Under the bright London skies at the All England Club, 22-year-old Carlos Alcaraz swept past home favorite Cameron Norrie 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 to reach his third straight Wimbledon semifinal. The two-time defending champion looked in total control, racing through the opening set and holding off Norrie's fightback in front of a raucous centre court crowd.
Alcaraz's win extends his career-best winning streak to 23 matches and cements his bid to join Bjorn Borg as the only men in the Open Era to complete back-to-back Roland Garros-Wimbledon doubles. The Spaniard also became the first player to qualify for this year's ATP Finals and now turns his attention to Taylor Fritz for a place in the title match.
Despite flashes of brilliance from the world No. 2, Norrie couldn't find a rhythm against Alcaraz's heavy groundstrokes and precise serving. The Briton, making his second quarterfinal at Wimbledon, pushed his opponent in the second set but ultimately succumbed to an ace that closed out the match.
After the win, Alcaraz said he was thrilled to reach another semifinal at Wimbledon and praised Norrie's hard work and competitive spirit. He described the experience as super special and expressed excitement for the challenges ahead.
With his signature blend of power and poise, Alcaraz is fast becoming a global sports icon. As young fans in G20 nations tune in for the semifinals, the Spaniard's quest for a historic three-peat is shaping up to be one of tennis's most compelling stories this summer.
Reference(s):
Alcaraz sweeps past Norrie 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 to reach Wimbledon semifinals
cgtn.com
