Carlos Alcaraz’s remarkable performance on grass courts is a topic worth discussing, especially as he stands on the brink of greatness again. In terms of grass court records, Alcaraz’s win/loss percentage reaches an impressive 91%, a figure that positions him alongside legends of the sport, such as Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, who have percentages of 87% and 86%, respectively. Although Federer and Djokovic have had longer careers on this surface, Alcaraz’s ability to adapt and excel so early in his career is both astonishing and noteworthy. He is not merely contending for victories; he is aiming for his third consecutive Wimbledon title and could potentially achieve the elusive French Open-Wimbledon double double—a feat not seen since the great Bjorn Borg accomplished it in 1979.
Borg’s legacy includes an astounding treble-double, having secured titles at both Roland-Garros and Wimbledon in 1978, 1979, and 1980. This incredible record could be challenged by the formidable Alcaraz in the coming weeks. Additionally, Alcaraz has his sights sets on breaking the records held by Federer of five consecutive Wimbledon titles from 2003 to 2007 and Djokovic’s remarkable achievement of four consecutive titles between 2018 and 2022. With Wimbledon kicking off next Monday, June 30, the anticipation surrounding Alcaraz continues to grow as fans are eager to witness what this young Spanish player will bring to the prestigious courts of SW19.
One of the standout attributes of Alcaraz’s game is his defensive prowess. While one might not immediately associate a player of his caliber with defensive skills, they play an integral role in his success. At the Queen’s tournament, his ‘steal score’—a metric indicating how often a player wins points while defending—was a notable 37%, surpassing his opponent in the final, Jiri Lehecka, by a significant margin of 9%. This impressive statistic is bolstered by Alcaraz’s winning percentage when facing opponents who venture to the net, reaching 37%, compared to the average of 27.5% for fellow quarter-finalists at Queen’s. His ability to create passing shots and winners in difficult scenarios further enhances his reputation, exemplified by his playful finger-to-ear gesture after executing these shots, which speaks to his confidence on grass.
Contrasting his defensive play is Alcaraz’s explosive forehand, an undeniable strength in his arsenal. Tennis has seen some exceptional forehands over the years, featuring legendary players like Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Juan Martin del Potro. Alcaraz’s forehand displays remarkable quality, with metrics from Queen’s indicating an improvement over his year-long average and a notable edge over tour competitors. At Queen’s, his forehand shot quality was ranked at an impressive 9, outpacing his 52-week average of 8 and the tour average of 7.5. Furthermore, he led among quarter-finalists with a superior forehand conversion, illustrating his ability to seize points when attacking.
A key component of Alcaraz’s evolving game is his serve, which has seen substantial improvement. On grass, where serve effectiveness is critical, he has strategically enhanced his second serve placement, making it increasingly challenging for his opponents to return. Current statistics reveal that more than a quarter of his second serves are going unreturned, highlighting the significant impact this adjustment has had on his gameplay. In terms of service statistics at Queen’s, Alcaraz boasted a serve shot quality of 8.2, marked by a striking 50% unreturned first serves and a 26% unreturned second serves ratio. Such metrics underline the pressure he can impose on his adversaries, adding another layer to his already formidable skill set.
While players like Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, and Britain’s Jack Draper will undoubtedly pose serious competitive threats, if Carlos Alcaraz brings his A-game to Wimbledon, it becomes increasingly difficult to envision a scenario where he does not claim his sixth career major title and yet another championship on grass. As Wimbledon approaches, all eyes will be on Alcaraz and the heights he may reach in his athletic journey.
