World number one Carlos Alcaraz ended Novak Djokovic’s long reign at the All England Club with a 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 victory in the final on Sunday. Won his first Wimbledon title.
The 36-year-old Serbian had been unbeaten on Wimbledon’s Center Court for a decade but finally found his match as he ran out of ideas to stop young Gun Alcaraz from heading for the title at the grasscourt major.
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates after winning his final match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia. , Photo Credit: Reuters
The 20-year-old raced to a 2-1 lead in the fifth set with a brilliant passing shot winner before Djokovic’s racquet was at full throttle and he smashed it into the wooden net post, damaging it. Went. Mess.
This earned the Serbian his second warning in the match, as well as Djokovic’s earlier warning for taking too long to start his serve.
The distraction failed to derail Alcaraz as he became the youngest man to win the Challenge Cup since 18-year-old Boris Becker in 1986 when Djokovic fired a forehand into the net to give the Spaniard the victory on his back. Had to celebrate.
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain reacts during his final match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia. , Photo Credit: Reuters
“It is like a dream come true for me. It’s great to win…making history in this beautiful tournament,’ said world number one Alcaraz as he hugged the trophy during the presentation ceremony.
Alcaraz paid tribute to his victim, who had won the last four Wimbledon men’s titles, to summarize what it means to play a role in what has been called the “clash of generations”.
“I have to congratulate Novak. It’s amazing to play against him. you inspire me. (When) I was born, you were winning tournaments.
fast start
Novak Djokovic of Serbia in action during his final match against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain. , Photo Credit: Reuters
Second seed Djokovic, who won his first ATP title when Alcaraz was three, looked well on his way to winning a men’s record-equalling eighth Wimbledon title when he stunned his opponent in the opening set.
Playing against James Bond actor Daniel Craig, Djokovic must have thought he had rattled his 20-year-old rival and raced to a 5-0 lead in the blink of an eye.
But once Alcaraz loosened his limbs and got his name on the scoreboard after 32 minutes, the contest the world had been waiting to see finally came to life.
showing that he was ready and waiting to subdue the man whom he described as “a brute physically”; Mentally a beast” before the final, the Spaniard first took a 2-0 lead in the second.
But Djokovic is not known for being such a human backboard and, having relied so much on this result – the Serbian was also looking to equal Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 majors – she let out a mighty roar that shook placed center court when he returned in the next game.
This fueled the spirits of both players as they were soon caught exchanging ferocious strokes in a breathtaking 29-shot rally that ended with Alcaraz firing backhand long.
A defiant Djokovic held his ear and urged the crowd to show him some respect, as fans chanted every winner at Alcaraz and the Serbian’s mistakes.
Drama
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in action during his final match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia. , Photo Credit: Reuters
The second set was full of drama as Djokovic was slipping and sliding again and again as he tried to deal with the feast of Alcaraz dropshots that were coming his way.
At 3-3, Djokovic stumbled and rolled to the ground while chasing one such attempt.
Novak Djokovic of Serbia in action during his final match against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain. , Photo Credit: Reuters
Although he managed to get the ball across the net, he was lying on his back and could only watch in amazement as the ball returned to his half of the court when Alcaraz hit the net almost with his back. with a winning volley.
The excited crowd rose to their feet to salute the young contender, who was starting to feel more and more at home on the smooth surface as he looked to match Djokovic’s incredible 34-match winning streak on tennis’s most famous stage. wanted to end.
With neither player daring to blink, the set went into a tiebreak, where Djokovic quietly fumed at the baseline at 4–5 down after receiving a time violation warning from umpire Fergus Murphy for taking more than 25 seconds. Had to do
Two points later, the Serbian was on the verge of taking a two-set lead, but it was not to be.
Instead, Alcaraz was hailed by a roaring crowd as she produced a stunning service return to win one of the highest quality sets seen at this year’s Championships.
Spectators react after Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz wins a point during his final match against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic. , Photo Credit: Reuters
“I thought I would only have trouble with you on clay and hard courts, but probably not on grass, but now it’s obviously a different story from this year. Congrats. Amazing way to adapt to the surface,” Djokovic told his winner.