Carlos Alcaraz wins Wimbledon by beating Novak Djokovic and now owns four Slam titles at the age of 21.

Carlos Alcaraz has defeated Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon men’s final, for the second time in succession to win the fourth Grand Slam title at age 21.

 

LONDON (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz was ready from the get-go this time. A year ago in the Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic, Alcaraz got off to a slow start, dropped the opening set and needed five to claim his first championship at the All England Club .

The rematch on Sunday began with a game that seemed massive: 20 points over almost 15 minutes. It was an exciting, back-and-forth game — and a lengthy one. There were moments of brilliance by both teams. Alcaraz however, was superior. The same way he would be for the remaining two hours.

Alcaraz has learned from 2023 and applied the lessons to 2024. This added to a 6-2 7-6, 6-2 (4) victory against Djokovic to win a second straight Wimbledon title and a 4th Grand Slam title in all. And, to think about it: Alcaraz is only 21 years old..

“At the end of my career, I want to sit at the same table as the big guys,” stated Alcaraz who was the winner of the French Open last month and, having received the gold medal at Wimbledon at the hands of Kate Prince Harry, the Princes of Wales, is only the sixth player to win over the red clay of Roland Garros and the grass at the All England Club in the same year. “That’s my primary goal. This is my goal right now.”

Alcaraz made it the record of 4-0 in major finals which included the 2022 U.S. Open; only Roger Federer got off to the best start of his career as a male, with a record of 7-0.

“He just was better than me in every aspect of the game,” said the 37-year-old Djokovic who underwent knee surgery just 1 1/2 months ago but was aiming to match Federer’s record of men’s tennis with eight Wimbledon championships and become the first tennis player in history to win more than 25 Grand Slam tournaments. “In motion and in his manner, he was hitting the ball with a great technique, and serving superbly. Everything.”

The Alcaraz team had a short blip. It was an eight-point run that brought him from a cliff of winning to near an end. It occurred when the team was one point away from winning the title while playing at 5-4 and 40-love. However, he double-faulted. Then he missed the backhand. Then the shot. Then an forehand. Another forehand. Suddenly, it was 5-all. Suddenly, Alcaraz appeared rattled. Then, Djokovic could hope.

Then, there was excitement.

However, it was only for a short time. Alcaraz was able to regroup, reached the tiebreaker and put the tiebreaker in place.

In the past, Djokovic recalled, “We went toe to toe.”

“This year,” he continued, “it was nothing like the previous year. All it was about the player. He was the dominating player on the court, and was deservedly crowned the winner.”

In a gray sleeve that was positioned on his knees, Djokovic was hardly at his best on a gloomy day in Centre Court — and it’s not a surprise that Alcaraz was a major cause of the issue.

The first game was, as it turned out, was the most competitive part of the match until the third set.

It’s not like there weren’t some hints of excitement for the rest throughout. The fact is that the result was never in doubt.

“The initial game itself was amazing. It was one of the longest first games I’ve played,” Djokovic said. “That set the stage. He was coming out of the blocks, ready for battle and was ready to play at his top level from the start this year, something that wasn’t the case the year before.”

Djokovic double-faulted to give the hosts an advantage of 5-1 in the opening set. He lobbed a volley at the net, only to be beaten by a break in the beginning of the second set, and after which he double-faulted to win that one. Then, in the third match, Djokovic increased his energy with his one break of serve throughout the day. The crowd were chanting his two-syllable name -“No-le “No-le! “No-le!” — while other players responded with a chorus that included “Let’s play, Carlos! Let’s go!”

But, this was not the slouchy, body-constricting Djokovic everyone is used to, which is understandable given that there were some serious concerns regarding whether it was possible to participate in Wimbledon.

In the match against Alcaraz, Djokovic occasionally hopped awkwardly after serving, or walked briskly as if naked on hot beach sand — in between points. In the past, he has missed volleys, Djokovic won just 27 of 53 points after he stepped into the net. After scoring a volley to conclude an 11-stroke exchange Djokovic looked up and went towards his bench to grab a towel in green and purple to dab sweat. His expression on his face was: “Come on, Carlitos, pick on someone your own age.”

Alcaraz was a class act in almost every way from the simplest to the kinds of shots that nobody else would ever attempt. One time, he jumped and wrapped his racket all up around the back of his body in order to get the ball to the net, though Djokovic did manage to throw an overhead in to win that shot. Alcaraz did not make it to the doubles alley in order to score forward-hand winners. Earned points by dropping shots. Hit serves speeds of up to 136 mph (219 km/h). The team accumulated fourteen break points converted five and facing only three challenges.

What is it that Alcaraz do?

A few days prior to the final, Djokovic paid Alcaraz quite an admiration, stating: “I see a lot of similarities between me and him.”

So true. Keep in mind: Alcaraz is just getting underway.

“I want,” Alcaraz declared, “to keep going.”

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis