Carlos Alcaraz put aside a poor start and surged down the stretch to end Novak Djokovic’s 34-match winning streak at Wimbledon by beating him 1-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 in an engaging, back-and-forth final on Sunday.
Alcaraz claimed his first championship at the All England Club and second Grand Slam trophy overall.
The 20-year-old beats the 23-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic 1-6, 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4.
The No. 1-ranked Alcaraz prevented Djokovic from what would have been a record-tying eighth title, and fifth in a row, at the grass-court tournament.
Djokovic also was prevented from claiming his 24th career major.
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.
Alcaraz speaks
“I fell in love with grass right now,” says Alcaraz after winning the title. He won the title at Queen’s earlier.
He’s played just four grasscourt tournaments.
After the first set, I told myself, ‘Carlos, pick it up
Alcaraz pays tribute to Novia Djokovic
You inspire me a lot. I started playing tennis watching you,” says Alcaraz
Djokovic chokes up
“I lost to a better player. So I have to congratulate him and move on. Nice to see my son, still in the box and still smiling,” says Djoko as he tears up.
Talking to the on-court presenter, the Serb says: “Not so good afternoon for me. But good for Carlos. mamzing. What quality at end of match. You deserve it. Absolute quality. Amazing, amazing! I thought I’ll have trouble with you only on clay, but not on grass( smiles).”
Alcaraz will remain World No 1
What this win means is that the 20-year-old from Spain will remain the World no 1 on Monday. If Djoko had won today, he would have usurped the throne.
