a 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 victory. Post match, he spoke about how he found ways to win similar to the tennis’ proclaimed ‘Big Three’ of Djokovic, Federer and Nadal.
“We try to just find solutions. For me obviously it’s gonna be really difficult to play my best tennis every match,” he told reporters. “I know there are gonna be some matches where I’m not gonna find my best tennis. But I have to try to win it.
“I think what the Big Three did throughout their careers, they’re not always gonna play their best tennis. But even like that they’re gonna find their good tennis just to win those matches. That’s what I’m thinking.”
Who is Carlos Alcaraz’s next opponent?
After defeating Paul for the third time in his career Alcaraz will once again take on Medvedev, who upset Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals.
It will be the fourth Grand Slam meeting between the pair, and the Russian has emerged victorious on two occasions.
Previewing the contest, the third seed knows he will have to be at his best to score another victory over the World number five.
“He’s a really great player. The same semi-final as last year and hopefully I’m going to get the same result,” he said about Medvedev. “He just beat Jannik Sinner, the best player right now, so I know he is in really good shape.
“I have to play my best, I have to believe in myself and try to keep going if I want to beat him. It is going to be a difficult one, but I’m going to enjoy it.”
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