Carlos Alcaraz has retained his Wimbledon title in sensational style after destroying 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic at the All England Club on Sunday.
The 21-year-old Spaniard produced almost perfect tennis in the first two sets, which left even a master craftsman such as Djokovic unable to find answers to the questions being asked by Alcaraz.
Djokovic, 16 years his opponent's senior, finally found a way back into the match in a thrilling third set but even then Alcaraz had wasted three championship points on his own serve with the score at 5-4.
But Alcaraz was not to be denied as he came out on top in a tense tiebreak, winning the match 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 to secure his fourth major title in just two hours and 27 minutes.
It was the first Wimbledon final to last only three sets since 2018 when Djokovic defeated Kevin Anderson by the exactly the same scoreline. This time, though, it was to be the Serbian to taste defeat and miss out on a record-equalling eighth title at the grass-court Slam against the man who beat him in last year's final.
“Honestly, it is a dream for me winning this trophy,” said Alcaraz, who went into the tournament on the back of winning the French Open. “I did an interview when I was 11 or 12 and said my dream is to win Wimbledon. I’m fulfilling my dream.
“For me this is the most beautiful tournament, the most beautiful court and the most beautiful trophy.
“When it was 40-0, I was seeming so far away, Djokovic is an unbelievable fighter, I knew he was going to have his chances. It was difficult but I tried to stay calm going into the tiebreak and tried to play my best tennis. I was glad at the end I could find the solutions.”
Alcaraz became the ninth man to retain his Wimbledon title in the Open era alongside Djokovic, Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, Boris Becker, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, John Newcombe and Rod Laver.
He is just the second man after Federer to win his first four Grand Slam finals, while he has outdone the great Swiss, Djokovic and Rafael Nadal by reaching that landmark before his 22nd birthday.
“It is a huge honour for me to be a part of those players,” Alcaraz added when told he was also only the sixth man to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year. “I'm really happy to be at the same table as Novak to do it. Huge champions. I don't consider myself a champion yet. Not like them. I try to keep going and building my path, my journey.”
Despite his obvious disappointment, the fact Djokovic was even in the final was remarkable considering the 37-year-old underwent knee surgery less than a month before the tournament started.
“It obviously was not the result I wanted but of course in the first couple of sets the level of tennis wasn’t up to par from my side,” admitted Djokovic. “But credit to Carlos for playing elite tennis, especially from the back of the court, he had it all today.
“It wasn’t meant to be, I tried to extend the match, but he was an absolute deserved winner today so congratulations for him.
“And to his team, of course, an amazing job you guys are doing, it’s a one- man show on the court but it's a big team of people. Everything you’ve done so far, 21 years of age is incredible, so keep going, we’ll see a lot of you I'm sure.
“Yes, of course, I have to be very proud,” he added: “Obviously there's a little disappointment right now as we’re talking 10 minutes after the match finished, but when I reflect I'm sure the last four, five weeks and really what I've been through along with my team and family, I have to say I'm very satisfied.”
Alcaraz also praised Djokovic for his efforts in reaching the final. “I'm so nervous in this speech and I forgot to have some words for Novak and his team,” he said. “It's been a difficult few weeks for you.
“You had surgery after the French Open and you didn't know if you could make the tournament and you made the final.
“It is something difficult to realise that you played points and matches just two weeks after your surgery. Great job and keep going.”
