Carlos Alcaraz overpowered seven-time champion Novak Djokovic in straight sets to retain his Wimbledon title on Sunday in a brutal statement that the new era of men's tennis has arrived.
🏆 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐨𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐳 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐭𝐰𝐨-𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧 🏆
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) July 14, 2024
He is the ninth men’s player to defend his title successfully in the Open Era 👏 pic.twitter.com/HYucecZBgc
The Spanish third seed produced a performance combining awesome power with delicate touch to win 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4), collecting the fourth Grand Slam of his young career.
Alcaraz equals the Open Era record for most Grand Slams won at the age 21 or under, joining Boris Becker, Bjorn Borg and Mats Wilander.
And he is just the sixth man to win the French Open and Wimbledon back to back.
From a feat of clay to a masterclass on grass 🧡💚
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 14, 2024
Only six men in the Open Era have won Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year:
Rod Laver
Bjorn Borg
Rafael Nadal
Roger Federer
Novak Djokovic
Carlos Alcaraz#Wimbledon | @rolandgarros pic.twitter.com/vK78bKkP7G
Djokovic, 37, who had knee surgery just weeks ago, was aiming to win a 25th Grand Slam – which would have been a record in the men's and women's game.
But he had no answers in the Centre Court sunshine as the electric Alcaraz pounded him from the back of the court and treated the crowd to an array of his trademark drop shots.
"Honestly, it is a dream for me winning this trophy," said the Spaniard. "I did an interview when I was 11 and I said my dream is to win Wimbledon.
"For me this is the most beautiful tournament, the most beautiful court and the most beautiful trophy."
"The most beautiful tournament. The most beautiful court. The most beautiful trophy."
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 14, 2024
Carlos Alcaraz is living his dream as a #Wimbledon champion once again 💚 pic.twitter.com/TfFJ6ZrPik
Alcaraz paid tribute to his beaten opponent, who only found his range in the third set.
"Djokovic is an unbelievable fighter, I knew he was going to have his chances," said Alcaraz who had needed five sets to defeat the Serb in the 2023 final.
"It was difficult but I tried to stay calm going into the tie-break and tried to play my best tennis. I was glad at the end I could find the solutions."
Carlos Alcaraz shares some kind words for his opponent, Novak Djokovic 👏#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/dbB83Ic0jU
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 14, 2024
BREAKTHROUGH
Alcaraz seized the initiative in a first game of breathtaking quality lasting 14 minutes, taking advantage of his fifth break point.
The Spaniard settled quickly into his routine on serve and went up a double break when Djokovic double-faulted in the fifth game.
The shell-shocked Serbian, playing in his 10th Wimbledon final, held serve to love to close the gap to 5-2 but dumped the ball into the net to hand the Spaniard the first set.
Alcaraz was immediately on the front foot in the second set, forcing a break in the first game and fending off pressure on his own serve to take a 2-0 lead.
A Djokovic backhand into the net in the seventh game handed Alcaraz another break point and a double fault put the defending champion 5-2 up and on the cusp of a two-set lead.
The Centre Court crowd, including Catherine, Princess of Wales, looked on in disbelief as their hopes for a titanic tussle evaporated.
The under-par Djokovic fended off another of clutch of break points early in the third set to stay alive and showed signs that he was finding his rhythm.
But Alcaraz broke for a 5-4 lead and moved to 40-0 on his own serve, only to suffer a wobble as Djokovic saved all three championship points, breaking for the first time in the match.
He recovered his composure quickly and the set went to a tie-break.
Djokovic went wide with a forehand to give Alcaraz a 5-3 lead and the Spaniard won the title with his fourth championship point, clambering up to the players' box to celebrate with his family and coaching team.
Astounding Alcaraz 🤩
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 14, 2024
The Spaniard defends his #Wimbledon title with a stunning straight sets victory over Novak Djokovic, 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(4) 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/bEbT9HwMZh
Carlos Alcaraz, soak it all in 😍#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/rIIT5fsGJ2
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 14, 2024
The champion struck 42 winners to Djokovic's 26 over the course of the match.
Princess Catherine, patron of the All England Club, handed over the trophy.
A familiar feeling 🤩
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 14, 2024
Carlos Alcaraz lifts the #Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Singles Trophy for the second time 👏 pic.twitter.com/O73owrPkk6
Last month she tentatively returned to British public life for the first time since her diagnosis, attending a military parade in London to mark King Charles III's official birthday.
Djokovic, still without a title this year, will now turn his attention to the Paris Olympics as he seeks to win gold for the first time.
"It obviously was not the result I wanted but of course in the first couple of sets the level of tennis wasn't up to par from my side," he said.
"But credit to Carlos for playing elite tennis, especially from the back of the court, he had it all today."
"He was definitely very hot today" 🔥
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 14, 2024
Novak Djokovic recognised how special Carlos Alcaraz was today on Centre Court 👏#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/zVXFSg64pd