At only 20 years old, here is the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz crowned new king of Wimbledon: by beating the Serbian Novak Djokovic there, Sunday July 16, the world N.1 won his second Grand Slam title after the US Open 2022.
It deprives Novak Djokovic of an eighth trophy at Wimbledon which would have enabled him to equal the absolute record of 24 Grand Slam titles held by Margaret Court.
Novak Djokovic was unbeaten on Center Court at Wimbledon for ten years and his final loss to Andy Murray in 2013. He was unbeaten at Wimbledon since his quarter-final loss in 2017 and so Alcaraz ended a streak of 34 consecutive wins.
At Wimbledon, Spain hit the mark
Sunday, July 16, the game was not always of a very high level. The breathtaking exchanges were punctuated by too many unforced errors on both sides (40 for Djokovic and 45 for Alcaraz).
But unlike the Roland-Garros semi-final where Alcaraz had given up after two sets due to cramps, the indecision of the Wimbledon final lasted until the end of the fifth set, after 4:42 of the match.
Djokovic immediately showed his opponent who was boss. The Serb only had one break point to save, in the very first game of the game and then was imperial on his face-off. While taking Alcaraz’s serve twice, unable to find the good rhythm.
The Spaniard tried to find support in his box, counting on the advice of his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero.
After this ghostly first round, with some good points and the support of the public, Alcaraz returned to the game. He made the entry break in the second set and became a conqueror again.
“Joko” lost in his game and in his head
But Djokovic equalized at 2-2 and the players came to the tie break where Alcaraz prevailed and thus ended the record series of 14 decisive games won by Djokovic in a row in Grand Slams.
The Serb then went through a big slack in the third set and it was he who was completely overwhelmed.
As often when he feels the situation slipping away from him, Djokovic left the court at the end of the third set.
Lost in his game and in his head, he made bad decisions, including without playing: as when he stopped a rally by asking for video arbitration on a ball that he considers too long and which in reality is clearly on line.
But on his return, Djokovic was again much more incisive and enterprising. He broke to lead 3-2 and offered himself three set points on Alcaraz’s serve at 5-3. The Spaniard offered him the round on a double fault.
The Serb thus started the deciding set on his serve to race in the lead. Not long since Alcaraz succeeded in breaking a backhand passing to lead 2-1 and he confirmed with an ace (3-1).
He kept his face-off until the end without ever conceding a break point.
With AFP
2023-07-16 17:52:45
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