British amateur Oliver Tarvet produced the performance of his life on 2 July, pushing world number two Carlos Alcaraz in a spirited second-round clash at Wimbledon.
But despite earning praise from the Spanish superstar and a standing ovation from Centre Court, the 21-year-old says he has no plans to turn professional just yet.
Ranked 733 in the world, Tarvet defied expectations by going toe-to-toe with the defending champion before falling 6-1, 6-4, 6-4. It was only his second Grand Slam main draw appearance, yet he gave Alcaraz plenty to think about in a match filled with heart, energy and bold shot-making.
“It’s not every day that you get to play against maybe the best player in the world,” Tarvet said afterwards. “Even though it was not the result I wanted, it was definitely the most special day of my life.”
Tarvet, who came through three rounds of qualifying, missed eight break-point opportunities in the opening set but kept battling. He broke Alcaraz early in the second set—celebrating by wagging his finger to the delighted crowd—only to be immediately broken back.
“Credit to him, he plays the big points just incredibly well. That’s the difference,” Tarvet reflected. “You kind of feel like you’re in the set, but you lose it 6-1—it’s tough.”
Despite pocketing £99,000 for his run to the second round, Tarvet, who plays college tennis at the University of San Diego, remains bound by amateur status under US collegiate rules. He confirmed he will return to California to complete his studies rather than join the ATP Tour.
“Nothing has changed based on the last 10 days,” he said. “I still want to go back to the University of San Diego. There are personal and team goals I haven’t achieved yet. College has been such a big part of my life.”
Reflecting on his Wimbledon journey, Tarvet added: “I’ve realised how powerful the mind is. On paper I wasn’t supposed to win some of the matches I won, but I believed in myself. There’s a lot of power in having that confidence.”
Alcaraz, who is now on a 20-match winning streak after recent triumphs in Rome, Paris and Queen’s, was full of admiration for his opponent.
“I told him, ‘Congratulations on the run. Keep it going, keep working hard,’” said the Spaniard. “He seems like a really nice guy and a hard worker. He played with such good passion out there. If he keeps training and playing at this level, he can go far.”