In the world of tennis, where legends are made and names are etched in history, there's never been a player quite like Carlos Alcaraz. With his stunning straight-sets victory over Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon men's final – a cool 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) win – Alcaraz just became the first Spaniard to defend his Wimbledon crown. Even Rafael Nadal couldn’t pull that off!
At just 21, Alcaraz already has four Grand Slam titles under his belt, winning every major final he’s entered. He’s now bested Djokovic twice in Wimbledon finals, a tournament the Serb has dominated with seven titles. Alcaraz is on a rocket ride to greatness, holding both the French Open and Wimbledon titles this year, joining an elite group of just six men in the Open Era to achieve this feat. Think Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, Nadal, Roger Federer, and Djokovic – Alcaraz is in legendary company.
"It's a huge honor for me to be part of those players who have achieved the Roland Garros – Wimbledon (double) in the same year,” Alcaraz said, still humble and hungry for more at the same time.
The Master at Work
Alcaraz’s performance was a masterclass. His soft touch at the net, powerful forehand, lightning-quick serve, and deadly two-handed backhand were all on display. Djokovic, a titan of the sport, looked almost human against Alcaraz's relentless game.
Even Djokovic couldn’t help but praise him, saying Alcaraz played “amazing tennis” and deserved the win. High praise from the world No. 2, who’s seen it all.
A Match for the Ages
The final kicked off with a bang – a 14-minute opening game that saw Alcaraz break Djokovic right away. Memories of last year’s five-set thriller between the two came rushing back, but Alcaraz had different plans this time. He dominated the first two sets, making Djokovic look out of sorts. By the second set, Djokovic was scrambling, searching for answers against the young Spaniard’s onslaught.
Djokovic’s usual sharp net play faltered, while Alcaraz dazzled from the baseline. His power and precision left the 24-time Grand Slam champ looking like a man who’d recently had knee surgery – which, to be fair, he had. The Serb’s achievement of even reaching the final post-surgery shouldn’t be overlooked, but Alcaraz was simply unstoppable.
Turning Lemons into Lemonade?
John McEnroe once said Djokovic could turn lemons into lemonade like no one else. But this time, the Serb seemed flat, his sparkle dimmed by the future of men’s tennis, a player 16 years his junior.
Djokovic had his moments, particularly when Alcaraz squandered three championship points. But in the end, Alcaraz held his nerve, sealing the victory with a highlight-reel tie-break that left the crowd – and Djokovic – in awe.
The Future is Bright
With questions swirling about how many more Grand Slams Alcaraz will win, one thing is clear: the sky’s the limit. Djokovic’s record of 24 major titles doesn't seem so unreachable if Alcaraz keeps this form and fitness. Unlike Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal, he doesn't yet have rivals of their caliber to battle consistently.
Djokovic will no doubt be back, gunning for that elusive 25th Slam and Federer’s record eight Wimbledon titles. But for now, it's Alcaraz's time to shine. As Djokovic himself said, “He was absolutely the deserved winner today, so huge congratulations to him.”
* CNN contributed to this article.