By Tony Fairbairn at Wimbledon
- Carlos Alcaraz [3] def Novak Djokovic [2] 6-2 6-2 7-6(4)
- Carlos Alcaraz described his Wimbledon title defence as ‘unbelievable’ after winning a fourth Grand Slam title
LONDON, ENGLAND – Carlos Alcaraz described his Wimbledon title defence as ‘unbelievable’ as he cruised past Novak Djokovic to win a fourth Grand Slam title.
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Carlos Alcaraz [3] def Novak Djokovic [2] 6-2 6-2 7-6(4)
Carlos Alcaraz is Wimbledon champion for a second year in a row after a dominant performance over seven-time champion Novak Djokovic. The Spaniard has also completed the Roland Garros-Wimbledon double as he played with confidence and authority. There was a statement of intent from the very first ball as he created four break points in a ten minute long game.
The Serb did his best to fend off the early pressure from Alcaraz with some big serving but the former world number one was strangely adamant to approach the net as he gave the Spaniard plenty of space to work with. The world number three converted his fourth break point and was dominant on serve producing incredibly fast first serves mixed with brutal forehands.
Meanwhile, Djokovic attempted to get back into the match by extending the rallies but Alcaraz’s mixture of pace, depth and tactical variety was too much as the Spaniard secured a second break of serve thanks to a Djokovic double fault. The Serb was strangely emotionless given the history that was on the line but that didn’t bother Alcaraz as more precise serving gave him a one set lead.
There was some minor tactical adjustments in the second set but to no success as Alcaraz continued to pick Djokovic off both at the net and also from the baseline. It was a clinical display from the defending champion who accelerated the pace of the rallies on the backhand side while Djokovic struggled to gain any power off his usually accurate baseline shots. Breaks of serve in the first and seventh game was enough for Alcaraz as Djokovic didn’t even look like a threat in the match.
The third set saw Djokovic initially struggle once again to compete with the faster, stronger and smarter Spaniard but slowly the lion roared from its cage. The Serb saved break points and would edge to holds of serve as he roared in response to the crowd, who wanted a competitive final.
As Alcaraz struggled to convert break points, that freed up Djokovic’s level of play as he started to blast down returns and showed a slightly quicker speed of movement from the baseline. The Serb had break point in the sixth game but Alcaraz launched a few intense serves down to survive the first test of his serve.
Those missed opportunities would cost Djokovic as the Spaniard broke serve in ruthless fashion to have the chance to serve for the match. The Roland Garros champion was seemingly cruising to victory but there would be a twist in the tale as Alcaraz got tense and nervous. The Spaniard seemingly missed simple easy shots and felt the full force of pressure as Djokovic saved three match points and won five games in a row to break back.
This meant to Djokovic’s relief a tiebreak would decide the outcome of this third set as the crowd sensed a big moment in this contest. Normally so efficient in tiebreaks, Djokovic was reckless and full of faults on the big points as Alcaraz won the big points with authority.
On this occasion Alcaraz wouldn’t waste the opportunity of claiming a second consecutive title at Wimbledon as Alcaraz converted his fourth Championship point to seal a comprehensive win over Djokovic and a fourth Grand Slam title.
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Alcaraz praises coaching team after title defence
A simply sensational performance from Alcaraz as the Spaniard produced a dominant display to win his second consecutive Wimbledon title.
The Spaniard has had an incredible last couple of months having won Roland Garros a month ago.
After the match Alcaraz admitted it was a ‘great feeling’ to win the title for a second year in a row as the achievement of what he has accomplished in the last month starts to sink in.
“Well, honestly, as I said, it is a great feeling. Obviously it was a great match for me,” Alcaraz said in his press conference.
“Obviously Novak didn’t play his best the first two sets, a lot of mistakes. I made the most of that. Yeah, it is a great feeling even thinking about being French Open winner and Wimbledon champion the same year, that few players just done it before. It’s unbelievable.
“I try to realize that I won Wimbledon twice and try to feel that it was the same feeling as last year.”
Although it’s a great achievement for Alcaraz, the Spaniard couldn’t have achieved it alone as he admitted he is ‘proud’ of his team after a remarkable last month.
