Defending Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz steps back onto Centre Court on Thursday as he continues his title defense against German qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff.
The 22-year-old Spaniard is in commanding form, having dismantled Estonian wildcard Oliver Tarvet in just over 90 minutes in the second round.
Alcaraz, already a five-time Grand Slam champion, is building toward another deep run at SW19. His serve, footwork, and varied shot selection look sharp — and he’s looking to dispatch a dangerous opponent who has tested him in the past.
Struff, 35, has found a late-career spark, having won three qualifying matches and backing that up with a gutsy four-set upset of Félix Auger-Aliassime. His powerful serve and aggressive net-rushing style are tailored for grass, and he’s no stranger to pushing elite players into uncomfortable territory.
Alcaraz vs. Struff Head to Head
This will be the fifth career meeting between the two. Alcaraz leads 3–1, but all their matches have been competitive. Most memorably, they played an epic first-rounder at Wimbledon in 2022 that went to five sets, with Alcaraz prevailing 6–4 in the fifth.
Struff’s lone win came on the clay of Roland Garros in 2021, where he stunned a teenage Alcaraz in straight sets. Since then, the Spaniard has won three straight —including last year’s Madrid final, where he outlasted Struff in three close sets.
While Alcaraz is now a clear title contender, Struff’s serve-and-volley game continues to pose problems for baseliners, especially on grass.
What to Watch
Serve pressure: Struff is averaging over 15 aces per match in this tournament and will try to control his service games with pace and angles. If Alcaraz can get returns in play early, the rallies tilt in his favor.
Alcaraz’s variety: The Spaniard mixes drop shots, lobs, and angled backhands better than almost anyone. His ability to disrupt Struff’s rhythm will be key.
Crowd dynamic: Centre Court tends to favor drama. If Struff pushes this into four sets, the momentum swings could get lively.
Prediction
Alcaraz in four sets. Struff’s game is built to challenge players like Alcaraz — big serve, net rushes, unpredictability — but the Spaniard’s defense, adaptability, and experience under pressure should ultimately shine through.
Expect at least one tiebreak, but Alcaraz’s all-court game gives him the edge.
How to Watch Alcaraz vs. Struff
The Carlos Alcaraz–Jan-Lennard Struff match is now scheduled to begin at 12:10 PM Eastern, after Taylor Fritz’s defeat of Alejandro Davidovich on Centre Court in four sets.
It will air live on ESPN as part of its whip-around Wimbledon coverage. A dedicated stream of the match is available to ESPN+ subscribers.
Carlos Alcaraz (2) vs. Jan-Lennard Struff (Q)
Time: Approx. 12:10 PM Eastern
Court: Centre Court
TV: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN app and website, ESPN+, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Sling TV, FuboTV
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