Alcaraz-Holger Rune, the duel of twenty-year-olds at Wimbledon

They were born six days apart and only five places separate them in the rankings. They met eight years ago, and their careers were directed towards the first place in the world rankings. one, Danish Holger’s rune, He already achieved this in the juniors, after the victory Roland Garros in that category. Other, Carlos Alcaraz, He achieved it in the ATP ranking and is the current reference for the Dane who played Davis Cup At the age of 14, he beat almost all the best players in the world and the 1000 Masters (Paris Bercy 2022), defeating Djokovic in the end. Tomorrow’s quarter-final match (16:30, approximate time, Movistar+)it is possible that this is the beginning of the rivalry between two great competitors of opposing styles, which will continue in the coming years, and in which the current number one in the world has the advantage so far.

Both tennis players had parallel trajectories in their stages as children and juniors, even playing doubles together at the prestigious Les Petit As under 14 tournament. Both are ambitious and competitive and have been dreaming of big wins ever since.

Perfect moment

In the top 10 in the ranking

They reached the top at a time when an important change is taking place in men’s tennis. With Federer retired, Rafa Nadal on the mend and Murray weakened, only Djokovic, at 36, is in a position to continue to show the level of the fantastic generation that has virtually won major tournaments for the past two decades.

Now there are many who think that, considering the chances of Sinner, Tsitsipas, Medvedev, Ruud, Musetti and Rublev, the twenty-something Alcaraz and Rune are the main candidates to lead tennis in the next decade.

With a spectacular career in the last two years, the Spaniard has already managed to climb to the top of the world rankings and has in his file Grand Slam and four Masters 1,000. The Dane, who follows Carlos, achieved results that lifted him to sixth place in the ATP rankings.

At the professional level, both have met twice with each winning. But those matches do not serve as a reference, because the first that Carlos won at the NextGen ATP Finals 2021 was played in a short-set format, and in the second, at Paris Bercy 2022, the Spaniard had to leave due to abdominal tears.

His way in the tournament

They solved difficult matches

The two of them arrive at tomorrow’s match in good physical condition and with the morale of solving difficult matches. Rune had to save three match ball in the fifth set against Davidovich in the third round, and playing his best tennis against Dimitrov in the fourth; while Alcaraz, who did not play well against Jarry, along with a rival like Berrettini, who was on the attack, showed that he can also develop tennis on grass, which, along with Djokovic, makes him two of the most formidable players in this round.

Danish

His weak point: poor character on the track

Lars Christensen is Rune’s technician, who is always accompanied by his mother. This is the main training ground in Patrick Mouratoglou’s academy. Endowed with excellent conditions, both physical and technical, with a good serve and excellent backhand, his most sensitive aspect so far has been his poor character on the court.

He has had incidents with Wawrinka and Ruud in the past, and at Roland Garros he even kicked his mother out of the stands. But in this edition of Wimbledon, he gives a better picture of behavior and self-control. Against Davidovich, he showed extraordinary calmness and self-confidence. They allowed him to return from a game where he always had a chance.

Spanish

Complete player and capable of multiple variations

Against Carlos Rune, he knows he has little to lose – he’s practically out of the tournament already – and a lot to gain – the reward of beating the former, leading his duels with the Spaniard and maintaining his pursuit of Wimbledon.

It will be a tough game where if Alcaraz plays at the level he showed against Berrettini, he must win. The Spaniard is one step ahead of his childhood rival, and the duel against the Italian gives him the confidence that he can continue to be a complete player on grass, capable of multiple variants and that, moreover, he already has extensive experience in major events and on the most important stages. Alcaraz usually plays cheerfully, enjoying himself. Runes, on the other hand, are usually controversial and emphasize sides with discordant views.