Massive Wimbledon Upset Boosts Carlos Alcaraz’s Title Hopes
Carlos Alcaraz may have narrowly escaped a first-round scare, but the tennis gods are already smiling on the World No. 2. Just one day after surviving a five-set battle, the defending Wimbledon champion’s road to the final became significantly smoother thanks to a stunning upset in his half of the draw.
On Tuesday, World No. 3 Alexander Zverev a projected semifinal opponent was bounced in a shocking five-setter by World No. 72 Arthur Rinderknech, 7-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-7, 6-4. Rinderknech entered the tournament with a losing record in 2025 and had never advanced past the second round at the All England Club. The upset could be a defining break in the draw for Alcaraz.
Read More: Wimbledon Upset: World’s Richest WTA Player Crashes Out
Zverev’s Exit Opens Door for Title Defense
Alcaraz, 22, opened his 2025 Wimbledon campaign with a dramatic five-set win over World No. 138 Fabio Fognini (7-5, 6-7, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1). It wasn’t vintage Alcaraz, but he remains one of the most dangerous grass-court players on tour, riding a 15-match Wimbledon win streak and a 19-2 career record at the tournament.
Avoiding Zverev may prove crucial. The Spaniard and the German have faced off 11 times, with Zverev holding a slight 6-5 edge. Their Grand Slam head-to-head is 2-2, with Alcaraz winning their most recent clash in the 2024 French Open final.
Now, Alcaraz faces a more manageable road to the final, including:
- Oliver Tarvet (qualifier) in Round 2
- Felix Auger-Aliassime (No. 28) in Round 3
- Andrey Rublev (No. 14) in the fourth round
- Frances Tiafoe (No. 12) in the quarters
- Taylor Fritz (No. 5) in a potential semifinal
He holds a winning record against all of them, combining for a 10-5 mark.
Win-derknech stuns on Centre Court ✨
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 1, 2025
The Frenchman takes down No.3 seed in a marathon match, winning 7-6(3), 6-7(8), 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-4 in 4 hours and 40 minutes 🇫🇷#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/Q8sP7S5pN2
The Title is Within Reach
With his biggest immediate threat now out of the way. Carlos Alcaraz has a golden opportunity to chase a third straight Wimbledon crown. If he can shake off early rust and return to dominant form, the path is wide open.
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