Carlos Alcaraz sends message to Frances Tiafoe before Wimbledon match

Carlos Alcaraz has opened up about his friendship with Frances Tiafoe as he looks forward to a third-round meeting with the American at Wimbledon.

Alcaraz’s Wimbledon title defence continued after he was broken twice by world number 69 Aleksandar Vukic of Australia after serving for the first set.

Vukic, 28, was in fine form to upset the Spaniard, having beaten the 17-year-old in Roland Garros qualifying four years ago.

But it was not to be repeated, as Alcaraz managed to come back to force a tie-break, which he dominated and never looked back.

The 21-year-old then recorded a 7-6(5) 6-2 6-2 victory, spending just one hour and 48 minutes on No.1 Court.

Tiafoe now awaits Alcaraz, with the confident Spaniard telling reporters the bond he has with his next opponent will affect his concentration.

“I have a very good relationship with a lot of players behind the scenes, but once you step on the pitch, they are no longer friends,” Alcaraz said.

“You have to be alone, focus on yourself and try to beat him. That’s how tennis works. That’s all.”

“Frances, a great player, a great person too. He’s always smiling. He always seems to enjoy his time on the pitch, but also off it. It’s quite impressive.

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“He tries to put on a show every time he steps on the field. It’s going to be a really fun game to play and watch. I’m going to try to put my best weapons into this game and try to beat him.”

The match will be a rematch of Alcaraz’s semi-final against Tiafoe at the 2022 US Open, but the Spaniard suggested that match would have little significance now.

“It was a totally different situation,” he continued. “We were playing in the United States, in the semi-finals of the US Open, against an American.

“Frances, I would say that everyone loves him in the United States. It’s a different feeling. It was a great game. I think we played some really good points. I think the crowd enjoyed that game.

“I’m sure people will enjoy this match too. We’ll see.”

“I remember playing really good tennis. I had a match point in the fourth set. We played five sets in the end. It was a very close match, and I hope it won’t be the same this year.”

Alcaaz’s arm injury which affected his clay court season no longer appears to be a problem and with his body now giving him a chance to perform, he suggested that the mental side of the game is crucial to succeeding at the highest level.

“For me, that’s it. If you can stay positive, if you can stay calm in the most difficult situations that the game can throw at you, you’re going to win. That’s it,” he added.

“It’s a battle against the opponent. If you can stay calmer than the other, than the opponent, you will be better.

“So in those situations I try to be positive, to be calm, to think that I can keep my best shots at that moment.

“Obviously, it helps a lot when you feel good off the pitch. For me, when I feel good, when I feel calm off the pitch in the days or hours before the match, I’m going to perform better, I’m going to feel better on the pitch.”