Wimbledon 2024: Alcaraz beats Djokovic, a new ‘rule’ begins!

Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz triumphed over Serbia’s Novak Djokovic 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4) to win Wimbledon for the second time in a row and fourth Grand Slam at just 21 years old. This match mirrored last year’s final, where Alcaraz beat Djokovic in five sets. The final, held at Centre Court, was smooth for Alcaraz, with Britain’s Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, in attendance as she receives cancer treatment.

Alcaraz faced a brief setback when serving for the win at 5-4 in the third set, where he had three match points. However, he showed remarkable resilience, regaining his focus and securing his second consecutive Grand Slam trophy following his French Open win last month. The Spaniard claimed his first Grand Slam victory in 2022 at the US Open as a youngster. Nobody has achieved more Grand Slam victories before turning 22, and this victory improved his record in major finals to 4-0.

Djokovic fell short of capturing his 25th Grand Slam title

On the other hand, 37-year-old Djokovic missed out on his eighth Wimbledon and 25th Grand Slam title. He wore a bandage on his surgically repaired knee, having injured it at Roland Garros on June 3 and undergoing surgery just two days later. Even after nearly six weeks, Djokovic didn’t seem to be in top form on Sunday, a testament to his resilience and determination. His children were in the ‘guest box.’ He commented, ‘My level of play was not good in the first two sets. Today everything was in his favor. I tried to beat him. But it could not happen.’

Alcaraz found himself in a strong position during the third set, leading 5-4 and holding a 40-love advantage. It seemed like victory was within reach, but the pressure of the moment got to him. In a critical turn of events, he committed a double fault that cost him his first championship point. This mistake set off a chain reaction of errors, which proved costly in the high-stakes match against Djokovic. Alcaraz’s confidence appeared to waver, and his performance began to unravel. Instead of closing out the game, he faltered, missing a crucial backhand, followed by a forehand volley and then two additional forehands.

As Djokovic capitalized on Alcaraz’s missteps, the momentum shifted. The missed shots not only allowed Djokovic to win that game but also put Alcaraz in a more challenging mental space as he battled against a seasoned opponent. This moment highlighted the pressure of championship play when even a small mistake could have serious consequences. Alcaraz, despite his earlier brilliance, faced a tough reality as he worked to regain his focus. It was a crucial turning point in the match that illustrated the intensity of competition at this level and the fine line between victory and defeat.

Djokovic acknowledged his loss in straight sets

Djokovic managed to break Alcaraz’s serve for the only time in the match, bringing the score to five-all, which left Alcaraz looking frustrated and Djokovic optimistic about a comeback. However, in the tiebreaker, Alcaraz seized his fourth match point and stayed as composed as possible. The match concluded in under two and a half hours, a testament to the intensity and competitiveness of the game. Although the opening game was anticipated to be a long and intense battle, Alcaraz won the first two sets 6-2, making the third set the most competitive of the match.

Djokovic missed two break points in the first set due to a double fault. He then volleyed into the net at the beginning of the second set and ultimately lost it with another double fault. The young Alcaraz performed exceptionally well against the older Djokovic, executing shots that few could even attempt. Two days before the final, Djokovic spoke highly of Alcaraz, stating, “I see a lot of similarities between him and me, and I am saying this on the basis of the ability to adapt to the court. He has the skill to adapt to play on any court. He is a very competitive player.”

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