Alcaraz aims to avoid giant-killing after Wimbledon seeds tumble

LONDON: Carlos Alcaraz will aim to avoid one of Wimbledon’s greatest upsets against British amateur Oliver Tarvet on Wednesday after a record-breaking number of seeds crashed out at the All England Club.

Two days of searing temperatures in London were already forgotten as play on the outside courts was delayed by persistent drizzle.

But the rain will not hinder defending champion Alcaraz in his second-round match against Tarvet on the covered Center Court.

Their contest will follow the match between women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka and Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic.

Alcaraz’s meeting with the British qualifier is a classic David against Goliath encounter.

While the Spaniard, a five-time Grand Slam champion, is bidding for a third successive Wimbledon crown, world number 733 Tarvet is playing just his second main draw match at the All England Club.

The world number two has won his past 19 matches since losing to Holger Rune in the Barcelona final in April, a blistering streak that has brought him titles at the Rome Masters, the French Open and Queen’s Club.

The 22-year-old, who fought back from two sets down to beat Jannik Sinner on clay in an epic final at Roland Garros last month, is equally dynamic on grass, winning 30 of his 33 Tour-level matches on the surface.

His last defeat at Wimbledon came against Sinner in the fourth round in 2022.

In stark contrast to Alcaraz’s fame and fortune, the unheralded Tarvet is just starting his tennis career and cannot even collect all of his Wimbledon prize money.

As a student of the University of San Diego he has to maintain amateur status and will have to give up most of his earnings.

But he has joked that he will be creative with his expenses,