Wimbledon 2023 LIVE: Reaction after Carlos Alcaraz defeats Novak Djokovic in final for the ages
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic 1-6 7-6 6-1 3-6 6-4 to win one of the greatest ever Wimbledon finals
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic to win the Wimbledon men’s final, denying the Serbian a fifth consecutive title, in a five-set epic and one of the greatest matches ever played at the All England Club.
Alcaraz fought from a set down in an instant classic to end Djokovic’s winning run in SW19, with the match played across almost five hours of breathtaking drama. Before the final, Djokovic had won 34 consecutive matches at Wimbledon and had not lost on Centre Court since 2013, but Alcaraz overturned history to win his second grand slam title. Djokovic had also won his previous 104 grand slam matches after winning the opening set.
In doing so, the 20-year-old Spaniard brings one of the most dominant eras of tennis history to an end. Alcaraz is the first player outside of the sport’s ‘big four’ of Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray to win the Wimbledon men’s singles title since 2002. Djokovic had been bidding to join Federer by equalling his men’s record of eight singles titles, but was denied by an inspired Alcaraz.
“It’s a dream come true for me,” an emotional Alcaraz said after receiving the trophy from the Princess of Wales. “Making history in this beautiful tournament, playing a final against a legend of our sport – for me it’s incredible. It’s amazing, for a boy like me, 20 years old, to reach this kind of situation.”
Follow live updates and results from day 14 of Wimbledon, below.
Wimbledon LIVE: Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic
*Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 7-6 6-1 3-6 0-1 Novak Djokovic
Djokovic gets up to advantage but Alcaraz whips a spinning forehand over the net, past the approaching Djokovic and lands it in play to get the game back to deuce.
The defending champion maintains his composure though. He lands a great serve the hold serve as Alcaraz goes wide.
Holds of serve are going to be crucial in this set. Whoever breaks serve first will become the Wimbledon champion.
Wimbledon LIVE: Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic
Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 7-6 6-1 3-6 0-0 Novak Djokovic*
Okay then, the Wimbledon men’s singles title comes down to a final set shootout. Novak Djokovic has the momentum and the opening serve.
He hasn’t been beaten here in a decade and wants to secure a fifth Wimbledon title in a row. To prove that he takes the first two points of this game, carefully watching the trajectory of Alcaraz’s returns and letting the ball land out of play.
Alcaraz proves that he’s still a threat. He draws level then belts a backhand past the Serb to set up an early break point. Djokovic is too good though and pings a serve down the T to take the game to deuce.
Wimbledon LIVE: Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic
Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 7-6 6-1 3-6 0-0 Novak Djokovic*
Wimbledon LIVE: Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic
Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 7-6 6-1 3-6 Novak Djokovic
A drop volley from Alcaraz perfectly sets up Djokovic to send a backhand winner down the line and gifts the Serb to first point in this game.
He’s awarded the second point too after a mistake from Alcaraz is checked and shown to be out. The Spaniard then finds the net to leave Djokovic with three set points.
He needs two and is given the fourth set thanks to a Carlos Alcaraz double fault.
Wimbledon LIVE: Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic
*Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 7-6 6-1 3-5 Novak Djokovic
As if to announce that he’s feeling good and is back to playing his best tennis, Novak Djokovic holds to love and moves within one game of forcing a decisive fifth set.
Will Carlos Alcaraz force him to serve out or can Djokovic break again?
Wimbledon LIVE: Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic
Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 7-6 6-1 3-4 Novak Djokovic*
Alcaraz tries to limit the damage in this set by retreating behind the baseline to defend against an overhead smash. He slips awkwardly and loses the point but he’s fine to continue.
A beltin’ first serve takes the Spaniard ahead and he benefits from a Djokovic mistake to get up to 40-15. Alcaraz the goes wide from the next serve and holds.
He’s still in this set and needs just one break to get back on serve.
Wimbledon LIVE: Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic
*Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 7-6 6-1 2-4 Novak Djokovic
To really hammer home his advantage in the set, and possibly the match now, Novak Djokovic needs to hold serve here. Carlos Alcaraz goes long in the first rally before smoking an angled forehand past Djokovic to get level at 15-15.
A wide serve sees the Spaniard float the ball back in play before Djokovic nails a forehand winner past him. The Serb then forces a backhand across court and forces Alcaraz to flick a half-volley out of play.
Djokovic, with two points in hand, gets to a drop shot and sets Alcaraz up with an overhead smash which he takes. The defending champion then holds serve and completes his break in the fourth set.
Wimbledon LIVE: Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic
Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 7-6 6-1 2-3 Novak Djokovic*
Alcaraz saves a second break point of the game with a drop shot but then drills a forehand into the net from the next deuce. He’s just started to lose that the rhythm he had in the third set.
Break! Djokovic gets a third attempt to break Alcaraz and this time he takes it. The Spaniard comes forward and fails to chip a drop shot over the top.
Djokovic has the advantage in the fourth set now.
Wimbledon LIVE: Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic
*Carlos Alcaraz 1-6 7-6 6-1 2-2 Novak Djokovic
Just when he needed it most, Carlos Alcaraz starts to falter on his first serve. Novak Djokvic unloads on the opportunities he gets at the second serve and sweeps up to a break point at 30-40.
The Serb is seemingly in control of the rally but pushes a backhand down the line over the back and the game is level at deuce.
Novak Djokovic told to ‘get on with it’ as Wimbledon fans left frustrated
Novak Djokovic has been criticised by the Wimbledon crowd on centre court for the time he has taken to serve during the men’s final against Carlos Alcaraz.
The commentators on the BBC pointed it out repeatedly, with the Serbian running down the clock, then throwing the ball up and not serving on several occasions, adding to the already lengthy time between points.
Members of the Centre Court crowd shouted ‘get on with it’, while statistics show that Djokovic has been taking 33 seconds to serve, compared to Alcaraz’s 27 seconds.
Novak Djokovic told to ‘get on with it’ as Wimbledon fans left frustrated
Djokovic was eventually given a time violation in the second-set tiebreak
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments