Wimbledon 2024 LIVE: Tennis score as sensational Carlos Alcaraz just a set away from win over Novak Djokovic
History is on the line as the defending champion Alcaraz takes on the seven-time winner Djokovic on Centre Court
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz meet again in the Wimbledon men’s final in a rematch of last year’s five-set epic on Centre Court. Alcaraz edged a thriller to win Wimbledon for the first time but Djokovic will be out for revenge as he looks to equal Roger Federer’s Wimbledon record of eight men’s titles and move ahead on his own with 25 grand slam singles titles.
Alcaraz, 21, is now a three-time grand slam champion and is bidding to add the Wimbledon title to his French Open won last month. The Spaniard is the favourite against seven-time champion Djokovic, who made a stunning recovery from knee surgery to reach a 10th Wimbledon final. At 37, Djokovic is aiming to become the oldest men’s champion in the Open era.
Last year’s final was one of the greatest ever played at Wimbledon and the rematch promises more drama ahead of the Euro 2024 final tonight. Djokovic and Alcaraz are also playing for record prize money, while the trophy will be presented by the Princess of Wales.
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 will be looking to complete a Wimbledon double later, as he defends the doubles title with Gordon Reid. 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: Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid to go for doubles title later
Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid are the defending champions and top seed’s ahead of the men’s wheelchair doubles title later. They will face Japan pair Takuya Miki and Tokito Oda, who are the second seeds.
Wimbledon 2024: Alfie Hewett wins wheelchair singles title to complete grand slam
Alfie Hewett will return to World No 1 on Monday and receives the Wimbledon wheelchair singles trophy on Court One before holding it aloft.
At last, says Rishi Persad.
“You don’t need to remind me. I’m speechless. The last few years have been difficult. Winning the doubles has been good memories but losing in the singles has been heartbreaking. I’ve been trying to keep the positives, but when it’s been your dream for so long, it’s difficult.
“I was a bag of nerves all night last year. I was to congratulate Martin, we played in juniors. I said to him at the net, it’s amazing how far we’re come. I’m sure we’re going to have many more battles.
“Thank you to my team. No matter how many times you get kocked down, it’s about how you get back up and that’s thanks to you guys.”
Wimbledon 2024: GAME, SET AND MATCH!
Alfie Hewett has done it! After heartbreak in the last two finals, he wins the wheelchair singles title! He breaks Martin de la Puente’s serve for the seventh time to capture the title he has been pushing for for so long!
He completes the career grand slam and breaks into tears on Championship point! There’s a lovely embrace between Hewett and De la Puente as the Briton soaks in the applause of the home crowd.
Nine career singles titles, and the sweetest one yet for the 26-year-old star, who could also win the doubles title along with Gordon Reid this evening.
The final score is 6-2 6-3.
Wimbledon 2024: Men’s wheelchair singles final latest score
A HUGE hold for Hewett, as he converts his third game point to move 5-3 ahead in the second set! De la Puente was pressing for the break again, ramping up his forehand off the returns, and Hewett looked frustrated as a 40-15 lead dwindled.
But Hewett scrambles to make the return, as De la Puente finds the net with the short pick-up volley.
He moves one game away from the title!
Wimbledon 2024: Men’s wheelchair singles final latest score
As Alfie Hewett continues to struggle on serve, Martin de la Puente breaks back for the second time as the Briton commits a double fault on break point. The Spaniard had just whacked a return winner off Hewett’s second serve, and the Briton rolled his next second serve into the net.
All square at 3-3 in the second set.
Wimbledon 2024: Carlos Alcaraz’s five-set record could be his greatest weapon
This has been a demanding tournament for Alcaraz, a little different from his journey to last year’s final where everything was so loose and carefree.
But the champion, who now has something to lose, has become so hard to beat: while Alcaraz has not won in straight sets since the second round, losing the opening set in three of his last four matches in returning to the final, the Spaniard has developed a supreme confidence that he can escape any hole he finds himself in.
He did so in last year’s Wimbledon final, of course, but it has strengthened since winning the French Open last month.
At Roland Garros, Alcaraz was two sets to one down in the semi-finals to Jannik Sinner and in the final to Alexander Zverev, yet he came back to win the fourth and fifth and claim his third grand slam title. His fifth-set record has improved to 12-1 and his only defeat when matches have gone the full distance was as an 18-year-old, against Matteo Berrettini in the third round of the Australian Open.
Wimbledon 2024: Carlos Alcaraz the favourite against Novak Djokovic?
Alcaraz could be the favourite when he faces Djokovic in the rematch, in part due to the Serbian’s knee and any lingering questions over his fitness, but also because of how Alcaraz has inherited Djokovic’s powers of inevitability since capturing last year’s title. If you can beat Djokovic on Centre Court once, you can do it again, and Alcaraz is a stronger, more confident player than 12 months ago.
Djokovic sees similarities between himself and his younger opponent. He believes Alcaraz is “as complete a player as they come” and said after last year’s final that the Spaniard’s game was a perfect blend of the sport’s “Big Three”.
It is fitting, therefore, that Alcaraz is bidding to become the first player since Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same summer, in what is one of the toughest challenges in the sport. “It’s going to take the best of my ability to beat him,” Djokovic said.
Wimbledon 2024: Men’s wheelchair singles final latest score - SET!
A brilliant opening set from Alfie Hewett! After getting the break at 2-2, he surges away from Martin de la Puente to take it 6-2. The Brit is halfway to achieving his holy grail of winning the Wimbledon singles title!
Wimbledon 2024: Novak Djokovic with further praise for Carlos Alcaraz:
“He surprised I think all of us last year the way he played in Queen’s and Wimbledon, which he won back-to-back. You would think that for someone growing up in Spain, as he did, the way he’s playing, clay court, Grand Slam win, which happened this year in Roland Garros, and US Open a few years ago was maybe not as surprising as Wimbledon, but the way he has moved, played the last couple of years on grass has been terrific to watch, to be honest.
“I see a lot of similarities between me and him in terms of ability to adapt and adjust to the surface. I think that’s probably his biggest trait, is that he’s got skills to play equally well on any surface and to adapt to a given opponent that particular day.
“So he’s a very all-around player, very complete player. Impressive what he has done for such a young age. I said on the court, which I think probably all of us share the same opinion, that he’s going to win many slams in his career.
“Hope he’s going to give me this one in two days, and let’s see (smiling). After that I’ll cheer for him.”
Wimbledon 2024: Men’s wheelchair singles final latest score
Both men struggling to hold serve in this wheelchair singles final. After his four unsuccessful break points in the opening game, Alfie Hewett broke Martin de la Puente at the second time of asking, only to immediately be broken back by the Spaniard.
But an ill-timed double fault by De la Puente has just seen him lose serve again, so the Brit leads 3-2. Can he consolidate the break with a hold this time?
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