Intractable. Carlos Alcaraz was a hurricane of power, speed and precision in the Wimbledon final and gave a lesson in tennis and winning mentality to Novak Djokovic. Yes, the Serbian, the most successful player of all time, accustomed to knocking down rivals and (almost) always getting his way on the court, surrendered at the feet of a Spaniard who played the game of his life on Central Court of the All England. Carlitos won in straight sets to revalidate the title he had won last year also against Absent, lift his fourth Grand Slam trophy and make history. And to confirm that the era of Next Genwho leads alongside Jannik Sinnerit is already a reality.
Concentrated and full of confidence, the Murcian did everything well in the first two sets, in which he was so superior that that small setback at the end of the third, when he was overcome by nerves and let three match points pass (perhaps accusing the barely 21 years on his back), went practically unnoticed. He got back up very quickly, took the pressure off of himself and on his fourth chance he didn’t forgive. He signed a 6-2, 6-2 and 7-6 (7-4) unobjectionable and was crowned British Open champion for the second time. And since just over a month ago he had also conquered Roland Garrosbecame only the sixth man – and the youngest – to win the double in both European Majors in the same season.
Who had achieved it before? The legends of Big 3, Roger Federer in 2009, Rafael Nadal in 2008 and 2010 and Djokovic himself in 2021; Swedish Björn Borg, in 1978, 1979 and 1980; and the Australian Rod Laverin 1962 (as an amateur) and 1969, years in which he won the four Grand Slams.
“Things like this are achieved by always fighting and believing in yourself,” Alcaraz commented. “Being on the same list as Novak and those other great champions is incredible. It’s a huge honor. I don’t see myself as a great champion yet, not at their level, at least. They won 14, 15, 20 Grand Slams. Those guys are eating at the big table. I want to be there one day, that’s my main goal, my dream. Four Grand Slams and two Wimbledons are a great achievement. But that doesn’t matter if I stay there. “I want to continue moving forward, improving and making my way.”
The Murcian also became the first player to win Wimbledon in consecutive years since the “tetra” of Pete Sampras between 1997 and 2000, not counting Roger and Nole. Not even Nadal, champion in London in 2008 and 2010, achieved it. And also the second tennis player in the Open Era to emerge victorious in his first four Grand Slam finals after the Swiss legend.
What happened on the field was unexpected. Because of the still fresh memory of that final twelve months ago, in which Alcaraz had won, but after coming back from 1-6 in the first set and sealing the victory in the fifth. And because, although he had landed in London just five weeks after undergoing surgery on his right knee, Djokovic was a candidate. It’s just that if you know something Absent It is bringing out your best version when circumstances require it. And with the chance to win his 25th “big” and eighth trophy in this tournament (to equal Federer’s record), everyone expected the Serbian to put up a fight, at least…
However, Djokovic couldn’t. In reality, Alcaraz did not leave him, who gave him only the fifth defeat in three sets in a Grand Slam final. Until this Sunday, only four of his twelve losses in decisive matches in that category had been in straight sets, in which US Open 2007 ante Federer, Wimbledon 2013 ante Andy Murray, Roland Garros 2020 against Nadal (he won just seven games, his worst record), and in New York in 2021 with Daniil Medvedev.
Djokovic’s only moment of hope was at the close of the third set, when the Spaniard served for the match, but he felt the pressure and went from 40-0 and three match points in favor to giving the Balkan a break, who tied 5 -5 and he gave himself one more life. But Alcaraz showed enormous temperance and managed to close the match shortly after.
After the defeat, the Serbian recognized that Carlitos had simply been too good for him.
“He was definitely on fire today. It was an absolutely deserved victory. Today I felt inferior on the court. Carlos was a better player. He played every shot better than me. At an incredible level. I don’t think he could have done much more. He didn’t give me away “He had a lot of variety. I had never seen him serve that way. He really surpassed me… he was better in every aspect of the game,” he said.
Curiously, after the victory, the Spaniard stated in an interview with Alex Corretja for Movistar+ that it had not been “one of their best performances.” “I am proud of how I managed it, especially mentally, because I had a lot of nerves, but I was able to play very calmly, thinking clearly. It was a complete match, with a very good level of tennis, but I have played better,” he said.
The consecration of Alcaraz was much more than the ratification that the Murcian is destined to do great things in tennis. It was also confirmation that the new generation that has been talked about for several seasons has already taken control of the circuit.
With Sinner, number one in the world, champion in Australia and Alcaraz, at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, it is the first time since 2002 that the first three “bigs” of the season went without celebrations from any of the members of the Big 3. That year , Swedish Thomas Johansson won in Melbourne, Albert Costa in Paris and Lleyton Hewitt in London, where the “Federer era” began in 2003.
Although not only the numbers speak that the time has come for a new reign. Djokovic’s words also reflected it: “Having played in the final with one of the two best in the world – because Carlos is one of the best today along with Sinner – made me feel that I am not at that level. To really have a chance to “If I beat these guys in the late stages of a Grand Slam or at the Olympics, I’ll have to play a lot better and feel a lot better than I did today.”
“I think it is good for tennis to have new faces winning great things and fighting for great tournaments. And I am very happy to be there with Jannik, at the top of the ranking and winning Grand Slams,” said Alcaraz, who still remained humble. and his feet on the ground, as his family and his coach taught him, Juan Carlos Ferrero.
He demonstrated this when he was asked if he still believes that Nole, as he stated before the tournament, was Superman. “What he did with surgery just a few weeks before the tournament started is amazing. It’s incredible. I beat him today. But for me, Novak is still Superman,” he said.
“Obviously I saw all the statistics. That I’m the youngest to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year… to win whatever. I try not to think about it too much. It’s a great start to my career, but it’s just the start. I am happy with the work we are doing with my team and very proud. It has been an incredible journey so far. But I don’t know what my limit is. Let’s see if it will be 25. 30, 15, 4 Grand Slams… I don’t know. The only thing I want is to continue enjoying, dreaming and see what the future holds for me,” reflected Carlitos, the undisputed king of Wimbledon, who made history once again on the grass. of the All England.
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