Wimbledon, Spain have gone on to claim major football trophies (Nadal and the Euros in 2008, Nadal and the World Cup in 2010 and Alcaraz and the women’s World Cup last year, when Spain defeated England in the final).Carlos Alcaraz has already enjoyed a career with few comparisons. Alcaraz is winning big titles at a rate that few 21-year-olds ever have yet it still seems like he has barely scratched at the surface of his talents. Every win brings him closer to the possibility that he will soon be the dominant force in his sport.
He took another leap forward in his blossoming career by producing an incredible performance under pressure and holding off his late nerves to defeat the seven-time champion Novak Djokovic 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4) and triumph at Wimbledon for a second time in a row. Alcaraz has now won four major titles and counting and he joins Roger Federer as the only men to win their first four grand slam finals.
With this monumental victory, Alcaraz also joins a rare group of six players who have wonat Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year, nowadays sometimes known as the “Channel Slam”. This is also Alcaraz’s first ever grand slam title defence and it marks the first time he has won multiple grand slam titles in the same year.
After tearing his meniscus during the French Open and quickly undergoing surgery, Djokovic’s run to the final alone was incredibly impressive in itself. But the 37-year-old had also reached the final without facing a single top 10 opponent – the ninth seed Alex de Minaur withdrew before their quarter-final match – meaning he had not been tested by one of the elite.
More importantly, nothing in Djokovic’s path to the final prepared him for the excellence of Alcaraz. A year ago, the Spaniard demonstrated his mental strength and nerve in a delirious five-set comeback victory over Djokovic to win his first Wimbledon title in an instant classic. The start of the sequel suggested that another long afternoon could be on the cards as Alcaraz wrestled a mammoth 13-minute opening game from Djokovic to immediately break serve.
And then he remembers he should praise Novak. “I’m so nervous doing this speech I forget to mention Novak and his team. You guys have done unbelievable work after having surgery, making the final. And my team … all the support, every day, every week, it’s unbelievable to have you there. Hopefully we are going to have more times like this.” I’m sure he will.
The first boos as Annabel Croft asks where he’ll be watching a certain football match later. “With my team, for sure. I watch it for sure. I’ve already done my job … now let’s see the football. It’s going to be a really difficult match.”
And how does it feel to become the sixth man in history to do the French Open-Wimbledon double? “It’s huge to be part of the players who’ve achieved Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year. Huge champions.”
And now the beaming winner. “Honestly it’s a dream for me winning this trophy,” Alcaraz says. “It’s a great feeling to play on this beautiful court and trophy. It’s the most beautiful tournament.
Of the game when he was broken serving for the match, he says: “It was 40-0. Djokovic is an unbelievable fighter, I tried to win with my serve, but I couldn’t. I tried to stay calm and positive going into the tie-break and play my best tennis. That’s all I was thinking about. I’m glad at the end I could find the solutions.”
“I have to be very proud,” the Serb replies when asked about being in the final only 37 days after knee surgery. “Obviously there’s disappointment right now but when I reflect on the last four to five weeks, what I’ve been through [with the knee surgery], I’m very satisfied. I try to remind myself sometimes of how surreal it is being here; being really blessed to fight for the trophy. Every time I step on the court it feels like the first time. I’m a child living a childhood dream.
“To my wife I love you. To my wonderful children thank you for bringing the smile to my face every single day. I’m so thankful to be a father of two little angels who love tennis. I don’t know if I have the nerves to have a coaching career with my son; but if you really wish to pursue it I’ll be there for you.
“Enough talking. I just want to say thanks to my whole team, for sticking with me through good and bad times. I love you guys, thanks for being in my corner, let’s keep this going.”
“He was definitely very hot today,” says Djokovic. “Obviously not the result I wanted, especially in the first couple of sets. I wasn’t up to par but credit to Carlos. I tried to push him and save the three match points to extend the match a little bit longer. But he was the deserved winner today.”
Trophy time. And here comes the Princess of Wales for the presentation. First Djokovic trudges up to collect his runners-up plate; and now here comes Carlitos, who raises the trophy, and has achieved something Nadal never did by winning successive Wimbledon titles.
So Alcaraz retains his Wimbledon title. At 21, he’s the youngest man to win Wimbledon and Roland Garros in the same year and the youngest back-to-back men’s singles champion at Wimbledon since Boris Becker in 1986. And in doing so he’s dismissed Djokovic’s latest attempt to rewrite the history books – and is well on his way to becoming a great of the game himself. That’s four grand slam finals out of four won now. How lucky are we. Federer is long departed, Nadal and Murray are nearly departed, Djokovic may feel as if he wants to depart after today … but now we have this superstar.
