How Carlos Alcaraz denied Wimbledon favourite Novak Djokovic the precipice of tennis supremacy

A few minutes after one of the biggest occasions of his career had plunged into a pit of despair, Novak Djokovic was still processing how things had gone so badly wrong during Wimbledon final against Carlos Alcaraz.

On a pleasant Sunday afternoon, Djokovic did what he tends to do in big games, easing his way up through the revs, refamiliarising himself with his grass-court movements, the extraordinary flex and twang on the baseline, and the quick dashes to the net.

In another corner, as Alcaraz stood in the tunnel of Centre Court before the summit clash, the last man standing in front of Djokovic's historic 24th career major, he was asked in his pre-match interview whether the ‘ultimate showdown' gave him butterflies. He responded calmly and without hesitation: "It was no time to be afraid." Just hours earlier, Djokovic had feigned mock tears and cupped his ear in response to pro-Sinner supporters. "All love. It's all love. All love and acceptance," he told reporters.

Over the following four hours and 42 minutes, he simply was. For the majority of his second Grand Slam final, Alcaraz tyrannized Djokovic from the baseline, erected a defensive wall on his half of the court, and appeared to serve as if he was standing from a tree. Buoyed by a rollicking crowd and a reinvigorated forehand, Alcaraz thwarted Djokovic's shot at immortality, outplaying the 23-time Grand Slam champion 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 to win his first Wimbledon title.

Having already pocketed the Australian Open and French Open in 2023, victory on Sunday would have put the 36-year-old just one major away from completing the first men's calendar Grand Slam since 1969. But luck was not in his favour.

Djokovic gestures as he plays against Alcaraz during men's singles Wimbledon final (Pic: AFP)

As the showdown began, Djokovic looked out of sorts. Although he led in the first game 1-6, Alcaraz quickly locked in, drawing the Serb into long rallies and sweeping up early unforced errors as the latter tried to escape them.

As the 20-year-old marched through his own service games with ease, Djokovic struggled. After he dug himself out of a self-inflicted 0-2 deficit in the second game, Djokovic held until the end of the set but his frequent serve-and-volley attempts suggested a lack of confidence in baseline rallies with the Spaniard.

But Alcaraz maintained his composure behind serve and eventually powered a rasping backhand return winner on his first set point to equalise the match.

Also Read: Novak Djokovic after losing Wimbledon: 'Some regrets..I had my chances'

The Spaniard overcame a rapid start from Djokovic to lead the Serbian 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-1. In the third set, Alcaraz proceeded to display his extensive shotmaking repertoire in the third set, buoyed by his victory in the tie-break. He kept the pressure on Djokovic, who made 18 unforced errors in an atypical third set performance, with to his forehand power and some incredible deft touches.

Despite his famed ability to recover from any deficit, the 36-year-old had faded this time. Alcaraz calmly set about his business, served out the set, and broke serve to open the third set. As Alcaraz locked down on the baseline, punctuating his winning points with calm fists to the sky, Djokovic's legs looked increasingly heavy with every point. He appeared to meekly give up the second break with a failed serve-and-volley attempt.

Alcaraz broke Djokovic three times in the third set, including in a remarkable 27-minute game at 3-1 which featured 13 deuces, to move ahead in a gripping championship match on Centre Court.

In the fourth set, Djokovic was determined to win a record-breaking 24th major, and the Serbian upped his game once more in the fourth set of what was turning out to be an all-time great final on Centre Court. After holding in the second game after recovering from 15/40, he reverted to his rock-solid play from the first set, broke Alcaraz twice to regain the initiative, and set up a one-set shootout for the championship.

After losing his serve three times in the previous set, Djokovic's service game improved, which allowed him to reenter the game. The Serbian, thumping his thighs in anger, won the set despite only hitting nine wins to Alcaraz's fourteen, saving both break points he was presented with.

As the world's eyes rested on Djokovic, Alcaraz crept in to win his first Wimbledon. In the process, he became just the fifth man in the Open Era to win multiple major titles prior to turning 21, after Mats Wilander, Bjorn Borg, Boris Becker, and Rafael Nadal.

Before the tournament kicked off, Alcaraz was clear about his intentions to ensure that Djokovic, and no other player, could add to their major tally. Now, he is a man of his word.

Alcaraz reacts to winning a point against Djokovic (Pic: AFP)

He prevented Djokovic from what would have been a record-tying eighth title, and fifth in a row, at the grass-court tournament. Instead of Djokovic, a 36-year-old from Serbia, becoming the oldest male champion at Wimbledon in the Open era, Alcaraz, a 20-year-old from Spain, became the third-youngest. The age gap between the two was the widest in any men's Slam final since 1974.

Djokovic fans may disagree, but Alcaraz did seem to have the weapons to break down Djokovic's supreme defenses and potentially go on outshining him. Over time, he has shown improvement on this very surface, gaining far greater comfort with his movements and learning how his improved variety can thrive on the grass. Having played the best grass-court match of his life against Daniil Medvedev in the semis, he headed into the final under ideal circumstances.

As for ‘Nole', this has still been an incredible year. He became the first player in history to achieve the triple career Grand Slam in men's singles and win at least three majors on each of the three surfaces.

As Alcaraz walked to the net to shake hands with Djokovic, the young Spaniard allowed himself a little shake of the head. But he was, as ever, gracious in victory; while being greeted with genuine warmth by the more knowledgable regulars in the crowd, before he bustled off for another dinner of his favourite gluten-free pasta, ‘with a cocoa cream called Ambrosía that has olive oil and dates in it', and the elixir of eternal sporting youth.