Wimbledon 2024: Carlos Alcaraz Beats Novak Djokovic In Men's Final

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LONDON (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz was ready from the start this time. a year ago in Wimbledon In the final against Novak Djokovic, Alcaraz started slowly, losing the opening set and needing five to claim His first championship at the All England Club,

Sunday’s rematch started with a game that felt great: 20 points in about 15 minutes, an entertaining, back-and-forth contest — and a long one. There were moments of brilliance from both men. Alcaraz, however, was better. Just as he would be for almost the entire time of the next two hours.

alcaraz learned from 2023 And applied those lessons in 2024, with a 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(4) victory over Djokovic for his second consecutive Wimbledon championship and fourth Grand Slam title overall. And to think: He is just 21 years old,

“At the end of my career, I want to sit at the same table with the big guys,” said Alcaraz, who won French Open And last month, after receiving the Wimbledon gold trophy Kate, Prince of Wales, is now the sixth man to win on the red clay of Roland Garros and the grass of the All England Club in the same season. “That’s my main goal. This is my dream right now.”

Alcaraz improved to 4-0 in major finals, including the 2022 US Open; Among men, only Roger Federer had a better career start and went 7–0.

“He was better than me in every aspect of the game,” he said. 37 year old Djokovic, who had knee surgery less than 1 1/2 months earlier, was still hoping to equal Federer’s men’s record of eight Wimbledon titles and become the first player in tennis history to win 25 Grand Slam tournaments. “In the movement, the way he was hitting the ball beautifully, great serving. Everything.”

For Alcaraz, there was a brief setback, a five-point stretch that took him from the brink of victory to near collapse. This happened when he was one point away from the championship while serving at 5-4, 40-love. But he made a double fault. Then a backhand misses. Then a volley. Then a forehand. And the second forehand. Suddenly, it was 5-all. Suddenly, Alcaraz appeared nervous. Suddenly, Djokovic could hope,

Suddenly, there was intrigue.

But only briefly. Alcaraz regrouped, reached the tiebreaker, then closed things out.

Last year, Djokovic recalled, “We ran into each other.”

“This year,” he added, “there was nothing like that. It was all about him. He was the dominant force on the court and deserved to win.”

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain plays a backhand return for Novak Djokovic of Serbia during the men’s singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London on Sunday, July 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Mosab Elshami)

Wearing a gray sleeve on his knee, Djokovic was hardly at his best on an overcast afternoon on Center Court – and there’s no doubt that Alcaraz was a big part of the problem.

It turned out that the first game was the most competitive part of the proceedings until the third set.

Needless to say there were no signs of excitement the rest of the way. What’s more, the result never really appeared to be in dispute.

“The first game was unbelievable. “It’s one of the longest first games I’ve played,” Djokovic said. “He set the tone. He was coming out of the blocks ready to fight and immediately ready to play at his best level, which wasn’t the case last year.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a backhand return for Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during the men’s singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London on Sunday, July 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Djokovic made a double fault in the first set and took a 5-1 lead. He volleyed into the net early in the second to stay behind by the break, then double-faulted to end it. Finally, in the third, Djokovic perked up a bit, recording his only break of serve all day as the crowd chanted his two-syllable nickname – “No-lay!” Raised slogans. No-take! – while others replied in chorus, “Come on, Carlos!” let’s go!”

Still, this body-contrary, Djokovic was not used to seeing everything, given that it was understandable that there were serious questions about whether it would even be possible to participate at Wimbledon.

Against Alcaraz, Djokovic sometimes jumped awkwardly when landing after serving or stepped awkwardly – as if barefoot on the hot sand of a beach – between points. Missing his usual volley, Djokovic went to the net and won only 27 of 53 points. After hitting a volley to close the opening 11-stroke exchange, Djokovic sighed and walked over to his sideline seat to grab a purple and green towel to wipe away sweat. The expressions on their faces were saying: “Come on, Carlitos, choose someone your own age.”

Alcaraz was excellent in every way, from the basics to shots that no one else could even attempt. Once, he jumped and wrapped his racket around his back to send the ball across the net, although Djokovic hit an overhead to get the point. Alcaraz raced down doubles lane for forehand winners. Points claimed through drop shots. Smacked operates at speeds of up to 136 mph (219 kph). Collected 14 break points, converted five and faced only three.

What can’t Alcaraz do?