A serve-volley from Djokovic and Alcaraz scoops long. 5-4 Alcaraz … if Alcaraz wins the next two points on serve he will be the Wimbledon champion once more. But that is by no means guaranteed given the events of the past 20 minutes. Alcaraz shows immense nerve to conjure up one of his best drop shots of the day. And here are two more championship points. Again he can’t find a first serve. But this time Djokovic’s backhand batters the net! Alcaraz is the Wimbledon champion once more! He absolutely outclassed Djokovic, who has a warm embrace and some warm words for the Spaniard at the net. And then, of course, Alcaraz wants to celebrate with his team and family. He’s trying to find his way up to the box and takes a wrong turn for the first time today (well apart from when he was serving for the match). But then he’s up there. Wonderful scenes. And a wonderful champion.
Vintage Djokovic as he runs left and right, doing the splits in the process, and he’s the elastic man of old. But Alcaraz prevails and holds his arm aloft. So it’s 4-3 Alcaraz on serve … and then 5-3 as Djokovic hesitates coming forward and whacks wide!
Alcaraz chops back the serve, then rediscovers his range on his forehand, and strikes the winner for 3-1. The first mini-break. Djokovic wins the next point on his serve … and Alcaraz thinks he’s found the line with his backhand, he’s celebrating … but it was 0.000001mm wide! Alcaraz has no challenges left, and they switch ends at 3-3 …
Hawk-Eye confirms Alcaraz’s effort just whistled wide and Djokovic takes the first point of the breaker. Alcaraz needs to steady himself here – that should really have been a mini-break – instead he’s 1-0 down. Alcaraz does indeed regather for 2-1 – and this time it’s Djokovic with a loose miss …
Third set: Alcaraz 6-2, 6-2, 6-6 Djokovic
“Hi Katy,” emails Simon McMahon. “Just seen Agassi watching on. For some reason tennis, and particularly Wimbledon, makes me come over all nostalgic. No doubt since I grew up watching Borg and McEnroe, then Becker, Edberg, Sampras, Agassi and then onto Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and of course Andy Murray. Plus Navratilova, Evert, Graf, Seles, Williams. Great names all, and now we have a new star in Alcaraz. Long live tennis, long live Wimbledon.” Me too Simon, me too; and suddenly Alcaraz is stirring memories of Edberg as he shows incredible hands to dig out a low volley for 40-0. Alcaraz wins the next point and we’ve got ourselves a tie-break!
Novak Djokovic well and truly stands up, pushing, pushing, pushing Alcaraz with some blistering attack, and it’s deuce.
Alcaraz drop shots, then lobs – I wonder if it’s going wide, but Djokovic doesn’t take any chances – but he can’t direct the ball back into play. Advantage Alcaraz. Deuce. The crowd is cranking up the noise; they feel like Alcaraz may have a match on his hands now. And Djokovic produces the pass to bring up break point! The crowd erupt. Alcaraz aims an ace down the middle. Deuce. Advantage Alcaraz. Another Djokovic pass! Now Djokovic is feeling the love from the crowd, they’re willing him on. But Alcaraz extinguishes Djokovic’s hopes with the next two points.
Third set: Alcaraz* 6-2, 6-2, 2-3 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
A much-needed no-nonsense hold to love from Djokovic, as he gets three games on the board for the first time in a set today. Not a sentence I thought I’d type as late as set three. That’ll have felt good after that tortuous 10-minute game at 1-1.
Third set: Alcaraz 6-2, 6-2, 2-2 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
With Alcaraz 30-0 up, Djokovic decides it’s time for a change of racket. It doesn’t win him the next point though, as Alcaraz shows the older man that he’s now the best mover in the game. “A whiff of Ken Rosewall here; Novak being almost embarrassed by a younger man; the game is well and truly up,” emails Nick Gibson. And with Alcaraz at 40-0, he feints by unwinding his racket … and then pulling off the cutest of drop shots.
“Although Alvaraz is overpowering his opponent with his athleticism and superb all-round play, Novak is still reminding us of his talent with some blistering shots worthy of such a champion,” writes Colum Fordham. “But it’s looking like an unequal context with Djokovic struggling with his knee. But you never know with the steely Serb. For the very first time, I almost feel sorry for him. Alcaraz’s drop shots are a joy to behold.”
