Carlos Alcaraz continues to dominate men’s tennis, currently riding an 18-match winning streak dating back to the start of the Italian Open in May. His impressive form carried him to a second Queen’s Club title, defeating Jiri Lehecka in the final at the Andy Murray Arena, marking his 12th straight grass-court victory.
Alcaraz’s last loss on the ATP Tour was in April, when he was defeated by Holger Rune in the Barcelona Open final while coping with an abductor injury. Now, as he prepares to defend his Wimbledon crown and attempt a rare three-peat, the young Spaniard is considered the favorite, with former US Open champion Andy Roddick highlighting key improvements in his serve that have made him almost unbeatable.
Insights from Andy Roddick on Alcaraz’s Evolving Serve
On the Tennis Channel Live Podcast with former WTA player Coco Vandeweghe, Andy Roddick discussed how Carlos Alcaraz’s serve has transformed recently, particularly on grass courts. Roddick pointed out that while Alcaraz served well in last year’s Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic, he has refined his technique even further during the off-season.
Roddick described how Alcaraz’s serve swing was adjusted from an up-and-down jackknife motion, which previously limited the effectiveness of his wide serves on the deuce side. Now, he can accurately target all four corners of the service box with greater precision and spin.
This tactical improvement makes returning his serve extremely difficult. Roddick noted,
“Now he can spot serve all four corners, which is just brutal if you’re trying to return, because you know if you leave anything hanging at all in the middle of a court, it’s curtains.”
Additionally, Alcaraz has added power to his second serve, sometimes hitting it at speeds up to 117 miles per hour directly into the opponent’s body, forcing awkward “T Rex” style returns.
“He’s choosing his spots and pitching a better ball game than he was even a year and a half or two years ago.”
—Andy Roddick, Former US Open Champion
Vandeweghe agreed and added that his confidence has soared recently, even beyond last year’s levels. She observed that Alcaraz not only serves well but also excels at returning his opponents’ serves, putting immense pressure on every point.
“And then on top of that, he makes so many returns back into play. He can put these guys in so much trouble on their first, on their second. There’s no breathing room when you play Carlos Alcaraz.”
—Coco Vandeweghe, Former WTA Player
Alcaraz Joins Elite Company by Winning Roland Garros and Queen’s in Same Year
With his recent Queen’s Club triumph, Carlos Alcaraz became only the third man in the Open Era to win both Roland Garros and Queen’s Club titles in the same season. This rare double was previously accomplished by Ilie Nastase in 1973 and Rafael Nadal in 2008.
At just 22 years old, Alcaraz has already matched Nadal’s record of four grass-court tournament victories, including two titles at Queen’s Club and two at Wimbledon. As Wimbledon approaches in July, Alcaraz is poised to add a third Wimbledon crown to his growing list of achievements, further cementing his status among the game’s elite.
His continued dominance, highlighted by improvements such as his devastating serve, signals a shifting power dynamic on the ATP Tour. If he maintains this level, Alcaraz could reshape men’s tennis for years to come, just as Roddick and Nadal once did during their peaks.