It’s quite a club of five. A legendary quintet that achieved the feat of winning Roland-Garros and then Wimbledon in the same year. Rod Laver opened the show in 1969. Björn Borg was the first to join him, and the only one to achieve this feat three years in a row (1978, 1979 and 1980). Unsurprisingly, to complete the list, there is Rafael Nadal (2008 and 2010), Roger Federer (2009) and Novak Djokovic, the most recent, in 2021. There may be a sixth member to join this prestigious list in 2024.
Carlos Alcaraz arrives at Wimbledon with a magnificent challenge to take on. He ticked a first box on June 9 by winning for the first time on the clay of Roland-Garros. His path to the title was strewn with pitfalls. It took him five sets to overcome the world No. 1, Jannik Sinner, in the semi-final (2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3). And the same thing to knock out Alexander Zverev in the final, when the German was leading two sets to one (6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2). But he achieved this dream, while giving himself the right to join this very exclusive club.
Djokovic will die with his madness
The Spaniard is well aware of the mountain he is about to climb.Winning a Grand Slam is difficulthe admitted on Saturday at a press conference. Obviously, like going from clay to grass, totally different surfaces, with a totally different game. Let’s just say I’ll try. It is obvious that I want to put my name on the short list of winners of Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year. I know it will be difficult. But I’m ready to do it.”
“I’m ready to start the tournament”
That’s all he proved last year. Alcaraz had already won his first Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2022. But his ability to lift the trophy on the grass at Wimbledon didn’t necessarily seem like a given. His victory at Queen’s two weeks earlier, his first on grass in his career, suggested that it was possible. His run to the final in London confirmed that impression. He still had to defeat Novak Djokovic, seven-time winner of the tournament and two-time defending champion, in the final. Which Alcaraz achieved, again in five sets (1-6, 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4).
“Sinner is so calm that he made up some ground on Alcaraz before Wimbledon”
This double is well within his capabilities. At 21, the Spaniard will certainly have other opportunities to achieve it in his career. But the first one is now and he has every interest in seizing it. Even if his grass season is far from having started like last season. At Queen’s, after a victory against the Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo for his first match after his victory at Roland-Garros (6-1, 7-5), he had suffered the law of the Briton Jake Draper in the 2nd round (7-6, 6-3). Enough to leave a shadow of doubt about his ability to retain his title at Wimbledon? Not necessarily.
Alcaraz will be fresh. And he hasn’t wasted any time since that defeat.”This failure showed me that it was difficult to adapt, to move well, to realize how to play, because anything can happen on grass.he explained. The day after my defeat at Queen’s, I started training on my movements, on my shots, in order to feel comfortable moving on grass. Now, after great sessions with great players, to gauge my level, I think I’m ready to start the tournament.“On Monday, the Estonian Mark Lajal, 262nd in the world, will be the first to stand on his way to this prestigious club.
