Alcaraz takes over Wimbledon: he wins over the public and blows up the charisma meter.

Carlos Alcaraz captivates, engages, and entertains. His lively tennis is the most eagerly awaited on the planet. Clearly, his game is what has led him to forge a legendary career in just a few seasons. However, there's something else, a secret tool that, specifically at Wimbledon , gives him an extra competitive edge on an always tricky surface: charisma.

It's the smile, the friendly gesture, or the finger that goes to his right ear when he scores a score worthy of watching on repeat. It's each of those details, and at the same time, a mixture of all of them. He demonstrated this this Friday against Struff, in a survival match that was settled by a couple of details.

And the clenched fist toward his box never fails. It's a constant, and a look of approval from Ferrero is enough as a response. But the truth is, Carlos doesn't abuse the crowd's support; he simply waits for the key moment to conduct an orchestra of thousands with the baton, ready to cheer him on at any request.

That's how it was against Struff. He wasn't comfortable, that was a palpable reality for every soul present on Center Court at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, but the cry for help didn't come ; the Murcian simply endured in silence.

He unleashed the storm at the right moment, when he wanted it. The score was 4-4, and the German giant was serving. He had to fight to get a break that would put the match in his hands. Things were looking bad: Struff had the advantage on serve, a hard-fought point, and... an inexplicable volley into the net from the German when he had everything to win the point. That's when the magic began .

Alcaraz saves another game point and quickly makes the break. Now, he looks at the crowd, demands energy, challenges them. The crowd, eager for this "permission," explodes.

After the move, this time without prompting, the crowd unleashed another ovation. Applause announced the final third, and Alcaraz delivered the clean blow. Five bounces and an ace, 15-0. Another five bounces and another ace, 30-0. The 40-0 score came with a forehand winner. The final score, a Struff net miss that made the crowd explode. The final score. Relief for Carlos.

After the heart-rending shout of celebration comes the on-court interview. "I don't know how he missed that volley. I can't believe I'm here talking to you after finishing the set 6-4," he says, sending the entire crowd into fits of laughter. "I really don't know how he missed it," he repeats before closing the question, without mocking his opponent, with his usual nobility, drawing another burst of laughter from the Centre Court, as effortlessly as he always does.

Then comes the soft question, one about his last round of golf with Andy Murray. "You're asking me that question because he asked you to, right? I know what this is about," he says playfully. "We played and he beat me, but then we played again and I won. We're tied, we have to play again ," he concludes, to further test the charisma meter.

The next match will be against Andrey Rublev, the reigning champion's first major opponent. It remains to be seen whether Alcaraz will be swayed by his opponent's name and go into destructive mode , because while he struggled against Fognini and Struff—thanks to Tarvet's tricks—Sinner and Djokovic cruised through their previous matches with minimal difficulty, or whether charisma will once again be the secret weapon that will help him reach the quarterfinals.