Two Wimbledon champions, the world No.1 and America’s leading light are in contention.
©Corinne Dubreuil / FFTFor the tennis community from fans, to players, to media, the men’s tournament is poised to have a box office finish.
Three players have tasted Grand Slam glory, two have experienced that ‘out of body’ feeling lifting the trophy on Centre, whilst one has been ever so close to a major triumph.
Let’s dive right into Friday’s sensational semi-finals.
💪 The context / The current form
Is there any stopping this smiling assassin? Carlos Alcaraz is on a 23-match winning streak, is on a 19-match winning run at Wimbledon. The stats and milestones are endless for this generational superstar this weekend.
In short, the Queen’s Club champion is bidding for a third consecutive Wimbledon title and is doing this all with showstopping antics.
No.5 seed Taylor Fritz has the task of derailing the two-time defending champion, hoping to become the first American man to duel in the Wimbledon final since Andy Roddick in 2009.
The 27-year-old shouldn’t be overshadowed by Alcaraz’s human highlight reel exploits, having captured grass titles in Stuttgart and Eastbourne last month.
🏆 Their 2025 tournament
Just check out the scores below. Fritz has been on quite the journey at The All England Club; escape acts, gruelling hours, but his quarter-final performance was very promising for his stars and stripes’ fans.
In what turned out to be Fabio Fognini’s last ever match, Alcaraz was pushed to the limit. With an abundance of style and steel, the Spaniard survived. Since that opening scare, Alcaraz has maintained an absorbing level.
1st round: victory against Fabio Fognini 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 (4hrs 37mins)
2nd round: victory against Oliver Tarvet 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 (2hrs 17mins)
3rd round: victory against Jan-Lennard Struff 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 (2hrs 25mins)
Round of 16: victory against Andrey Rublev 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 (2hrs 44mins)
Quarter-finals: victory against Cameron Norrie 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 (1hr 39mins)
🆚 Face-to-face
This will be their first grapple on grass. Alcaraz has two hard court victories to call upon in Miami (2023) and Laver Cup action (2024), which were dealt with in straight sets.
🎤 Heard in media
Taylor Fritz: “I'm happy that we're not playing at Roland-Garros on clay 'cause that would be an absolute nightmare.
“I think grass is very much an equaliser. I trust in how I'm playing. I truly know the way that I played the first two sets today (vs Khachanov), there's not much any opponent on the other side can do.
“It’s given me a lot of confidence in those moments and situations, just having been there (US Open 2024 final), that I can do it again… I’ve played the pressure matches. I don't think anything's going to get more stressful than me playing Frances (Tiafoe) in New York for a spot in the final.”
Carlos Alcaraz: “His grass season this year, it's been really successful so far. He's playing such great tennis. I think his game is pretty well on grass, playing flat, playing aggressively, big serve.
“I will try to be focus. I will try to show my best tennis. I'm going to try to play at the same level or even higher than today (vs Norrie). If I play like today's match, I will get a chance, for sure.
“23 winning streak right now, I just don't want to stop there, just want to keep it going. I don't want to stop there.”
💪 The context / The current form
The Italian talisman has navigated into the last three Grand Slam finals, prevailing in New York, Melbourne, but falling agonisingly short in Paris, having held three match points against Carlos Alcaraz in their modern-day instant classic. The 23-year-old could become the 11th man in the Open Era to complete the set of Grand Slam singles finals. He’s that type of talent.
Should Jannik Sinner fend off the history-chasing Novak Djokovic – he’ll claim sole ownership of the most Grand Slam singles finals reached by an Italian player, ahead of the iconic Nicola Pietrangeli.
As ever, seven-time Wimbledon winner Djokovic has his sights on ‘all-time greatest’ achievements. The unprecedented 25th Grand Slam in once again within grasp. Once again Alcaraz and Sinner are the obstacles.
It’s easy to forget that the 100-time titlist, who has 24 Grand Slams from 37 finals, has been in the Wimbledon trophy showdown for the past six editions.
Let battle commence.
🏆 Their 2025 tournament
For three rounds Sinner soared past his opponents. Grigor Dimitrov had other ideas and was in command, until a desperately sad ending to his SW19 title quest. Injury denied the Bulgarian and gave Sinner a second life at Wimbledon 2025.
The top seed returned to form in the quarter-finals, seemingly shrugging off right-arm injury concerns. What is left in his reserves to dominate Djokovic?
It was a slow start for the 38-year-old, however, the Serbian is 38, meaning his consistency in majors continues to defy logic. His retrieval skills, his ability to find an extra gear, it’s been jaw-dropping at times.
Flavio Cobolli backed Djokovic into a corner in the Elite 8, the former world No.1 also had nasty knee-bending slip towards the end too. Let’s hope he’s fully recovered, because in pure tennis terms, Djokovic is masterfully peaking at the optimum time.
🆚 Face-to-face
This rivalry has been captivating from the very start, one that Sinner edges 5-4.
The Italian went 3-0 up following two Wimbledon victories. The Serbian reeled in Sinner from two-sets down in the 2022 quarter-finals and 12 months on claimed their semi-final clash in straight sets.
Since then, Sinner has transformed into a world-leading talent – conducting the winning interview in the past four meetings, most recently 6-4, 7-5, 7-6(3) in the Roland-Garros semi-finals in June.
©Corinne Dubreuil / FFT🎤 Heard in media
Jannik Sinner: "Of course, you aim to win tournaments you haven't won, different surfaces where you haven't won. But in the same time, I try to understand what kind of player I am on this surface.
"Just trying to put myself in these positions, semi-finals of Grand Slams. They're amazing occasions, great chances. I'm happy that I've put myself here again in this position and to see what I can achieve.
"Me and Novak, we know us better because we played quite a lot. We understand what's working and what's not. I've never won against him here in Wimbledon, so it's going to be a very, very tough challenge."
Novak Djokovic: "It motivates me to see how much can I still keep going with these guys toe to toe.
“I lost straight sets to Jannik in the semis of Roland-Garros. I think I played a solid match. I could have played better, but he was just better player when the moments were important.
“I get another opportunity. For me, this is what counts actually the most... Being in the last stages of Grand Slams and playing against the best player in the world right now. Him next to Alcaraz are the leaders of the tennis today, men's tennis. I couldn't ask for a bigger challenge.”
ROLAND-GARROS
18 May - 7 June 2026
