Alcaraz dominates Djokovic to retain Wimbledon title
Carlos Alcaraz overpowered seven-time champion Novak Djokovic in straight sets to retain his Wimbledon title on Sunday, signaling a new era in men’s tennis.
The Spanish third seed delivered a stunning performance, blending power and finesse to win 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4), securing the fourth Grand Slam of his young career.
Alcaraz’s victory ties him with Boris Becker, Bjorn Borg, and Mats Wilander for the most Grand Slams won by the age of 21. He also joins the elite group of men who have won both the French Open and Wimbledon consecutively.
Djokovic, 37, who recently underwent knee surgery, was striving for his 25th Grand Slam title, which would have been a record for both men’s and women’s tennis. However, he was unable to match Alcaraz’s intensity and precision, succumbing under the Centre Court sunshine.
The match began with Alcaraz seizing the initiative, breaking Djokovic in a marathon first game lasting 14 minutes.
The Spaniard continued to dominate, securing a double break when Djokovic double-faulted in the fifth game. Despite holding serve to close the gap to 5-2, Djokovic netted the ball, conceding the first set to Alcaraz.
In the second set, Alcaraz immediately applied pressure, breaking Djokovic in the first game and holding his own serve to establish a 2-0 lead.
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Another Djokovic double fault in the seventh game gave Alcaraz a commanding 5-2 lead. The Centre Court crowd, including Catherine, Princess of Wales, watched in disbelief as hopes for a competitive match dwindled.
Djokovic showed signs of a comeback in the third set, defending multiple break points and eventually breaking Alcaraz to level the score at 5-5. However, Alcaraz quickly regained composure, dominating the tie-break and clinching the title on his fourth championship point.
The defeat means Djokovic has yet to beat a top-ten player this year and remains without a title in 2024. He now sets his sights on the Paris Olympics, hoping to secure his first gold medal.
Proofreading, editing by Sakinat Musa Abubakar and Maryam Sulaiman, Editor and Journalist at Neptune Prime.
