Wimbledon 2024 LIVE: Tennis result as sensational Carlos Alcaraz retains title with Novak Djokovic demolition
Alcaraz brilliantly defended his title with a straight-sets win over seven-time champion Djokovic on Centre Court
Carlos Alcaraz is a two-time Wimbledon champion after beating Novak Djokovic for the second year in a row to successfully defend his men’s singles title.
The 21-year-old once again denied Djokovic in his bid to win a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon men’s title, as the 37-year-old fell short in his attempts to win a 25th grand slam.
A year on from his epic five-set triumph, Alcaraz produced a masterclass and claimed a fourth grand slam title with a one-sided destruction of most successful men’s player of all time. Alcaraz dominated from the start and came through a nervy third-set tiebreak after squandering three match points to win 6-2 6-2 7-6 in two and half hours.
Alcaraz becomes just the third man in the Open era to win multiple Wimbledon titles aged 21 or under. The Spaniard now has four grand slam titles, and is just the sixth man in the Open era to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same summer.
Elsewhere, Britain’s Alfie Hewett has won the wheelchair singles title for the first time, defeating Spain’s Martin de la Puente 6-2 6-3 to complete the career grand slam. Hewett put his celebrations on hold as he later teamed up with Reid for a sixth wheelchair doubles victory. Barbora Krejecikova won the women’s singles title yesterday after a three-set win over Jasmine Paolini, while British hopeful Henry Patten won the men’s doubles alongside partner Harri Heliovaara.
Follow all the latest scores and match updates from the Wimbledon men’s final below:
Wimbledon 2024: Novak Djokovic 1-4 Carlos Alcaraz* - BREAK
A passing backhand winner from Alcaraz beats Djokovic’s approach to the net. That option hasn’t worked for the 24x Grand Slam champion.
Alcaraz has certainly settled quicker. He takes on a second serve from Djokovic and moves 0-30 up but a sharp serve in the next rally puts him on the defensive. Djokovic presses the advantage and forces an error but flinging down an ace to make the game level at 30-30.
An attempt to go down the line with a backhand clips the tape and offers up another break point for Alcaraz. Can he take it?
Yes! But it’s Djokovic at fault. He double faults the serve and Alcaraz has a double break in the first set.
Wimbledon 2024: *Novak Djokovic 1-3 Carlos Alcaraz
What has been evident from these opening matches is that Carlos Alcaraz’s serve is on point. If he keeps that up then Novak Djokovic is going to have a tough time today (and how often have we been able to confidently say that).
Alcaraz holds to love and moves two games ahead once more. Another break of serve could decide the first set.
Wimbledon 2024: Novak Djokovic 1-2 Carlos Alcaraz*
There will be a response. Having watch Novak Djokovic over the years he rises to the occasion when he’s being put under the test.
Djokovic takes the first point with a nice serve then comes up to the net and watches Alcaraz ping a passing winner wide of his outstretched forehand. He has approached the net eight times already and only won two of those points.
Both men accummulate another point each before Alcaraz drives a forehand into the net. Djokovic’s next serve lands on the centre line, Alcaraz doesn’t move and the ace brings the Serb a hold of serve.
Wimbledon 2024: *Novak Djokovic 0-2 Carlos Alcaraz
That opening game took 14 minutes to decide. If things continue like that then we’re in for a long, long day. In response Djokovic takes the first point of Alcaraz’s first service game before the Spaniard gets his serve to work.
Two quick serves bring him the next two points before a fizzing 136mph serve out to the Djokovic backhand puts him 40-15. Alcaraz seems to mean business here.
Djokovic hooks a backhand out of play to give the game up and Alcaraz completes the break in this first set.
Wimbledon 2024: Novak Djokovic 0-1 Carlos Alcaraz* - BREAK!
Djokovic chips a volley into the net and gives Alcaraz another chance to break. Alcaraz gets the first serve back but Djokovic drills a forehand out of play!
It’s a break for the Spaniard.
Wimbledon 2024: *Novak Djokovic 0-0 Carlos Alcaraz
Wow! Alcaraz goes after a second serve and whips a two-handed backhand with of Djokovic to set up a third break point. But again Alcaraz drills one into the net.
Djokovic obviously thinks approaching the net is key. He comes forward and manages to return a couple of fizzing forehands with volleys but Alcaraz’s third effort forces the error.
The next serve goes out wide but Alcaraz manages to get it back only for Djokovic to smash back a winner. It’s the fourth break point he’s saved in this game.
Wimbledon 2024: *Novak Djokovic 0-0 Carlos Alcaraz
He doesn’t get it! An unforced error sees Alcaraz run a cross court forehand into the net and Djokovic brings him back down to deuce.
The Serb then moves to advantage with a pacey serve but overhits a backhand trying to close out the game.
A third deuce sees Djokovic attempt a serve-and-volley from his second serve but Alcaraz smokes a forehand down the line for a passing winner. The second break point is saved with a great serve again.
Djokovic isn’t giving this game up despite it being the opening one of the match. He moves to advantage on deuce number four, misses his first serve and then lands the second one.
Alcaraz dictates the rally moving Djokovic left-to-right before approaching the net. Djokovic goes for a lob and knocks it long. Back to deuce.
Wimbledon 2024: *Novak Djokovic 0-0 Carlos Alcaraz
Djokovic is quick to get on the board though and moves level before serving to Alcaraz’s backhand. Alcaraz powers a two-handed return into the tape and sees the ball drop into Djokovic’s side of court to which he offers up an apology.
Alcaraz is then too exuberent on a forehand and pings it over the back before Djokovic takes control of the game with an ace. He leads 40-30.
Not to be outdone, Alcaraz focuses on keeping the ball in play. He’s worked left-to-right but takes the game to deuce thanks to an error from his opponent.
In the next rally Djokovic switches it up and comes forward, he volleys a powerful hit into the deck but Alcaraz goes down tge kube and Djokovic can’t get there.
A first break point for the Spaniard coming up...
Wimbledon 2024: *Novak Djokovic 0-0 Carlos Alcaraz
Here we go.
Novak Djokovic has the opening serve and sends it to Alcaraz’s backhand. A short rally follows with the Spaniard holding steady on the middle of the baseline. He works a forehand over to the sideline and Djokovic’s attempted cross court return lands out of play.
Alcaraz takes the first point.
Wimbledon 2024: *Novak Djokovic 0-0 Carlos Alcaraz
Alcaraz has tended to start slowly throughout this tournament and Djokovic will know that. The 37-year-old is looking to become the oldest champion ever at Wimbledon and knows he has a very strong chance this afternoon.
This match could be a long one and both men will need to be on it from the get-go.
They go through a few warm up serves and start to settle on the court. There’s a humming anticipation from the crowd ahead of this match commencing.
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