Toni Nadal thinks Carlos Alcaraz is basically unstoppable at this year’s Wimbledon. Rafael Nadal’s uncle and former coach doesn’t see anyone beating the Spanish star before he reaches the final.
That’s pretty confident talk, but it makes sense when you look at Alcaraz’s recent record.
The 21-year-old has won Wimbledon twice in a row. He beat Novak Djokovic in both the 2023 and 2024 finals, stopping the Serbian legend from tying Roger Federer’s incredible eight Wimbledon titles.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlos Alcaraz | 22 | 68,791 | 25 - 5 |
A Lucky Draw?
Most people think Alcaraz got a great draw this year too.
Djokovic and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner ended up in the other half. That means they could face each other in the semifinals instead of bothering Alcaraz earlier in the tournament.
Writing for El Pais, Toni Nadal was pretty blunt about Alcaraz’s chances. He thinks only two players can really worry the defending champion.
"I sincerely believe that, under normal conditions, very few opponents have the ability to worry Carlos. Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner are the only players who could possibly worry him – in that order."
Why Grass Helps Alcaraz
Toni knows that grass courts can be tricky. Upsets happen more often on grass than other surfaces.
But he thinks the way grass plays early in the tournament actually helps Alcaraz. The courts are faster and in better condition, which plays right into his strengths.
"It’s true that – on the grass – the surprise element comes into play more, but considering the draw that he is facing and the fact that the surface is less ruined in the early days and the rallies are very fast, I don’t see anyone who can seriously challenge him."
It’s hard to argue with that logic. Alcaraz’s peak level is just really, really high.
But Wait – There Have Been Scares
Still, Alcaraz’s first round should serve as a wake-up call.
Fabio Fognini pushed him to five sets in the opening round. That wasn’t supposed to happen against a veteran who’s well past his prime.
And let’s not forget what happened at the 2024 US Open. Alcaraz lost in the second round to Botic van de Zandschulp in a result that shocked everyone. Nobody saw that coming.
Those kinds of upsets prove that even the best players can’t sleepwalk through matches.
The Real Threats
Meanwhile, Djokovic and Sinner have been looking pretty scary in their early rounds.
After losing to Djokovic in the third round, Miomir Kecmanovic said something telling. He felt like he was playing the 2011 or 2015 version of his countryman – basically prime Djokovic.
Sinner’s been even more dominant. He broke Federer’s record for fewest games dropped in the first three rounds. The Italian said he didn’t care about the record, which is probably the right attitude.
We know Sinner can trouble Alcaraz on any surface now.
Their Roland Garros final earlier this year proved that. Sinner actually held three championship points in the fourth set before Alcaraz somehow pulled off one of the most amazing comebacks in recent memory.
Djokovic Still Gets the Edge
Even after that incredible French Open final, Toni still ranks Djokovic ahead of Sinner as the bigger threat to Alcaraz.
That makes sense when you consider what Djokovic has done at Wimbledon over the years. Seven titles speaks for itself.
The question is whether either of them will get the chance to test themselves against Alcaraz. They’re on a collision course for a semifinal that could be absolutely epic.
For now though, Toni’s confidence in his nephew’s rival seems pretty well-placed. Alcaraz looks like he’s playing a different sport than most of his potential opponents.
