Toni Nadal has labelled Carlos Alcaraz “the star of the year and the man to beat” at Wimbledon as he named Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic as the only players who could “possibly catch him.”
Alcaraz is seeking a third consecutive Wimbledon title at the 2025 Championships, where he started his campaign by surviving a scare to beat Fabio Fognini in five sets.
The five-time major winner holds 90.9% (30-3) win rate on grass, which is the highest of any man in the Open Era among players to win at least 20 matches on the surface.
The world No 2 is on a 19-match winning streak, having triumphed at the Queen’s Club Championships, the French Open and the Italian Open in his previous three events.
The 22-year-old Spaniard has won 28 of his last 29 matches in a sensational run that started at the beginning of the clay season in Monte Carlo.
Alcaraz’s only defeat since March came against Holger Rune in the Barcelona Open final, where he was hampered by injuries that also forced him out of the Madrid Masters.
In his El Pais column, Nadal asserted that he does not “see anyone who can seriously challenge” Alcaraz at the grass-court Grand Slam.
“The main question on the minds of fans and experts is, without a doubt, whether anyone will be able to defeat our great player,” wrote the uncle and former coach of Rafael Nadal.
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“I sincerely believe that, under normal conditions, very few opponents have the ability to trouble Carlos.
“It’s true that on grass courts, the element of surprise comes into play more, but looking at the draw he’s facing and considering the fact that the surface is less damaged in the first few days and the game is very fast, I don’t see anyone who can seriously challenge him.
“Alcaraz also possesses, as he has demonstrated over the last two years, the almost perfect conditions to perform with ease on the London grass.
“As if that weren’t enough, the Murcia-born player arrived at the tournament brimming with morale and confidence following his epic comeback in the Roland Garros final and his recent triumph at Queen’s.
“Without a doubt, Carlos is the star of the year and the man to beat. The only two players who could possibly catch him along the way are the current number one, Jannik Sinner, and seven-time Wimbledon champion, Novak Djokovic.”
Alcaraz will take on 733rd-ranked British qualifier Oliver Tarvet in the second round at Wimbledon.
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