Back on Sunday afternoon, Carlos Alcaraz successfully defended his title at SW19 and joined rarefied air as the sixth player to complete the Channel Slam – clinching both Roland-Garros and Wimbledon titles in the same season – as the Spaniard started fast, served well and finished assertively against a less-than-100% Novak Djokovic during their final rematch. How did he do it this time?
More for me: Alcaraz a four-time Major champion now
Alcaraz [3] bt. Djokovic [2] 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4)
- 21-year-old the ninth man to successfully defend Wimbledon title, having beaten the Serbian in deciding set thriller last summer and fourth to win four Major titles at age 21-under (Mats Wilander, Bjorn Borg, Boris Becker)
- Alcaraz: “It’s a dream for me, winning this trophy, I did an interview when I was 11-12 and said this was my dream … being able to repeat it. Obviously is a great feeling to play in this court, this is the most beautiful tournament, court and trophy. Djokovic is an unbelievable fighter, I knew he would have chances, I tried to win the point with an ace, it was difficult but I just tried to stay positive and calm, play my best tennis, really glad I could find the solutions, really happy to be in this situation and play a great tiebreak.”
- Djokovic gracious in defeat: “He was definitely very hot today on court. Not the result I wanted, especially the first couple of sets… level of tennis wasn’t up to par from my side but credit to him for a complete game, tried to push him and extend the match a little but it wasn’t meant to be, an absolutely deserved winner today, congratulations for amazing tennis.
SEVEN deuces in the first game, 14 minutes, five break points, a flagging first serve and an early Carlos Alcaraz break. It wasn’t immediately clear but that sequence soon set the tone as he beat Novak Djokovic in another Major final, this one more clinically and many have already described it as the true changing of the guard.
Djokovic netted a volley, then went wide with a forehand rally ball on consecutive points to give the Spaniard first blood in a final which, 25 minutes in, was already much different than the early stages of last summer’s showdown. Alcaraz cranked a 136mph serve out wide – his fastest of the tournament – consolidating that break while Djokovic’s net approach game jarringly continued to fail him.
The seven-time champion was repeatedly under duress on serve, Alcaraz having banished his early jitters in an absorbing first game, and a double-fault handed the Alicante resident a double break lead.
He saved break point in the subsequent game, powered by a 130mph serve, as the Spaniard’s serving cranked up a few notches given his spotty tendencies over this fortnight. What a time to do so after teething problems during earlier rounds.
Djokovic did well to earn a love-hold but it was merely a formality as Alcaraz raced away to take set one before that pressure returned on the Serb’s racquet again with another early break established. Deep returns and cleaner ball-striking helped Alcaraz command the bulk of their rally exchanges while he rarely found himself under nearly the same precarious situations. If and when he did, no panic.
Clarity of thought and sharp decision-making allowed him to redirect big serves back with interest, pull Djokovic out wide or to the net and play the percentages.
Novak missed some shots you’d expect him to make with relative ease sure, but the game at 4-2* in the second set spoke volumes: 30-0 up, he missed another volley in a whirlwind of poorly-executed points before double-faulting when break point down.
After a straightforward service hold, Djokovic started to make inroads on the Alcaraz serve to start set three. Another clinical passing shot winner set the tone as the defending champion proactively swatted away net approach advances quickly.
Djokovic’s level increased incrementally as the crowd got behind him, itching to see more tennis rather than the startingly one-sided scoreline mounting before their eyes on Centre Court.
Alcaraz saved a rare break point – 123mph serve – then followed it up with a 134mph howitzer as those booming serves continued, finish line now in sight. 126 minutes on the clock and a trio of championship points were on the youngster’s racquet, having expertly broken Djokovic once more a game prior.
He double-faulted on the first before Djokovic saved two more and eventually prolonged their absorbing contest with his first break of the day, when hope was flagging and his temperament uncomfortably frayed. This should’ve been over.
Into a tiebreak they went, Alcaraz originally led 3-1 after some expertly constructed points as his first serve – powerful though it was – had started to look patchy.
They jostled for control, going back-and-forth and Carlos had the championship in his hands again up 5-4 with two serves to close it out. A beautifully disguised drop shot set up a fourth opportunity and 20 minutes after his first, he got the job done.
Picture source: Getty, quotes via BBC TV
More analysis to follow shortly…
Mo and Sports 