Carlos Alcaraz denies Novak Djokovic to claim Wimbledon crown

Jonathan Davies in Wimbledon 30 Aug 2023

Alcaraz landed his second major title at SW19 (Hugo Philpott/UPI Credit: UPI/Alamy Live News)

Carlos Alcaraz ended Novak Djokovic’s reign at Wimbledon as he came through an epic five-set final to take the 2023 title on Sunday.

At 20 years and 72 days old, the world number one became the third-youngest men’s singles champion in the Open Era at SW19 – after Boris Becker (1985) and Bjorn Borg (1976) – after prevailing 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 in a thrilling final that lasted just shy of five hours on Centre Court, which is one of the best and biggest tennis stadiums in the world.

Alcaraz is also the third Spanish man to triumph at the All England Club – after Manuel Santana and Rafael Nadal – and ended Djokovic’s hopes of landing a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon title, and fifth on the bounce.

The top seed was the first player to beat the 23-time major champion here since Tomas Berdych in 2017, ending his 34-match winning streak, while also inflicting a first Centre Court defeat on him in 46 attempts since the 2013 final.

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— Live Tennis (@livetennis) July 16, 2023

“It’s a dream come true for me,” he told the BBC in his post-match on-court interview. “It’s great to win.

“Even if I lost, I’d be really proud of myself in this amazing run and making history in this beautiful moment. Playing a final against a legend of this sport, it’s incredible.”

“I didn’t expect to reach this kind of situation really fast,” added Queen’s Club champion Alcaraz, who claimed his second title in only four grass-court events. “I’ve fallen in love with grass right now. It’s really special to be a member of this iconic club.”

Separated by just under 16 years, this was the second-largest age gap between the two men’s singles finalists since Jimmy Connors took on Ken Rosewall in the 1974 championship match.

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— Live Tennis (@livetennis) July 16, 2023

The gulf in experience was evident early on as 36-year-old Djokovic, appearing in his ninth Wimbledon final, broke three times to run away with the opening set.

The record-chasing Serb had won each of his last eight major finals after winning the first set, suffering his most recent such defeat against Stan Wawrinka at the 2016 US Open.

Despite an early break in the second, he hit back immediately as it went the distance, and he looked set to win his 16th successive grand slam tie-break after establishing a 3-0 lead.

But Alcaraz responded by winning eight of the next 11 points to end that streak and become the first player since Enzo Couacaud at the Australian Open to deny Djokovic.

The reigning US Open champion was growing in confidence and broke early in the third set for a 3-1 lead. The pendulum then swung firmly in his favour when he eventually broke at the seventh attempt in a mammoth 26-minute long fifth game, before edging his nose ahead in the final.

Back came Djokovic, breaking for 3-2 in the fourth set and again to love to take it 6-3 and set up his record-equalling fifth five-set major final (level with Borg).

Andy Murray was the only player to deny him at this stage of a grand slam showpiece, doing so at Flushing Meadows in 2012.

He fashioned the first opportunity to break in the decider at 40-30 in the second game, but the gasps echoed around Centre Court as he sent a forehand volley into the net with the court gaping.

Alcaraz, who had only lost one of the nine previous fifth sets he had faced at slams, embraced the reprieve to hold, before a rasping backhand pass gave him a crucial break in the following game.

✅ Manuel Santana
✅ Rafael Nadal
? Carlos Alcaraz

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— Live Tennis (@livetennis) July 16, 2023

Djokovic’s frustration was evident as he slammed his racquet into the net post with the prospect of equalling Roger Federer’s eight titles appearing to be slipping away.

The seven-time champion regained his composure to maintain the pressure on Alcaraz but the latter did not wilt and, in similar fashion to compatriot Nadal following that epic victory over Federer 15 years ago, sunk to the floor in glory after his opponent sent a backhand into the tape.

“Obviously, you never like to lose matches like this,” a gracious Djokovic added. “It’s a tough one to swallow when you are so close.

“But when all the emotions are settled, I have to still be very grateful. I won many tight and close matches in the past here. Maybe, I should have lost a couple of finals that I won.

“These are the moments that we work for every single day – to be able to play on the biggest stages, the most important tournaments in the world. I’ve been blessed with so many incredible matches throughout my career, so this is just another one in the history books for me.

“I lost to a better player and I have to congratulate him and move on stronger, hopefully.”