“Well, right now, as I said, I’m really happy with the work that I’m doing with my team. I’m really proud about myself, all the things that I’m doing great. I’m really proud about my people around my team,” Alcaraz claimed.
“Everything we have done already has been unbelievable, an amazing journey so far. As I said, I really want to keep going, to keep improving, to keep growing up, try to keep winning. That’s all that matter for me right now.
“I don’t know what is my limit. I don’t want to think about it. I just want to keep enjoying my moment, just to keep dreaming. So let’s see if at the end of my career it’s going to be 25, 30, 15, four. I don’t know. All I want to say is I want to keep enjoy, and let’s see what is the future bring to me.”
Now Alcaraz has his sights set on catching Jannik Sinner at the top of the ATP rankings, ahead of the Olympics and the US Open.
Speaking after his Wimbledon title Alcaraz spoke about his rivalry with Sinner as a big couple of months awaits for the duo.
“Well, yeah, as I said, I think being over there with Jannik, 21 years old, 22, 23 years old in the top of the ranking, winning the Grand Slams, I think it is good for tennis to have new faces winning the big things and fighting for the big tournaments,” Alcaraz explained.
“I’m really glad to have him there. As I said many times, we have a really good rivalry, as young players that are coming up, fighting for these things as well. I think it’s great for the sport, for tennis and I think for the players, as well.”
Djokovic has no regrets, hails Alcaraz as ‘dominant force’
It’s defeat for Djokovic, who’s wait for an eighth Wimbledon title and a 25th Grand Slam title goes on.
Unlike last year though, Djokovic was well and truly beaten this year as he was clearly second best against Alcaraz.
After the match Djokovic had no regrets over the match and hailed Alcaraz as a ‘dominant force.’
“I don’t think so, honestly. You can always analyze the match, of course, after and say, I could have done this or that. Just overall the way I felt on the court today against him, I was inferior on the court. That’s it. He was a better player. He played every single shot better than I did,” Djokovic said when asked if he could’ve done anything better.
“I don’t think I could have done something much more. Try to pump myself up maybe, yes. Get the crowd involved. That’s what was happening in the third. That got me going a little bit. Yeah, he wasn’t also allowing me to have much of a free points on my serve. He was reading the serve. He was playing with a lot of variety.
“I’ve never seen him serve that way, to be honest. 136. Maybe I was missing something this tournament, but I’ve never seen him serve that fast. Yes, overall he really outplayed me.
“Again, I lost in an epic five-set match that we went toe-to-toe. This year it was nothing like that. It was all about him. He was the dominant force on the court and deserved to win.”
A dominant defeat like this one is not a loss Djokovic takes lightly as the Serb spoke about how he is disappointed to lose a match like this.
“Of course, I do feel disappointed. It’s a bitter taste to lose the finals the way I did today,” Djokovic claimed.
“If has to be a success in the end of the day with me and my team playing Wimbledon finals and losing to the best player of the tournament without a doubt. That’s all I can say.”
Now after a tough tournament where he has had to overcome his recent meniscus surgery as well as losing another Grand Slam final, Djokovic now has his sights set on big goals.
That starts with the Olympics where this may be Djokovic’s last ever chance to win a gold medal.
Djokovic spoke about a big next couple of months as he is highly motivated to win Olympic gold as well as the US Open.
“Well, the Olympic Games and US Open are the two big goals for the rest of the year for me really. I’m hoping I can be at my best on those two tournaments, yeah. That’s all I can say right now,” Djokovic ended his press conference by saying.
“I mean, being able to reach the finals of Wimbledon, of course, it’s a great confidence boost. But I also feel like in a matchup today against best player right now in the world for sure, I mean, other than Jannik, and both of them are the best this year by far, I feel like I’m not at that level.
“In order to really have a chance to I guess beat these guys in Grand Slam latter stages or Olympics, I’m going to have to play much better than I did today and feel much better than I did today. I’m going to work on it. It’s not something I haven’t experienced before ever in my life. I’ve had so many different experiences throughout my career.
“In the face of adversity, normally I rise and I learn and get stronger. That’s what I’m going to do.”
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