- Instagram @carlitosalcarazz
Wimbledon – Carlos Alcaraz defeated seven-time champion Novak Djokovic to claim his first Wimbledon title on Sunday local time.
Alcaraz put aside a poor start and surged down the stretch to end Djokovic’s 34-match winning streak at the All England Club by edging him 1-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 in an engaging, back-and-forth final Sunday, claiming his first title at Wimbledon and second Grand Slam trophy overall.
The number 1-ranked Alcaraz prevented No. 2 Djokovic from collecting what would have been a record-tying eighth title, and fifth in a row, at the grass-court tournament. Djokovic also was kept from earning a 24th career major.
“Playing a final against a legend of our sport for me, it’s incredible,” said Alcaraz, who was competing in just his fourth career event on grass.
“I have to congratulate Novak. It’s amazing to play against him. What can I say about him? It’s unbelievable. You inspire me a lot. I started playing tennis watching you,”
Then Alcaraz joked: “I mean, since I was born, you already were winning tournaments.”
Petenis asal Serbia, Novak Djokovic.
- AP Photo/Antonio Calanni
That’s not exactly accurate. Still, instead of Djokovic, a 36-year-old from Serbia, becoming the oldest male champion at Wimbledon in the Open era, Alcaraz, a 20-year-old from Spain, became the third-youngest.
The age gap between the two was the widest in any men’s Slam final since 1974.
So Alcaraz had youth on his side, which he also did, of course, when they met at the French Open last month.
That one was extraordinary for two sets before Alcaraz cramped up and faded. This time, he had the stamina and the strokes to get past Djokovic.
“You never like to lose matches like this. I guess when all the emotions are settled, I have to still be very grateful because I won many, many tight and close matches in the past here,” Djokovic said.
“I lost to a better player, so I have to congratulate him,"
Alcaraz is faster and capable of more power, serves topping 130 mph, forehands topping 100 mph but Djokovic is equipped with an abundance of talents and so much muscle memory. He’s been there, and done that, in ways Alcaraz, for now, can only dream of.
