By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday July 7, 2024
There have been eight men in the Open Era to win the title at Queen’s and Wimbledon in the same year – after John McEnroe (1981, 1984), Jimmy Connors (1982), Boris Becker (1985), Pete Sampras (1995, 1999), Lleyton Hewitt (2002), Rafael Nadal (2008), Andy Murray (2013, 2016) and Carlos Alcaraz (2023).
Could Tommy Paul become the ninth?
The 27-year-old American, who defeated Lorenzo Musetti for the Queen’s Club title two weeks ago in London, is into the quarterfinals at Wimbledon for the first time after easing past former semifinalist Roberto Bautista Agut on Sunday, 6-2 7-6(3) 6-2.
Paul’s job gets tougher from here, as he’s slated to face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals. Paul and Alcaraz have split four previous encounters, but this will be the pair’s first Grand Slam meeting.
Tommy Paul was feeling it today 🔥#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/aK8KKyvixt
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 7, 2024
“It’s definitely going to be a tough match,” Paul said. “He’s defending champ and he plays amazing tennis on grass, but I feel like I’m playing pretty good right now, too.”
Paul ended Alcaraz’s 14-match winning streak last year at Toronto when he defeated the Spaniard to reach his maiden Masters 1000 semifinal. He also defeated Alcaraz in three sets in Montreal in the previous year (2022), saving a match point in the pair’s first meeting. Alcaraz has defeated Paul at Miami in 2023 (6-4, 6-4) and last year at Cincinnati, 7-6(6), 6-7(0), 6-3, which is their most recent meeting.
The Spaniard owns a 15-2 lifetime record at Wimbledon, having won his last 11 matches dating back to the start of his title run last year.
