Carlos Alcaraz sails into Wimbledon R3

The defending Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz is safely through into the third round at the All England Club. Carlos met Aleksandar Vukic in the second round and notched a 7-6, 6-2, 6-2 triumph in an hour and 48 minutes, securing his ninth consecutive win at Majors. The Spaniard landed 11 aces and made the difference with his first serve. Alcaraz dropped 20 points in his games and got broken two times from three chances offered to Vukic. The defending champion secured 47% of the return points, turning them into six breaks from 11 chances and sailing over the top following a tight battle in the opener. Carlos landed 42 winners and 15 unforced errors, outplaying his rival and playing rock-solid tennis despite a challenging period in the second part of the opening set. They provided five fine holds at the beginning of the clash, with Alcaraz firing an ace for a 3-2 advantage.

Carlos Alcaraz, Wimbledon 2024© Francois Nel / Staff – Getty Images Sport

The Spaniard attacked on the return in the sixth game and landed a volley winner at the net for three break chances. World no. 3 seized the third after the rival’s wayward smash, securing a break and forging a 4-2 advantage. Carlos held at 15 in the seventh game, controlling the pace and moving closer to the opening set. However, he lost the ground in the following games, allowing Vukic to perform a comeback. The Aussie pulled the break back at love in game nine after a lucky net cord winner and closed the next one with a powerful forehand for 5-5 and more drama. Not stopping there, Vukic secured another break in the 11th game after Alcaraz’s double fault, rattling off four games and serving for the set at 6-5! Carlos made a fresh start and generated two break points in the 12th game with a volley winner at the net. The Spaniard seized the first, extending the battle and gathering a boost ahead of the tie break.

Carlos Alcaraz, Wimbledon 2024© Francois Nel / Staff – Getty Images Sport

Carlos Alcaraz is safely through into the third round at Wimbledon.

Alcaraz painted three consecutive forehand winners for a 5-1 lead before Vukic reduced the deficit to 5-4. Carlos notched another forehand winner in the tenth point for two set points and converted the second with a service winner, wrapping up the opener after 52 minutes. The Spaniard barely lost a point behind the initial shot in the second set, mounting the pressure on the other side. World no. 3 earned three break points in the third game and forced the rival’s mistake at the net with brilliant court coverage, moving in front and starting his sprint toward the finish line. Alcaraz painted a forehand crosscourt winner in the fifth game, creating three break points and seizing the first with a forehand down the line return winner.

Carlos Alcaraz, Wimbledon 2024© Francois Nel / Staff – Getty Images Sport

Carlos landed an ace in the sixth game, rattling off 14 points and serving for the set two games later. The Spaniard cracked a backhand down the line winner, holding at love for the third straight time and building a massive advantage after an hour and 20 minutes. Nothing changed in the third set, with Carlos sailing through his service games and pressuring Aleksandar. The Spaniard drew the Aussie’s mistake in the third game, earning a break and cementing it with a touchy volley winner at the net in the next one. Vukic suffered another break in the fifth game after a wayward backhand before holding at love two games later while serving to stay in the match. Carlos served for the win at 5-2 and cracked an ace, holding at love and sailing into the last 32.