In a dramatic shift of power on Centre Court, 20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz defeated the seven-time champion, Novak Djokovic, to clinch his first Wimbledon title, thus breaking the Serb’s pursuit of a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title.
After a four-hour, 42-minute contest, the world number one, Alcaraz, emerged victorious with a score of 1-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4. This marked his second major title following his triumphant US Open win last year, placing him as Wimbledon’s third youngest men’s champion.
The defeat of 36-year-old Djokovic, the torchbearer of the ‘Big Three’ following the retirement of Roger Federer and the possible sidelining of Rafael Nadal, ignited whispers of a generational shift in the tennis world.
Alcaraz’s victory was all the more poignant, considering when Djokovic won his first major at the Australian Open in 2008, Alcaraz was still a preschooler. Upon winning the title, the Spaniard, the third from his country to achieve this feat, warmly acknowledged Djokovic, thanking him for being an inspiration throughout his tennis journey.
In spite of a slow start and conceding the first set to Djokovic, Alcaraz rallied to find his footing. The Serbian champion, attempting a record fifth consecutive Wimbledon crown, lauded the young champion, complimenting him for his impressive performance and poise during the match’s decisive moments.
Alcaraz proved that his French Open loss to Djokovic due to body cramps in June had not broken his spirit, but instead emboldened him. As the match unfolded, Djokovic’s stronghold seemed to falter while Alcaraz found his rhythm, breaking Djokovic multiple times, eventually claiming victory as the latter committed a forehand error.
This match report is based on an article by malaymail.com.
