Carlos Alcaraz, aged 22, has already won five Grand Slam titles and is vying to become the greatest male tennis player of his generation. But he’s never faced an opponent like this before. The unfancied challenger on the other side of the net has an unorthodox technique and a less than athletic silhouette. Nevertheless, the underdog senses that this is his moment, moves swiftly (by his standards) to the net and cuts off the Spaniard’s shot with an angled backhand volley. Alcaraz stands rooted to the spot. This year’s French Open champion and Wimbledon finalist can only look on as the ball bounces twice – a clean winner.

If you are expecting this dream sequence to come to an end, you are not alone – but this unlikely scene really occurred in the leafy surrounds of an English garden just south of London on the eve of Wimbledon. OK, the court may not have been in tip-top condition, the tennis pro unwilling to risk injury by moving to the ball as a result, but a winner’s a winner – and I’m taking it. Let’s ignore the numerous preceding few balls that I either sent soaring into the heavens or slumping meekly into the bottom of the net.

This is what happens when Alcaraz is around. Fun takes over. In contrast to the ascetic self-discipline of Novak Djokovic or the laser-like focus of Rafael Nadal, there is a puppyish playfulness about the Murcia native. The big grin he frequently flashes when at leisure can be seen on court too if a particular point pleases him – even in tight matches or when he is losing. This, and his spectacular arsenal of shots, have made him a crowd favourite everywhere. Tipped for greatness from childhood, he enjoyed a breakout season in 2022, winning the US Open and becoming world number one aged just 19. He has since won four more Grand Slam titles: two French Opens and two Wimbledons, and is currently world number two behind his friend and rival, the Italian Jannik Sinner. Currently he and Sinner are trading major titles – Alcaraz won this year’s French Open, Sinner took Wimbledon – but the plan is, according to his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, to make him “the greatest player in history”. He has made $47.4mn in prize money, and at least the same amount again in off-court earnings.