Bill Simons
WIMBLEDON
Taylor Fritz doesn’t have what thousands of other American men haven’t had for 22 years – a Grand Slam title. But the Californian comes from a grand tennis family. He’s got a fierce get-out-of-jail-free serve, a lethal forehand, a superb backhand, extraordinary dedication, hair to kill for, a tennis IQ that’s off the charts and grit in the clutch. In the first round, he survived despite being two points from going home.
America’s best player is a fabulous athlete who has long been in the Top 10 and reached last year’s US Open final. But in life, in sports, in tennis, on grass and at Wimbledon so often the margins are razor thin.
There was an inventive theory that the best way to beat Roger Federer was to bore him to death. It was said that the only way to subdue Rafa Nadal at Roland Garros was to hit all of your shots on the lines. Now, according to Nick Kyrgios, Jannik Sinner will have a better career than Carlos Alcaraz because the Spaniard likes girls. We’ll see.
In the meantime, tennis lovers are trying to answer one compelling question. What is Carlos Alcaraz’s greatest strength? There are many choices:
- His bounding, fluid athleticism. His dazzling shot making wizardry and soft, surgical touch. His incredible versatility and diverse weaponry. Andy Roddick claimed, “He’s spoiled for choice. His only issue is how to beat you..”
- His calm amidst the storm. You try and save three championship points at a Slam.
- His bend-but-not-break mindset. He doesn’t always dominate, but he finds a way to prevail.
Right from the start in today’s semifinal against Fritz, Carlos was in command. He punched hard at the opening bell. He came out fast and unleashed a power forehand and a delicate drop shot, and for the third straight time against Taylor gained an early lead. The sun was bright, but right away Taylor’s chances seemed dim. “What a start from Carlos – he’s in the mood,” observed broadcaster Barry Cowan.
In gear and moving with ease, Alcaraz neutralized Fritz’s serve, hit five first-set aces and 12 winners. He was nearly flawless – just three errors. On serve, the Spaniard had an easy command and an almost walk-in-the park comfort. Fritz did play well and saved a set point.
“It’s so close – it’s so close!” said an elegant gentleman in red. And elegance is just one of Carlos’ gifts. While champagne corks were popping in section 214 and, due to the heat, fans were again dropping in the stands, Alcaraz was popping forehands to the corners and displaying his inspired drop shots and fleet movement – poetry in motion.
A great champion playing with such ease took the first set 6-4. Fritz would now have to come up with something special.
And against the best grass court player in the world, savvy Taylor did just that. He switched gears, upped his game and played to his strengths, brilliantly shortening the points with power while ruthlessly attacking the Spaniard’s serve.
Incredibly, Carlos double faulted and blasted a simple forehand long, and after 1:23 Fritz’s patience and clear thinking paid off. He broke Alcaraz at love to claim the second set 7-5 and even the match. Taylor would say, “I did exactly what I wanted to do.”
But after playing inspired tennis, early in the third set, Fritz’s focus wavered as he suffered two loose service games. Two forehand errors by Taylor and a brilliant Alcaraz drop shot-lob combo gave Carlos the break. Then Alcaraz broke again to claim the third set and gain command. After such grit, Taylor’s third set performance seemed listless. But he rebounded and in the fourth set forced a tiebreak.
There Fritz again started slowly, but the Californian reset and won five points in a row to gain two set points to try to force the battle into a fifth set.
But there is no better clutch player in tennis these days than Alcaraz. At crunch time, the 22-year-old floods his mind with positivity. One sees his calm. His body language is so confident, so serene, so stress-free. The man wins Slams, he prevails in five-set matches and tiebreaks, and just five weeks ago, in one of the most epic tiebreaks in tennis history, he crushed Jannik Sinner to take the French Open.
Fritz would praise Carlos’ unpredictability. As for Alcaraz’s best qualities, Taylor told Inside Tennis that it was Alcaraz’ ability to win in so many ways, his serve that can come in at 85 mph or in the 130’s, plus his incredible touch around the net where it looks like he’ll never miss.
Arthur Ashe always claimed that grass court tennis was the toughest mentally. One lapse in concentration and you’re cooked.
And, when, Alcaraz was down set point in the fourth set tiebreak, he did what he had to do. He sprinted, he blasted from the baseline and scrambled just enough to throw his big foe off balance. Fritz was at a loss. And three quick points later Carlos prevailed and grabbed his 20th straight Wimbledon victory.
Fritz may well want to forget his 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (6) loss. But there is no shame in falling to the man who has forgotten how to lose. And Sunday Carlos will again have a chance to prevail. But it will be a stern test. He will again face the man he battled so gloriously in Paris –Jannik Sinner.
