Last year, Carlos Alcaraz dethroned Novak Djokovic to win his first Wimbledon title.
In a rematch of last year’s five-set final, Alcaraz secured his place at the top on Sunday, defeating Djokovic 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(4) to win his second consecutive Wimbledon title. This marks just the fifth time in Djokovic’s career that he has lost a final in straight sets.
Djokovic faced difficulties from the start and throughout the first 2 1/2 sets. He began the match sluggishly and appeared tense. Conversely, Alcaraz, typically a slow starter, quickly took control, placing Djokovic in a 2-0 deficit early in the match. The crowd was surprised by Djokovic’s subdued start and Alcaraz’s strong performance.
Each point offered a chance for Djokovic to recover, but he continued to struggle. Alcaraz capitalized on Djokovic’s errors, maintaining confidence throughout. Djokovic lost the first set 6-2, and the second set followed a similar pattern. Without a significant shift, his chances looked bleak.
The third set saw a brief resurgence from Djokovic. He won the first game and began to challenge Alcaraz. However, Alcaraz matched Djokovic’s efforts, who was attempting to become the oldest man to win Wimbledon at age 37.
Djokovic managed to force a tiebreak in the third set, giving himself a chance to extend the match, but he was unable to secure a victory. He appeared frustrated with his performance and looked fatigued. Even at the start of the tiebreak, it seemed inevitable that Alcaraz would win.
Djokovic’s primary challenge in recent years has been aging. Despite his meniscus tear at the French Open, which did not seem to affect him during the Wimbledon tournament or the final, he struggled against Alcaraz. Alcaraz’s speed, strength, and stamina proved too much for Djokovic, who may not have had the endurance to push the match further.
This victory marks the fourth Grand Slam title of Alcaraz’s career, with half of them won on grass, despite Wimbledon 2024 being only the sixth grass court tournament he has participated in.
In the future, this match may be viewed as a pivotal moment when Alcaraz defeated one of the greatest tennis players for the second consecutive year, signaling a new era. For now, questions remain about Djokovic’s performance on Sunday and his potential participation in the Olympics.
Carlos Alcaraz’s position is clear: he represents the future of tennis.
