Gary Rose
BBC Sport at Wimbledon

The dream start for Carlos Alcaraz. The serve is Taylor Fritz's big weapon but it is broken immediately. Alcaraz has been a bit of a slow starter in matches at this year's Wimbledon but not today.

It is very, very hot here and the fans are being wafted by spectators extra fast.

Image source, Getty Images

Carlos Alcaraz is good enough that he doesn't need luck, but he gets some.

A backhand smacks the top of the net and bobbles over to secure the break.

A hand raised in apology by the Spaniard.

Carlos Alcaraz out of the blocks quickly.

Two break points in the opening game, although the first is saved by Taylor Fritz with an ace.

Tim Henman
Former British number one on BBC Two

One of Taylor Fritz's greatest attributes is that he is a tremendous competitor.

He has to be absolutely ready today. If Alcaraz plays at his absolute best level - he wins.

But, if Alcaraz's level drops and he hits some loose shots, then Fritz has to be ready to take his chance.

Taylor Fritz to serve first.

Tim Henman
Former British number one on BBC Two

Alcaraz hasn't played his best. He looked vulnerable against Fognini, looked a bit flat and like he didn't have the energy.

We say you can't win the tournament in the first week, but you can lose it.

You feel his intensity and concentration improves the greater the challenge.

He has improved in this second week of the Grand Slam.

Gary Rose
BBC Sport at Wimbledon

A real buzz on Centre Court as the players emerge.

Carlos Alcaraz is of course going for a third successive Wimbledon title but this will be a tough test for him today.

Taylor Fritz has hit the second-most aces at Wimbledon this year with 95 and half of his titles have come on the grass, including two in the run-up to the Championships.

Taylor Fritz has spent exactly 13 hours on court during this Wimbledon, 42 minutes less than today's opponent Carlos Alcaraz.

Much of Fritz's efforts came in the first week, when he was taken to five sets in his first two matches.

The TV cameras follow our first two semi-finalists as they make the long walk from the locker rooms to the entrance to Centre Court.

Nods of acknowledgement to all those offering support along the way.

Taylor Fritz and Carlos Alcaraz step out onto the grass - it's almost time.

BBC Two

Watch the first men's semi-final between Taylor Fritz and Carlos Alcaraz live on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and via the stream at the top of this page.

You can also listen on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds.

John Lloyd
Former GB Davis Cup captain on BBC Two

Alcaraz has the gift that he can do all the things he wants [outside the sport] and still play great tennis.

He's not so rigid that he feels he's got to train a certain way and can't go out. He knows how much he can get away with, he goes on holidays, plays golf between days of matches at Grand Slams - who does that?!

When he's on the court and hits a winner, sometimes he smiles at the crowd. It's not arrogant, it's just him saying 'I liked that as much as you did'.

Tracy Austin
Two-time Grand Slam champion on BBC Two

Carlos just seems to be so happy with his life. He said he enjoys playing great tennis and playing the quarter-final at Wimbledon was a gift.

For someone of 22 years old, under a microscope his entire life, to have that positive perspective is absolutely foundational and I think it comes from his family. He still lives at home with his family in his same bedroom.

It seems like he's living the dream job. So often players at the top of the game, you feel like they are so anxious all the time.

Carlos Alcaraz produced his best performance of the tournament so far to defeat Great Britain's Cameron Norrie on Wednesday.

Former British number one Tim Henman takes a look at what made his display so good.

Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz have only met twice before at Tour level, both on hard courts, and Alcaraz has won both of them in straight sets.

This is the first time they've played each other at a Grand Slam.

Fritz has spent exactly 13 hours on court during this Wimbledon, 42 minutes less than Alcaraz.

The majority of Fritz's effort came during the first week, when he was taken to five sets in his first two matches.

Taylor Fritz is the only one of this year's four semi-finalists who is yet to win a Grand Slam title, although he did reach last year's US Open final, which he lost to Jannik Sinner.

The American has never played in a Wimbledon semi-final before. He is guaranteed to be up to fourth in the world rankings, above Great Britain's Jack Draper, when the list is next updated.

Second seed Carlos Alcaraz, meanwhile, is chasing a third successive men's singles title at Wimbledon and is aiming to reach a sixth Grand Slam final.

The 22-year-old Spaniard has won every Grand Slam final in which he has appeared.

Gary Rose
BBC Sport at Wimbledon

People have been sunning themselves on the Hill for a couple of hours now, ensuring they've got the best spot on the grass to watch today's action.

Umbrellas, suncream and hats are an absolute must today. Scorching.

We'll have plenty of build-up to the second semi-final between Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic later, but let's concentrate on our opener.

Taylor Fritz and Carlos Alcaraz will be walking onto Centre Court at about 13:30 BST.

In a word - hot.

It could get up as high as 32C in south-west London today, according to BBC weather presenter Carol Kirkwood at Wimbledon.

Get those ice towels in the freezer, lads.

Amanda Anisimova and Iga Swiatek won their respective semi-finals to secure their spots in Saturday's women's singles final.

Anisimova, seeded 13th, defeated world number one Aryna Sabalenka in three close sets to reach the final - a year after failing to make it through qualifying at SW19.

The second semi was a much more one-sided affair, with five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek losing only two games in a comfortable victory over former Olympic gold medallist Belinda Bencic.

BBC iPlayer

You can watch every single ball that's struck at Wimbledon today on BBC iPlayer.

Alfie Hewett continues the defence of his men's wheelchair singles title when he plays in his semi-final on Court One later this afternoon.

Currently on court 12, Mimi Xu is in semi-final action in the girls' singles.