Third set: Alcaraz* 6-2, 6-2, 1-2 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Gasps and applause on the opening point as Alcaraz, on the run, flies over the net in the tramlines and curves back into court for the winner. But it’s not just the shots that Alcaraz pulls off, it’s the smile with which he does it. It’s all just so fun. Not fun for Djokovic though – 0-15, 0-30, 30-40 – the first break point of this third set. Djokovic survives. A strong approach to the net from Djokovic at deuce … but still Alcaraz picks him off with a cross-court forehand winner! Advantage Alcaraz, a second break point. This time Djokovic does prove impenetrable at the net. And the camera pans to Tom Cruise in the crowd, as Djokovic attempts to pull off, erm, mission impossible. A third break point comes and goes. And now the net cord is on Alcaraz’s side, to set up a fourth break point. Djokovic aces. This is a game to rival the opening game of the match – but this one has a different outcome as Djokovic holds. Cue the biggest outpouring of emotion from him in this final so far. Maybe that’ll stir him into action.
Third set: Alcaraz 6-2, 6-2, 1-1 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
A green shoot for Djokovic on the grass where he’s reigned seven times before, as he holds to 15. Which becomes more than a shoot when he advances to 0-30 on Alcaraz’s serve. Alcaraz ups the ante with a smart serve into the body and forehand winner. Djokovic should really prevail on the fourth point – a punchier volley would have clinched it – instead Alcaraz accelerates forward and comes up with the pass! 30-all, 40-30, with another fearhand down the line. Alcaraz is out-Djokovic-ing Djokovic here, adeptly turning defence into attack. Djokovic drags himself to deuce but Alcaraz holds from there.
A 108mph second serve right into the corner takes Alcaraz to 30-15. Djokovic steadies himself with a forehand smash. But he can’t make any further inroads and is left staring at the grass and the possibility of an emphatic defeat when he can’t return Alcaraz’s stinging and snarling serve. After one hour and 17 minutes, Djokovic has been totally disarmed. He’s come back from two sets to love down eight times in his career. But against Alcaraz in this form? I can’t see it. The defending champion is locked in and is a set away from a second successive Wimbledon title.
Alcaraz breaks: Alcaraz* 6-2, 5-2 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Quite ridiculous court coverage from Alcaraz at 30-0, as he sprints and then slides forward to Djokovic’s angled volley as if he’s on the red clay at Roland Garros, where he won of course only five weeks ago. A stumped Djokovic makes the error. It’s quickly 30-all. And gasps from the crowd as Djokovic inexplicably nets the volley! 30-40, break point. And Djokovic does what Djokovic hardly ever does in the big moments, and double faults! The seven-times champion walks sadly to his chair. Alcaraz has played well, no doubt about that, but this is unexpectedly flat and error-strewn from Djokovic. Alcaraz will serve for a two sets to love lead!
Second set: Alcaraz 6-2, 4-2 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
But whatever you can do Novak … Alcaraz reminds Djokovic who’s boss with a love hold of his own. Alcaraz’s coach Juan Carlos Ferrero has plenty to say to his charge between games; not that I caught any of it. The way this is going Djokovic is turning into such an underdog that he may even get the Centre Court crowd on his side …
Second set: Alcaraz* 6-2, 3-2 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Djokovic goes for all-out attack, charging forward at every opportunity. He must think it’s the only hope he’s got. 15-0, 30-0, 40-0, game, as the match ticks beyond the hour-mark.
Second set: Alcaraz 6-2, 3-1 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)
Alcaraz’s power >>>>>>>>> Djokovic’s. 15-0, 30-0, 40-0. Djokovic strides forward to smack away a short ball for 40-15 – maybe that’ll help him shake off a bit of frustration – but then the most deceptive of drop shots – just as it looked as if Alcaraz was going to hit through his backhand – flummoxes Djokovic! That’s going to make the highlights reel.
An email from the Guardian’s very own Philip Cornwall. “I am sitting in a Berlin (OK, Potsdam) hotel room, recovering from an overnight bus ride from Zurich after my flight to Munich on Friday was cancelled by lightning, leading to a scramble via Paris and trains to Switzerland. Two German channels are showing the cycling, one has triathlon, one American football, and none available to me has the tennis. I am relying on you – and on Alcaraz to get it done in straight sets…”
Second set: Alcaraz* 6-2, 2-1 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Djokovic finds himself on the ropes again at 30-all, but peels himself off, first when Alcaraz goes wide and then when Djokovic dispatches a drop shot. It’s the first time Djokovic has held serve from 0-15 down. Not really something to be too proud of, but he’ll cling on to any little hope he has right now.
