Alcaraz-Fritz: 7:30 p.m. today, 11/7, Hanoi time.

Returning is rarely listed among Alcaraz's top qualities. Usually, when discussing this skill, Novak Djokovic, with his deep returns, and Jannik Sinner, with his consistency, are mentioned first.

However, in 2024 alone, the Spaniard surpassed his direct rivals and other top 10 players in return points won. He led with a 41.6% return point win percentage, a 30.9% return game win percentage, and the lowest average aces conceded per match (5.1) throughout the season.

Carlos Alcaraz returns a serve during his victory against Cameron Norrie in the Wimbledon 2025 men's singles quarterfinals on 9/7. Photo: AFP

Carlos Alcaraz returns a serve during his victory against Cameron Norrie in the Wimbledon 2025 men's singles quarterfinals on 9/7. Photo: AFP

On grass, Alcaraz truly excels. Against opponents' first serves—the most decisive factor on this surface—his return point win percentage has reached 34.6% since 2023, far exceeding anyone among the top 300 players. This will be a crucial detail as Alcaraz faces Fritz's powerful and accurate serves in today's Wimbledon semifinal.

Relying on instinct and sharp ball-striking, Alcaraz is developing a style that is both traditional and modern, but above all, unclassifiable. At Roland Garros a few weeks ago, he varied his return position, sometimes standing close to the baseline, sometimes further back.

At Queen's and since the start of Wimbledon 2025, Alcaraz has continued to adjust. He stands about 1.5 meters from the baseline when returning first serves, even against big servers like Jiri Lehecka, Arthur Rinderknech, or Jan-Lennard Struff. Against second serves, he moves forward only a few centimeters.

Alcaraz's return position against Struff.

...and against Fognini. Screenshot

...and against Fognini. Screenshot

Compared to other surfaces, Alcaraz's returns on grass share some commonalities. He still performs his characteristic slight jump—a forward dip just a split second before the opponent hits the ball—combined with delicate short returns and the ability to stretch for outside serves.

However, some adjustments have appeared since mid-6/2025 when Alcaraz started playing on grass, evident in small but swift actions. While his body is flexible on clay or hard courts, on grass, his upper body seems more locked in. This is necessary to deal with tricky spin and slice serves, or unpredictable bounces—not uncommon on Wimbledon's grass courts.

Alcaraz also uses a few jump backhands, though this isn't his strength in rallies. Julien Varlet, a former French professional player and current commentator for Canal+ Afrique and RMC, explains, "On grass, the tennis is more defensive. You need to stay solid, lower your center of gravity, because the ball bounces lower. Compared to clay or hard courts, players rely more on the opponent's speed and power on grass."

Varlet adds, "Exceptional movement speed not only gives Alcaraz an advantage in endurance rallies or at the net, but especially on returns, which require the fastest possible reflexes."

Grass courts force players to shorten their preparation time for shots, and Alcaraz is no exception. With a hammer grip, he frequently blocks returns or chips (hitting a low, backspin shot) when returning. This shot resembles a soft slice, skimming the net and landing mid-court, putting the server in a difficult position: too close to stay back, but too far to approach the net.

Varlet emphasizes, "Because you can't stand too far back when returning, you have to shorten your swing. Otherwise, you'll open up angles or lose too much space to start the point."

Against Fabio Fognini in the first round of Wimbledon 2025, facing second serves at 159 km/h, Alcaraz could have chosen to hit down the line or cross-court. But he deliberately used a hammer grip, slicing the ball to land mid-court, forcing his opponent to move forward.

Always attacking when possible, preparing quickly when needed, and maintaining balance, the world number two is employing the most appropriate tactics based on his qualities when facing big servers on grass. But these adjustments, however small, would be ineffective without his superior physical conditioning.

Varlet concludes, recalling a detail about Alcaraz: "When discussing him, I prioritize his physicality. His movement speed helps him in rallies, volleys, and especially on returns. I've seen him practice returns with his eyes closed, only opening them at the last moment when the ball hits the racket, to train his reflexes and responsiveness."

Hoang Thong (adapted from L'Equipe)