Alcaraz beats Djokovic to retain Wimbledon title – MASHAHER

Djokovic won only two games across the first two sets in the 2020 Roland-Garros final against Rafael Nadal, but similarly to this occasion, he at least managed to push Alcaraz’s fellow Spanish great to a 7-5 third set.

This was just the fifth time in Djokovic’s 37 slam finals that he failed to win a set.

The tone was set in a marathon, 14-minute opening game of the match on Djokovic’s serve, which went Alcaraz’s way on his fifth break point when the Serbian legend narrowly missed a forehand. Alcaraz was 2-0 up three minutes later.

That start could hardly have been starker to 12 months ago, when Djokovic raced to a 5-0 lead. This time, Alcaraz put his figurative foot on his experienced rival’s throat from the outset and rarely took it off.

He made a mockery of pre-match chatter that Djokovic’s form line was better than his. None of that mattered, with Alcaraz producing one of his finest displays, particularly on such a significant stage. The first two sets were a hiding of the sort Djokovic has rarely been on the wrong end of.

Djokovic inevitably, if belatedly, rose to the challenge in the third set, and had his chances to gain a foothold in the contest.

After being broken to begin both of the first two sets, Djokovic held strongly to start the third, but had to stave off four break points to go 2-1 ahead. Alcaraz finally faced a break point in the sixth game, only to hammer a huge first serve down the T that did not come back.

Alcaraz went for the kill again three games later, bludgeoning three winners to earn the chance to serve for the match.

“Obviously, not the result I wanted and, of course, especially the first couple of sets, the level of tennis wasn’t up to par from my side, but credit to Carlos for playing some amazing tennis, very complete tennis … he had it all today,” Djokovic said.

“I tried to push him, saved the three match points and extended the match, but it wasn’t meant to be. He was a deserved winner today – congratulations to him for an amazing performance.”

He denied Djokovic the chance to equal Roger Federer’s eight All England club championships and claim a record 25th major title. That would have seen him move clear of Australia’s Margaret Court for the most by a man or woman.

There must now be a query on whether 37-year-old Djokovic, who is yet to win a title at any level this year, will add to his mighty grand slam tally.

Instead, the Spanish superstar became just the sixth man in the Open Era to capture the “Channel Slam”, joining Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, Nadal, Federer and Djokovic in winning the Roland-Garros-Wimbledon double in the same year.

Alcaraz will remain at No.3 in the rankings when they update on Monday, behind his great rival and world No.1 Jannik Sinner and Djokovic, but he has an overwhelming case as the sport’s best current player.

“It is a huge honour for me to be part of those players who have achieved the Roland-Garros and Wimbledon in the same year,” Alcaraz said.

“I’m glad to be on the same table as Novak to do it [and with other] huge champions. I don’t consider myself a champion yet, but I try to keep going, to keep building my path, my journey.”