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It was the Wimbledon men’s final matchup deemed the prodigy versus the master: No. 1 seeded Carlos Alcaraz against Novak Djokovic, who holds more Grand Slams (23) than Alcaraz has years on Earth (20). Experience though didn’t matter this time around.
The prodigy finally dethroned the master, Alcaraz winning 1-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 for his first Wimbledon title in an instant classic. He remains the world No. 1 and ends Djokovic’s third bid for a calendar Grand Slam — winning all four majors in the same year.
“Winning my second Grand Slam here in Wimbledon is really really special for me, a dream come true, without a doubt,” Alcaraz said “I’m really really happy to come back after the first set. And facing Novak, playing such a great level at the end, it was a really amazing experience for me.”
This is Alcaraz’s second Grand Slam title, showing grit as the youngest Wimbledon finalist since 2006 and youngest winner since 1986. He becomes the first man not named Roger Federer or Djokovic to win Wimbledon since Andy Murray in 2016 and the first player outside of the Big 4 (Federer, Rafael Nadal, Djokovic, Murray) to win Wimbledon since 2002. He is also now the fourth active player (Djokovic, Murray, Rafael Nadal) with a Wimbledon title.
Djokovic still has the most men’s Grand Slams and is one shy of tying Margaret Court’s record of 24. He had won the four previous Wimbledon’s. By losing on Centre Court, it is Djokovic’s first loss there since the 2013 final when Alcaraz was 10-years-old.
Djokovic praised Alcaraz’s ability to adapt to the grass court surface and serve to win the match. He added that he lost to a “better player” and reflected on his past history at Wimbledon, winning tight finals matchups on Centre Court.
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“Obviously you never like to lose matches like this but I guess when all the emotions are settled I have to still be very grateful because I won many many tight and close matches here,” he said. “Maybe I should have lost a couple of matches I won so this is Even Steven.”
Djokovic, who dispatched Jannik Sinner 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) to secure his 35th appearance in a Grand Slam final, breezed through the first set 6-1 against Alcaraz in 35 minutes.
Alcaraz and Djokovic went mano a mano at in a tight second set. Alcaraz broke Djokovic then held serve to go up 2-0. With his back against the wall, Djokovic responded each time.
He tied it at 4-4, then at 5-5 and again at 6-6 to force a tiebreaker and put the pressure on Alcaraz. The Spaniard lived up to the moment, winning the tiebreak 8-6 to take the set. He also snapped Djokovic’s streak of 15 straight tiebreakers won at a Major.
Alcaraz did much of the same in the third set, going up 2-0. Djokovic almost tied the set when he went up 40-15, but Alcaraz survived the pressure to win the game and take a 3-1 advantage. That led to an epic 32 point, 27 minute fifth game with 13 deuces and seven break points. Alcaraz finally ended up breaking Djokovic, carrying him to a 6-1 third set victory.
But, like many times before, Djokovic wouldn’t go down easy. Hampered by his leg at times after falling late in the second set, he gutted to take a 4-2 lead in the fourth set, blowing a kiss to the crowd after the fifth game. Alcaraz hung around, but Djokovic wouldn’t budge. He won 6-3 to force the fifth and final set.
The two exchanged heavy punches in the do or die set.
Djokovic’s momentum carried over as he turned on an extra gear. Alcaraz did the same too with three stone cold winners to take the second game as the tide started to turn. The Spaniard’s backhand winner broke Djokovic literally and figuratively — he took a 2-1 set lead and Djokovic smashed his racket to the ground. Breaking his racket on the net post led to pain in the wrist, bothering Djokovic when Alcaraz served. He took a quick 3-1 lead.
Djokovic had a chance to tie it at 5-5, but Alcaraz stayed cool under pressure. He served his way to the win, forever etching himself in Wimbledon glory.
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