Carlos Alcaraz delivered a dominant performance to end British hope Cameron Norrie’s Wimbledon run, advancing to the semi-finals with a straight-sets victory on Centre Court.
The two-time defending champion and world number three overwhelmed Norrie 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 in just one hour and 39 minutes, extending his winning streak to 23 matches. Alcaraz now moves one step closer to becoming only the fifth man in the Open Era to win three consecutive Wimbledon titles.
“This was my best match of the tournament,” said the 21-year-old Spaniard. “I’m feeling great and very confident.”
Alcaraz’s next opponent is American fifth seed Taylor Fritz, who earned his first Wimbledon semi-final spot after defeating Russia’s Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(4). Fritz is aiming to become the first American man to win a Grand Slam since Andy Roddick’s 2003 US Open triumph.
Against Norrie, Alcaraz showcased his complete game—blistering serves, dazzling groundstrokes, and soft touches at the net—leaving the British number one with little room to respond. After fending off four break points early in the first set, Alcaraz never looked back, ruthlessly dictating the match.
Norrie, ranked 61st, was hoping to match his 2022 semi-final appearance. Despite the defeat, his strong Wimbledon campaign marks a positive turnaround after an 18-month struggle with form and injury.
“He was unreal out there,” Norrie admitted. “If you don’t do enough with the ball, he’ll punish you in so many ways.”
The 29-year-old left-hander, who had slipped down the rankings due to a forearm injury, will return to the ATP top 50 next week. His resurgence comes after soul-searching and a renewed approach to the game following the Miami Open earlier this year.
Alcaraz, who also took a short break in Ibiza before Wimbledon, seems to thrive on a relaxed mindset. “When you’re serving well and confident from the baseline, you’re calmer and see things clearly,” he said.
Meanwhile, Fritz had to battle through a momentum shift in his quarter-final. After winning the first two sets, his game dipped, and Khachanov took the third. A medical timeout for foot taping and a bizarre line-call error at the start of the fourth set added to the drama. But Fritz recovered his rhythm to close out the match in a tense tie-break.
“I’ve never seen a match flip so fast,” Fritz said. “I’m proud of how I stayed focused in the fourth and got it done.”
Alcaraz vs. Fritz promises a blockbuster semi-final, as the American hunts for his maiden Grand Slam title while the Spaniard edges closer to defending his Wimbledon crown.
