Carlos Alcaraz is aiming to secure his third consecutive Wimbledon title, but to do so, he's focusing on perfecting his serve. The world No. 2 has acknowledged that his serve needs improvement, particularly when comparing his performance at Queen's Club to his current Wimbledon form. Alcaraz has noticed a difference in the balls and speed between the two tournaments, leading to some difficulties. Despite these challenges, he is gaining confidence each day and felt his serve was better in the second round.

In his second-round match against British qualifier Oliver Tarvet, Alcaraz achieved a straight-sets victory. Alcaraz landed 65% of his first serves, an improvement from 58% in the first round. However, his second serve remained vulnerable, with a 53% win rate on those points, only slightly better than the 52% in the previous round. Alcaraz recognizes that while these numbers might suffice against lower-ranked players, they could be problematic against top-tier opponents.

Alcaraz's serve has been a key area of focus, with coach Samuel Lopez assisting him. He has been working on the biomechanics of his serve, transitioning from two pauses to one during his racket pullback to improve rhythm. This adjustment aims to make his serve a more potent weapon, especially on grass. Alcaraz understands the importance of a strong serve on grass, where it can dictate the flow of the match.

Meanwhile, Emma Raducanu is preparing for a high-stakes third-round match against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. This is one of the most anticipated matches of the round. Raducanu, currently ranked No. 40, is considered the underdog against the three-time Grand Slam champion.

Raducanu secured her spot in the third round after a victory over 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova. Raducanu's return game has been a standout feature of her performance at Wimbledon. She has won 50% of her return games, significantly above the tournament average of 34%. Raducanu has also demonstrated aggressive tennis, preventing her opponents from establishing a rhythm. 18% of her shots have been winners.

Sabalenka, on the other hand, has been dominant in women's tennis, reaching the finals of the last three major tournaments. Sabalenka's serve is a significant weapon, winning 83% of points on her first serve, which is 18% higher than the tournament average. She delivers her serve with considerable pace, causing difficulties for her opponents.

Raducanu and Sabalenka have only played once before, at the Indian Wells Open last year, where Sabalenka won in straight sets. Sabalenka has acknowledged Raducanu's improvement since their last encounter. The partisan crowd could be a significant factor for Raducanu, potentially putting pressure on Sabalenka. Sabalenka has shown vulnerability to crowd influence in the past. Raducanu will need to vary her play and avoid engaging in a power game with Sabalenka. Sabalenka has been winning three-quarters of her service games this year, a higher percentage than Raducanu.