During the Wimbledon men’s final against Novak Djokovic on Sunday, Carlos Alcaraz experienced a momentary setback. There was a brief five-point stretch where he went from being on the brink of victory to teetering on the edge of a collapse.
Alcaraz had a strong start, dominating the first two sets of the game. In the third set, he managed to fend off a surge from Djokovic. However, while serving at 5-4 and 40-love, he missed a crucial point and double-faulted. This was followed by several more missed shots, including a backhand, a volley, and two forehands. Alcaraz appeared shaken, and suddenly Djokovic had a chance to win. The game became more intriguing as the score was suddenly tied at 5-all.
Alcaraz, who is known for his speedy gameplay, had to take an extra 20 minutes to seal the deal against Djokovic. Despite being a young player, he managed to remain composed and focused, ultimately emerging victorious with a score of 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4) and earning his fourth Grand Slam title at just 21 years old.
After being presented with the champion’s gold hardware by Kate, the Princess of Wales, Alcaraz expressed his admiration for the tournament, court, and trophy, stating that they were all incredibly beautiful in his eyes. “For me,” Alcaraz said, “this is the most stunning tournament, court, and undoubtedly, the most gorgeous trophy.”
Last year’s championship rematch took place on the All England Club’s grass, which Alcaraz won in five sets. Alcaraz found this match to be much easier, at least until he stumbled while holding three match points at 5-4.
As a teenager, Alcaraz has already won all four major finals, including the 2022 U.S. Open. Despite his impressive record, he admits that it was a challenging experience for him. “It was difficult for me,” he stated. However, he managed to stay composed and optimistic throughout the process.
After his victory at the French Open last month, he regrouped and was able to secure another major title in a row.
Wearing a gray sleeve on his surgically repaired right knee, Novak Djokovic, who is 37 years old, was unable to secure his eighth Wimbledon title and the record 25th major overall. He suffered from a torn meniscus on June 3 at Roland Garros and underwent surgery in Paris just two days later.
Djokovic expressed his contentment with his journey, stating, “When I reflect on what I’ve been through, I have to say that I’m very satisfied.”
On a cloudy afternoon at Centre Court, Djokovic was not at his best, less than six weeks after his surgery. It was evident that Alcaraz played a significant role in this outcome.
Djokovic, who had his two children in the guest box, acknowledged that his performance in the first couple of sets wasn’t up to par. He admitted that his opponent had it all together on that day and despite his efforts to push him, it wasn’t meant to be.
During the third set, Djokovic was finally able to break his opponent’s serve, leveling the score at 5-5. The crowd erupted into cheers, chanting his nickname “No-le! No-le!” while others showed their support for Carlos with chants of “Let’s go, Carlos! Let’s go!”.
During the tiebreaker, Alcaraz managed to secure his fourth match point, and he remained composed throughout the highly tense situation. Ultimately, he emerged victorious and immediately celebrated by climbing up the stands to embrace his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, and other supporters.
At the beginning of the opening game, there was a sense that it would be an exciting and evenly matched contest. However, it also seemed like it could potentially be a lengthy game, causing concern for those who wanted to make it to a pub or couch in time to watch England face Spain in the men’s soccer European Championship final in Germany on Sunday night. It’s worth noting that Alcaraz had a vested interest in the outcome.
In just under 14 minutes, the match witnessed a total of seven deuces and 20 points, featuring some brilliant moments from both players. Djokovic displayed his agility with some impressive sprints, slides, and stretches on the court, while Alcaraz showcased his finesse with some return winners. Alcaraz also made good use of his fifth break chance when he delivered a strong response to a 125 mph (202 kph) serve and forced Djokovic into a wide forehand.
The third set proved to be the most fiercely contested part of the event, as it turned out.
Although there were glimpses of brilliance throughout the remainder of the game, the result never appeared to be in question.
In the first set, Djokovic gave away a 5-1 lead by committing a double-fault. Starting the second set, he began on the back foot, losing a break point when he put a volley into the net. He then finished the set with yet another double-fault.
It is important to note that Djokovic’s performance at Wimbledon was not his usual, body-contorting, get-to-everything style that fans have grown accustomed to. Djokovic faced obstacles such as his age and a knee injury, which raised concerns about his ability to even participate in the tournament.
According to Djokovic, he was able to move freely and without pain by his third or fourth match of the tournament. However, during his match against Alcaraz, there were moments when he appeared to hop awkwardly after serving or step gingerly between points, almost as if he were walking on hot sand at the beach.
Djokovic, who is known for his impeccable net skills, surprisingly missed several volleys during the match, winning only 27 out of 53 points at the net. At one point in the game, after missing a volley to end an 11-stroke exchange, Djokovic let out a sigh and walked towards his sideline seat to grab a towel to wipe off the sweat. His expression conveyed his frustration, almost as if he was thinking, “why am I playing against someone so much younger than me?”
Alcaraz’s performance was truly exceptional, showcasing his skills in every aspect of the game. He not only executed the basic shots with precision but also attempted shots that were deemed impossible by others, such as leaping and wrapping his racket all the way around his back to get the ball over the net. Although Djokovic managed to put away an overhead to win that point, Alcaraz’s effort was remarkable. He also ran wide of the doubles alley to hit forehand winners, claimed points through drop shots, and delivered serves at a speed of up to 136 mph (219 kph). Moreover, he accumulated a total of 14 break points, converting five of them, and faced only three himself.
Is there anything that Alcaraz is not capable of doing?
It’s absolutely true that Alcaraz is just beginning his journey. Keep that in mind.
Alcaraz expressed his strong desire to continue moving forward by stating, “I want to keep going.”
