Carlos Alcaraz’s major feat at Wimbledon 2023 ends Big Four’s staggering dominance at SW19

On Wednesday, Wimbledon announced the seedings for the 2023 edition of the grass court major and Carlos Alcaraz will be heading into the tournament as a top-seeded player. It has been a position he claimed by virtue of his triumphant run at The Queen’s last week which saw him topple Novak Djokovic to reclaim the No.1 spot in ATP rankings. And with the feat, he ended the long-standing and staggering dominance of the famed Big Four of ATP tennis at the SW19.

Alcaraz on Wednesday became the first player outside the Big Four – Andy Murray, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic – to become the top seed at the Wimbledon since Australia’s Leyton Heywitt in 2003. The Serb was seeded the top player the most number of times among the Big Four with a tally of eight years, followed by Federer (seven times). Nadal managed it twice while it happened only once for Murray, in 2017.

In fact, since Heywitt in 2002, no player outside of the Big Four have managed to win the title. Federer won it eight times, which included as stunning dominance of five straight years. He last lifted the trophy in 2017 with his tally of SW19 crowns still the best by a player in Open Era. Djokovic, who is gunning to level the Swiss maestro this year, has won the title seven times, which includes a streak of four consecutive years between 2018 and 2022. Nadal won it twice, in 2008 and 2010 and so did Murray, in 2013 and 2016.

Alcaraz, who is heading into the 2023 edition of Wimbledon on the back of his first ever grass court title at The Queen’s will be hoping to end Djokovic’s dominance at the All England Club, but will certainly be a herculean task. In his last two Wimbledon appearances, in 2021 and 2022, he hasn’t made it past the fourth round.

“Well, I am coming now (to play) Wimbledon with a lot of confidence, that’s obvious, but I saw a statistic that Novak has won more matches at Wimbledon than any top-20 player”, he said after his win at The Queen’s Club.

“What can I say about that? Novak is the main favourite to win Wimbledon, that’s obvious, but I will try to play at this level to have chances to beat him or make the final at Wimbledon,” he further added.