Novak Djokovic lost to Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets in the Wimbledon final
Novak Djokovic failed to lift his eighth Wimbledon trophy, falling to Carlos Alcaraz in the title match for the second straight year. While they embraced a five-setter in last year’s final, Carlos outplayed Novak this time, scoring a 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 triumph in two hours and 27 minutes.
Thus, the Spaniard claimed his fourth Major crown at 21, showing his incredible tennis once again on the most notable scene and earning numerous records and achievements. Novak suffered a rare straight-sets loss in a Major final, praising his opponent and admitting he felt inferior on the court.
Djokovic is unsure what he could do to change the outcome of the duel, with Alcaraz playing every shot more efficiently.
Carlos made a flying start, storming over Novak in the opening two sets and building a massive advantage.
The Serb raised his level in the third set, erasing the deficit after saving three match points but falling in the tie break, experiencing his third defeat in the Wimbledon finals. The Spaniard dominated with his first serve, earning free points and allowing himself to attack.
The young gun faced only three break points, one in the opening two sets, losing serve while serving for the title but recovering. On the other hand, Djokovic felt the pressure behind the initial shot, giving away 42% of the points and suffering five breaks from 14 chances presented to the defending champion.
Alcaraz landed 42 winners and 24 unforced errors, passing Djokovic many times and covering the court beautifully. Novak rushed to the net over 50 times.
Novak Djokovic felt outplayed by Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final.
However, he grabbed only half of the points after moving forward, failing to impose drop volleys and make things more difficult for his opponent.
Unlike a year ago, Carlos made a flying start and gained a boost. The opening game lasted 13 minutes, and the Spaniard made an initial push on the return. Alcaraz created five break points and converted the last after Djokovic’s wayward forehand.
Carlos grabbed the second game at 15 after Novak’s backhand error, and the Serb reduced the deficit with a hold in the next one. The young gun produced a hold at love in the fourth game and made another push on the return in the next one.
Djokovic played another loose service game, hitting a double fault and falling 4-1 behind. Novak created his first break chance in the sixth game, with Carlos saving it and maintaining the advantage.
Djokovic prolonged the set with a hold at love in game seven before Alcaraz wrapped up the opener with a service winner in the next one, securing an early advantage after 41 minutes.
The Spaniard maintained that pace in the second set, serving well and taking almost half of the return points for two more breaks on his tally. Novak played a wayward volley at the net in the first game and lost serve, pushing his opponent in front.
Carlos cemented the lead after a deuce in game two and moved 3-1 in front with a crafty drop shot winner. Djokovic stayed within one break deficit with a hold in game five, and Alcaraz repeated that in the next one for 4-2.
The Serb felt more issues behind the initial shot in the seventh game, offering the Spaniard a break point after a volley mistake.
Novak hit a double fault, falling 5-2 behind and allowing Carlos to wrap up the set with powerful serves in the next one, sailing toward the finish line after an hour and 15 minutes.
Djokovic reached a deuce on the return in the second game of the third set before facing the ultimate test on serve in the next one. Eager to avoid another early setback, the seven-time champion denied them and produced a vital hold that kept him in touch.
Novak held for 3-2 and made a rare push on the return in the next one after forcing two deuces. The veteran created a break chance with a backhand winner, and the young gun saved it with a powerful serve. Carlos wrapped up the game after over ten minutes, leveling the score at 3-3 and keeping his serve intact.
They served well in games seven and eight before Alcaraz stepped in on the return at 4-4.
Carlos created three break chances with a volley winner and seized the second with a backhand crosscourt winner, moving in front and serving for the title at 5-4.
The Spaniard earned three match points, looking good to wrap up a perfect performance before the Serb stepped in. Djokovic denied them and welcomed rare forehand errors from his opponent to deliver his first and only break, locking the result at 5-5 and extending the battle.
They served well in games 11 and 12, introducing a tie break. Novak sprayed a backhand error in the third point and fell 3-1 behind after Carlos’ forehand winner. The Serb pulled the mini-break back in the sixth point after the Spaniard’s backhand mistake before Alcaraz clinched a thrilling point for 4-3.
Novak sprayed a costly error in the eighth point before reducing the deficit to 5-4. Carlos created two more match points with a drop shot winner and converted the first with an unreturned serve, lifting his fourth Major crown at 21.
“Honestly, it’s hard to tell what I could have done better. I felt inferior on the court, as Carlos played every shot better than me. I’m not sure he could have done anything better,” Novak Djokovic said.
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