Carlos Alcaraz has demolished Novak Djokovic in three sets, taking the former world No.1’s game apart like few in recent memory to retain his Wimbledon title.
An astonishing 14-minute opening game threatened to propel this men’s singles final towards another marathon showdown.
But instead it was simply a sign of the Spaniard’s ability to monster the Serb’s usually reliable serve on the way to a 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4) victory in just under 2½ hours and a fourth grand slam title at age 21.
READ MORE: Spain’s record win shatters England as drought rolls on
READ MORE: Slater ‘slip up’ laid bare by axed star’s night out
READ MORE: Salty Root’s bizarre claim over Aussie Ashes win
All told, that game consisted of seven deuces and 20 points across a hair shy of 14 minutes, containing brilliant moments by both.
Sprinting, sliding, stretching defence by Djokovic. Return winners by Alcaraz. When he slapped a strong reply to a 202 km/h serve and drew a wide forehand from Djokovic, the 21-year-old cashed in his fifth break chance then accelerated away to win eight of the first 10 games and set the tone for the match.
On commentary, Australian star Nick Kyrgios suggested the match marked the “official changing of the guard” while South African Robbie Koenig said Djokovic looked “beaten every which way”.
Djokovic was uncharacteristically sloppy, offering up 23 unforced errors, seemingly an attempt to shut down points in reaction to Alcaraz’s incredible court speed and passing ability.
Spectators and commentators were shocked when the 37-year-old missed a routine volley in the first set but he went on to repeat the error twice more throughout the match.
Djokovic mounted two valiant rearguard actions in the third set.
First, at 3-2 up, he earned just his second break point of the match and threatened the Alcaraz serve repeatedly with four deuces.
But the Spaniard eventually sealed the game with a booming ace and broke Djokovic three games later.
Then the Serb fought back from 40-0 down to break a suddenly nervy Alcaraz, whose serve deserted him as he squandered three championship points serving at 5-4 up.
He double-faulted. Then missed a backhand. Then a volley. Then a forehand. And another forehand. Suddenly, it was 5-all. Suddenly, Alcaraz appeared rattled. Suddenly, Djokovic could hope. Suddenly, there was intrigue.
It would require an additional 20 minutes to close things out, and while Alcaraz is certainly a kid in a hurry, he steadied himself and never wavered again.
“For me, this is the most beautiful tournament, the most beautiful court and, obviously, the most beautiful trophy,” Alcaraz said after receiving the gold champion’s hardware from Kate, the Princess of Wales.
It was a rematch of last year’s championship match on the grass of the All England Club, which Alcaraz won in five sets. This one was much easier for, at least until he stumbled while holding those three match points at 5-4.
“It was difficult for me,” said Alcaraz, who is 4-0 in major finals, including at the 2022 US Open as a teenager.
“I tried to stay calm. I tried to stay positive.”
He did, indeed, regrouping and picking up a second major title in a row after last month’s triumph on the clay at the French Open.
Djokovic, wearing a grey sleeve on his surgically repaired right knee, was denied in his bid for an eighth Wimbledon title and record 25th major overall. He tore his meniscus at Roland Garros on June 3 and had an operation in Paris two days later.
“When I reflect … on what I’ve been through, I have to say that I’m very satisfied,” Djokovic said
Less than six weeks after surgery, Djokovic was hardly at his best on Sunday on a cloudy afternoon at Centre Court — and Alcaraz certainly had something to do with that.
“Especially in the first couple of sets, the level of tennis wasn’t really up to par on my side,” said Djokovic, whose two children were in his guest box.
“He had it all today. I tried to push him. … But it wasn’t meant to be.”
In the third set, Djokovic got his only break of serve all day to make it 5-5, as spectators chanted his two-syllable nickname — “No-le! No-le!” — while others replied with choruses of “Let’s go, Carlos! Let’s go!”
But in the ensuing tiebreaker, Alcaraz earned his fourth match point and stayed cool as can be. Soon he was climbing through the stands to hug his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, and others.
– Reported with Associated Press