Carlos Alcaraz gets a pizza the action as defending Wimbledon champion dines with fans before final
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz loaded up on carbs the healthy way as he dined out with his team ahead of today's men's final at SW19.
The 22-year-old Spanish star tucked into a hefty gluten-free, cheese-topped pizza in an Italian restaurant in south-west London on Friday night.
Back-to-back Wimbledon winner Alcaraz's gluten-free diet is following in the footsteps of veteran Novak Djokovic, with the 24-time Grand Slam winner crediting it with transforming his performance.
The diet is believed to reduce inflammation and boost energy levels.
Despite his fame, Alcaraz is known for frequenting local neighbourhood restaurants – such as the Olive Garden in Southfields just down the road from the All England Club – wherever he plays.
Dressed casually in grey Nike shorts and a white T-shirt, he swapped his trainers for trendy white Crocs emblazoned with charms spelling his nickname 'Carlitos' across both shoes.
Arriving with an entourage of nine, Alcaraz was 20 minutes late for his table. Staff pulled down blinds near his corner table to give the star privacy.
But he was happy to pose for pictures with fans, right, who wished him good luck for today's match as he left the restaurant at 11pm.
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz loaded up on carbs the healthy way as he dined out with his team ahead of today's men's final at SW1. Pictured: Alcaraz stops for a selfie with a fan
The Spanish tennis star was happy to pose for pictures with fans who wished him good luck for Monday's men's final
Arriving with an entourage of nine, Alcaraz was 20 minutes late for his table. Staff pulled down blinds near his corner table to give the star privacy
Alcaraz faces world No 1 Jannik Sinner, who is looking to avenge his French Open defeat.
Italian Sinner escaped a lengthy drugs ban last year after twice testing positive for steroids.
Alcaraz is battling to join an elite club of men who have won the title three years in succesion, which at present includes only Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Even Alcaraz's hero Nadal's only won two Wimbledon crowns.
Between 2003 to 2023, Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic accumulated 66 Grand Slam titles between them.
However, Djokovic's semi-final defeat is just the latest evidence that a changing of the guard has taken place, with Sinner and Alcaraz perhaps the next big rivalry to dominate the sport.
Between them, Alcaraz and Sinner have shared the last six Grand Slam titles and their mesmeric clash last month in the longest-ever French Open final is being touted as one of the greatest of all time.
The Spaniard came back from two sets down and saved three match points on his way to a fifth Grand Slam title, in the process taking his head-to-head record over Sinner to 8-4, including winning all of the last four.
It was a painful defeat for world number one Sinner but he has not had to wait long to try to set the record straight.
Dressed casually in grey Nike shorts and a white T-shirt, he swapped his trainers for trendy white Crocs
Alcaraz's crocs emblazoned with charms spelling his nickname 'Carlitos' across both shoes
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are the second duo in the Open Era to contest the French Open and Wimbledon finals in the same year
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer did the same feat on three occasions from 2006 to 2008
'He is the favourite. He won here two times in a row. He's again in the final. It's very tough to beat him on grass but I like these challenges,' the 23-year-old Sinner said of Alcaraz after beating Djokovic to reach his first Wimbledon final.
'This is the second consecutive Grand Slam that we are in the final and playing each other, which is great from my side. I believe it's good for the sport.'
Sinner's three Grand Slam titles have all come on hard courts, two in Melbourne and one in New York.
The only other time they have met on grass was at Wimbledon in 2022 when Sinner won their last-16 clash in four sets.
'I expect that on Sunday, just to be on the limit, to be on the line,' the 22-year-old Alcaraz, who is on a 24-match winning streak, said. 'I just hope not to be five hours and a half on court again. But if have to, I will.'
