In a match that stunned the packed crowd at Wimbledon Centre Court, 21-year-old Carlos Alcaraz of Spain decisively defeated 37-year-old Novak Djokovic, denying the veteran a record 25th Grand Slam title. Alcaraz’s 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(4) victory highlighted the young Spaniard’s dominance, as Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, appeared powerless throughout the match.
Alcaraz’s victory marks his fourth Grand Slam title from four finals, completing a French Open-Wimbledon double. The final was expected to be a close contest, especially after Djokovic won the fiercely-contested opening service game, which spanned 14 minutes. However, the match quickly turned one-sided, leaving Djokovic with one of the most humbling defeats of his illustrious career.
Former British number one and BBC pundit Tim Henman described the match as an “annihilation,” praising Alcaraz’s performance. Despite undergoing knee surgery for a torn meniscus after the French Open, Djokovic’s usual intensity was absent, and his attempts to counter Alcaraz’s aggressive play were futile. Alcaraz’s relentless baseline rallies, precise serves, and deft drop shots left Djokovic scrambling in desperation.
“It’s a huge honour for me to be a part of those players,” Alcaraz said, reflecting on joining the ranks of Bjorn Borg, Boris Becker, and Mats Wilander, who all secured four Grand Slam titles by age 21. “I’m really happy to be at the same table as Novak to do it. Huge champions.”
Djokovic, aiming to become the oldest man to win Wimbledon, acknowledged his defeat. “I was inferior on the court,” he told reporters. “He was a better player. He played every single shot better than I did.”
This match marked the first repeat men’s final at Wimbledon since Djokovic’s back-to-back victories over Roger Federer in 2014 and 2015. Last year, Alcaraz came back from a one-set deficit to win in five sets, ending Djokovic’s 34-match Wimbledon winning streak. However, Djokovic never seemed poised for a similar comeback on Sunday.
An unexpected twist came when Djokovic, trailing 5-4 in the third set, managed to break Alcaraz’s serve and push the set into a tiebreak. Despite this fleeting lifeline, Alcaraz maintained his composure, showcasing his full repertoire and securing the title in a stunning tiebreak, making it four titles from his first four Grand Slam finals—a feat last achieved by Federer.
With this victory, Alcaraz not only thwarted Djokovic’s historic ambitions but also cemented his own status as one of tennis’s rising stars.
