Novak Djokovic’s boos, Andy Murray’s goodbye and 5 things we learned from Wimbledon 2024

Djokovic clashes with the Centre Court crowd while Raducanu learned lessons for the future

Barbora Krejcikova, Carlos Alcaraz, Andy Murray, Emma Raducanu (PA)

Carlos Alcaraz remains the king of Centre Court after beating Novak Djokovic for the second year running to retain his Wimbledon crown.

There was another new face in the women’s winner’s circle with Czech Barbora Krejcikova downing Italian Jasmine Paolini.

Here, the PA news agency looks at what we learned from this year’s Championships.

Kick the boos

We know Djokovic will never be as popular as Roger Federer, or Rafael Nadal. But neither of those are here any more.

The booing of one of the finest athletes of this or any generation while he is dealing with Holger Rune, a 21-year-old Danish upstart whom a majority of the Centre Court crowd have probably never even heard of, is just weird, and likely orchestrated by the same people who still think shouting ‘come on Tim’ is funny.

Yes, Djokovic can be a divisive character, but reaching a 37th grand slam final, aged 37 and 37 days after having knee surgery, deserved a lot better.

Emma’s unforced error

Emma Raducanu was playing a blinder. Saying all the right things, smiling and laughing and, above all, producing some superb tennis.

Then, from out of nowhere, Britain’s brightest star pulled out of her mixed doubles date with Britain’s most beloved, Andy Murray, citing a stiff wrist and denying the two-time champion one last Wimbledon dance.

The social media backlash was depressingly predictable but those with a greater working knowledge of playing grand slam tennis understood her need to prioritise the singles.

In truth, Raducanu’s only mistake was to agree to play in the first place.

Seven sisters

A seventh new women’s champion in seven years speaks volumes for the WTA field, especially on grass.

Iga Swiatek may reign supreme on clay but the world number one still shows no inclination to adapt to the turf and bowed out in the fourth round, along with second-ranked Coco Gauff.

Such is Swiatek’s Wimbledon record – the 2023 quarter-final is her best result – she has yet to reach the consciousness of the wider British public and could probably walk down Oxford Street unrecognised.

Meanwhile, last year’s unseeded winner Marketa Vondrousova’s title defence lasted just over an hour.

Krejcikova, who won the French Open in 2021, came through the field this time but the women’s draw remains virtually impossible to pick.

Walking wounded

Djokovic, Murray, Aryna Sabalenka, Frances Tiafoe and Dan Evans arrived injured.

Alex De Minaur, Alexander Zverev, Hubert Hurkacz, Madison Keys and Anna Kalinskaya were crocked along the way.

Are the grass courts too slippery? Possibly. Is the tennis calendar too packed? Definitely.

On the men’s side there were 37 five-set matches, a record for a grand slam.

With just three weeks between the French Open final and the start of Wimbledon, it is little wonder the casualties start to pile up at this time of year.

Brit of all right

Of the 19 home singles entrants in the draw, Murray did not make the start line but at least showed he has a future on the after-dinner speaking circuit.

There were a mixed bag of results, among them Jack Draper losing to the man he replaced as British number one, Cameron Norrie.

But there were three British women – Raducanu, Harriet Dart and qualifier Sonay Kartal – in the third round for the first time in 40 years, and Raducanu made it one step further before falling to surprise package Lulu Sun.

Honourable mentions go to Jacob Fearnley, who took a set off Djokovic in the second round, men’s doubles winner Henry Patten, and Alfie Hewett, who finally completed his career grand slam with victory in the wheelchair singles.