Carlos Alcaraz, the World No. 2 and two-time defending Wimbledon champion, sparked concern during a high-profile practice session with Novak Djokovic on Centre Court on June 26, 2025, when he required brief medical treatment for a minor cut on his left hand, causing a pause in the session, per *Express.co.uk*. The 45-minute practice set, a rematch of their 2023 and 2024 Wimbledon finals, ended at 5-5 with no service breaks, showcasing their competitive spirit in front of a select group of staff and journalists, per *The Mirror US*. Alcaraz, who chose Djokovic as his partner for the first Centre Court session as defending champion, appeared in good physical shape otherwise, with the cut deemed unlikely to impact his Wimbledon campaign, starting June 30, per *Express.co.uk*.
In the session, Alcaraz and Djokovic exchanged playful banter, with Djokovic joking that Alcaraz “disrespected” him by winning the last two Wimbledon finals, per *Express.co.uk*. Alcaraz responded lightheartedly, resharing Wimbledon’s Instagram story with three red heart emojis, calling it a “privilege” to practice with the seven-time champion, per *Sportskeeda*. The session, held under a closed roof due to light rain, featured a standout one-handed backhand pass from Alcaraz, prompting a smiling apology for its “luck,” per *Express.co.uk*. Despite the minor injury, Alcaraz’s form remains strong after his 18-match winning streak, including titles at the French Open and Queen’s Club, per *BBC Sport*.
Alcaraz faces Fabio Fognini in the first round on Centre Court, a fan-favorite Italian potentially in his final Wimbledon, per *The Mirror US*. His draw includes possible second-round matches against Denis Shapovalov or a British player like Dan Evans, with Lorenzo Musetti or Jack Draper looming in later rounds, per *Sky Sports*. Fans on X, like @Anirudh1969, noted the hand issue but expressed confidence in Alcaraz’s readiness, while @TennisFanUK called the session “a final-worthy spectacle.” The minor setback is unlikely to derail Alcaraz’s bid for a third consecutive Wimbledon title.
