How Carlos Alcaraz fared in his practice set against Joao Fonseca as he steps up Wimbledon preparations

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Carlos Alcaraz continued his Wimbledon title defence preparations with a practice set against Joao Fonseca on Friday.

The Spaniard has been increasing his workload this week after hitting on Centre Court with Novak Djokovic earlier in the week.

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Alcaraz and Fonseca both stand to gain plenty from their matchup, though for different reasons.

At 22, Alcaraz rarely faces players younger than himself, especially ones with Fonseca’s blend of athleticism and power. For its part, Fonseca — just 18 years old — gains invaluable court time with a Grand Slam champion. And their practice set didn’t disappoint.

Carlos Alcaraz played Joao Fonseca in Wimbledon practice set

Their session finished 7-5 in favour of the Spaniard, giving Fonseca more encouragement about his level before the tournament than the other way around.

Fonseca certainly has the potential to trouble the very best players, as the reported 7-5 scoreline in Alcaraz’s favour suggests.

It was a close affair and Fonseca’s rise has many believing he’s not far from becoming a regular presence in the later rounds of major tournaments.

Joao Fonseca preparing for his first-ever Wimbledon

Fonseca’s rise over the past year has been meteoric. Just last year, he exited in the first round of qualifying, and now he’s preparing for his main-draw debut at the All England Club.

His reward for breaking through is a challenging first-round matchup against the in-form Jacob Fearnley, a match that’s already generating buzz as one of the best opening clashes of the tournament.

Fonseca’s forehand is talked about as one of the most ferocious on tour, and grass could exaggerate its power even more. But as with any young player, expectations need to be managed.

Fonseca’s Brazilian fanbase will be fully behind him, eager for upsets and deep runs. If his performances at Roland Garros are any indication, he might just deliver — especially if that forehand starts firing early.