Carlos Alcaraz Overpowers Djokovic to Retain Wimbledon Title

Sun Jul 14 2024
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LONDON: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain retained his Wimbledon crown by overpowering Novak Djokovic in straight sets on Sunday, signaling a definitive shift in men’s tennis.

The 21-year-old, seeded third, showcased a blend of raw power and finesse to claim a 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4) victory on Centre Court, securing his fourth Grand Slam title and equaling the Open Era record for most Grand Slams won by the age of 21, alongside legends such as Boris Becker, Bjorn Borg, and Mats Wilander.

Djokovic, a seven-time Wimbledon champion and at 37 years old a seasoned veteran of the sport, was no match for the relentless onslaught from Alcaraz. Despite recovering from recent knee surgery, the Serbian struggled to find his rhythm throughout the match, unable to counter the Spaniard’s aggressive play from the baseline and deft touch at the net.

Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic, Wimbledon, Tennis, Spain, Serbian, Novak Djokovic, London,

The match began with a fiercely contested opening game lasting 14 minutes, where Alcaraz capitalized on his fifth break point to set the tone for the encounter. Maintaining composure on his serve, Alcaraz swiftly consolidated his lead with a double break, clinching the first set 6-2 as Djokovic faltered under pressure.

The second set saw Alcaraz continue his dominance, breaking Djokovic’s serve in the opening game and holding firm on his own to go up 2-0. Despite brief signs of resurgence from Djokovic, including saving multiple break points, Alcaraz remained resolute, breaking again to lead 5-2 before sealing the set with authority.

Entering the third set trailing two sets to love, Djokovic battled to stay in contention, fending off early break points and demonstrating glimpses of his renowned resilience. However, Alcaraz continued his assault, breaking Djokovic once more to edge ahead 5-4. Amidst mounting tension, Alcaraz served for the championship but faltered, allowing Djokovic to break back and force a tie-break.

Carlos Alcaraz Overpowers Djokovic to Retain Wimbledon Title 2

In the decisive tie-break, Alcaraz maintained his nerve, capitalizing on Djokovic’s errors to secure a 5-3 lead before closing out the match with his fourth championship point, clinching victory with a scoreline of 7-6 (7/4).

The win solidifies Alcaraz’s status as a rising star in the tennis world, having now triumphed at both the French Open and Wimbledon consecutively, a feat achieved by only a select few in history. Meanwhile, Djokovic, still seeking his 25th Grand Slam title to surpass the all-time record, will refocus on the Paris Olympics following a disappointing campaign at SW19.

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