LONDON – It was as if Carlos Alcaraz was in a hurry to get to watch Spain in the Euro final.
The Spaniard swept aside Novak Djokovic and successfully defended his Wimbledon title. Under cloudy London skies, the now four-time Grand Slam champion disrespected the most successful tennis player of all time. In 2 hours and 27 minutes, Alcaraz dispatched the Serb 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4).
“It’s a dream for me. When I was 11 years old I said in an interview that winning Wimbledon was what I dreamed of, and I’ve already achieved it for the second time,” he said with the trophy in his hands.
The first game of the match lasted 14 minutes and made everyone think that the battle between the two was going to be like the 2023: unpredictable, vibrant and with high levels of intensity until the fifth set. However, the overdose of energy was delivered only by the 21-year-old tennis player, who did not let go of control since he broke in that eternal first game.
However, there was a moment of doubt for the Spaniard. He had three match balls at 5-4 in the third set, but incredible errors postponed his triumph, which he would later win in a tiebreaker. It ended up being an anecdote.
“Being 40-0 I felt so far away, as Djokovic is a great fighter. I tried to play my best tennis and I could find solutions”, he explained.
Djokovic looked dull and blank. Very erratic, especially when he tried to take the initiative from the baseline or when he went up to the net. Without ideas and absolutely neutralized by the strength of Alcaraz. The 16 years of difference was noticeable on the court.
Carlos Alcaraz won Wimbledon
As Alcaraz said when he reached the semifinals, he is no longer a rookie and there are just few moments and places left that are unfamiliar to him. In the Wimbledon final was very noticeable the avalanche of youth on a Djokovic very similar to his version against Daniil Medvedev in the final of the US Open 2021, or against Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros 2020. Lost on the court as on few occasions. Totally reduced.
The Serb was too passive with the crowd as well. Who earlier in the week fell out with part of the crowd at the All England Club, this Sunday sought very few of those interactions that usually encourage him. On the other side of the net was the sole protagonist. It was only midway through the third set when Djokovic hit a winner with a drop shot to close in on his first break, when he took the opportunity to feed off the crowd’s support for the first time. But Alcaraz weathered that onslaught successfully.
“He’s the best 21-year-old player ever,” Djokovic said after his semifinal win. Alcaraz proved him right and showed his best. A facet of aggressive and dictatorial tennis, which promises to continue for more and more records.
