Taylor Fritz gave some Wimbledon fans a real scare on Friday when he held a pair of set points in a fourth-set tiebreaker. It’s anyone’s guess what a fifth set between Fritz and Carlos Alcaraz might have been like if Fritz had won either of those set points.
Instead, a 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (6) victory by Alcaraz over Fritz looks rather casual.
And then there was the legendary Novak Djokovic. He simply wasn’t in Jannik Sinner’s league this time. And he may never be again. The U.S. Open might be Novak’s last chance for a record 25th Grand Slam title. That 25th major must have looked like another world for Djokovic during his 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 loss to Sinner in Friday’s semifinals.
ALCARAZ/SINNER PAIR RULE
We now have the top two candidates in men’s tennis to look like candidates for the Roger Federer/Rafa Nadal/Djokovic triangle in this year’s Wimbledon men’s final. Truly, Sinner and Alcaraz look like a new Federer/Nadal duo that has captured the interest of tennis fans.
Sunday’s men’s final should be a great one for the ages. They are that far ahead of the rest of men’s tennis.
Alcaraz and Sinner appear capable of stepping up to the service line at any time and dominating the game. It should be that type of match for the new giants of men’s tennis.
FRITZ LOOKS LIKE A NEW THREAT
Fritz might become a new threat on occasion to take over for Sinner and Alcaraz if injuries come into play. Remember, Alcaraz already has the trifecta of winning Grand Slams titles on all three surfaces: Wimbledon’s grass, the French Open’s clay and the U.S. Open’s hard courts. Of course, he is only one win from a sixth Grand Slam title at the age of 22.
All of this adds up to a possible Super Sunday final for tennis followers.
James Beck was the 2003 winner of the USTA National Media Award for print media. A 1995 MBA graduate of The Citadel, he can be reached at Jamesbecktennis@gmail.com.
