Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Singles Final Recap: Alcaraz routs Djokovic; retains Wimbledon crown
Carlos Alcaraz put on a display of punishing tennis on Centre Court Championship Sunday with a (6-2) (6-2) (7-6(4)) trouncing of Novak Djokovic. Alcaraz adds his major title count to four, surpassing Andy Murray. Carlitos becomes the sixth man in the Open era to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year. The first to complete the Channel Slam since Novak Djokovic won both tournaments in 2021. Alcaraz joins Rafael Nadal as the only Spaniards to win Wimbledon twice. Djokovic, who had only lost one Wimbledon final in 2013 to Andy Murray prior to last year’s final has now been vanquished by Alcaraz in back-to-back years.
The match began with the Spaniard testing the Serbian with a 14-minute opening service game, with Alcaraz converting on the fifth set point. Alcaraz would ride the momentum of another break to claim the first set 6-2. The second set began the same way the first set started, Alcaraz breaking Djokovic, again. Alcaraz would break Djokovic again and serve out the second set by an identical 6-2 set score.
The third set saw Djokovic raise his level, but he would be broken at 4-4 to put Alcaraz a hold from the title. Djokovic had yet to break the Alcaraz serve, but to stay in the Championships he needed to win on the Spaniard’s serve. Alcaraz would go up 40-0, with three championship points for back-to-back Wimbledon titles.
Alcaraz double faulted the first championship point. Djokovic would hit a winner on the second championship point to bring up 40-30. After Alcaraz hit a massive serve, all Djokovic could do was lob up a prayer. While the ball was in the air, a fan screamed in the middle of the point, perhaps causing Alcaraz to miss what would have been a sure winner. Djokovic would go on to break Alcaraz and level the third set 5-5. Both players would hold their ensuing services games to force a third set tiebreaker.
Alcaraz would have the first minibreak of the breaker to go up 3-1. Djokovic would earn the minibreak back to bring the tiebreaker even at 3-3 at the changeover. Alcaraz would find another minibreak, when Djokovic hit an off balance forehand wide to go up 5-3 in the tiebreaker. After, Djokovic cut the deficit to 5-4, Alcaraz had the opportunity to clinch the title. On the ensuing point, Alcaraz tried a forehand drop shot, with the title hanging in the balance, and the shot sank in, to give Alcaraz a fourth championship point. Carlos had gone with big serves on all his championship points, the fourth was more of the same. And just like last year, Djokovic’s forehand on championship point, was met by the net, giving Alcaraz the title.
Djokovic in his runner up speech said, “Huge congrats to Carlos…he deserved this win today. He was the better player from the beginning till the end.” Djokovic could not find his footing until the third set, but Alcaraz continued to play at his high level to win the third set tiebreaker and the match.
Alcaraz went on to say about his place in history that he is far from being a champion, saying winning fifteen majors would be worthy of iconic acclaim.
Oddly enough, this was the first final of the year for Novak Djokovic, where he will seek to win an elusive Olympic Gold that has eluded the Serbian throughout his career.
For Alcaraz, his affinity with playing on grass was on full display in another victory on SW19.
Stay tuned on ESN for more updates on tennis from the Olympics to the US Open Series.
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