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In reference to the prior year’s championship match, a
rematch occurred on the grass courts of the All England Club, resulting in a
five-set victory for Alcaraz.
This one — played in front of a Centre Court crowd that
included Kate, the Princess of Wales, in a rare public appearance since
announcing she has cancer — was much easier for Alcaraz, at least until he
stumbled while holding three match points as he served for the victory at 5-4
in the third set.
Still, Alcaraz regrouped and eventually picked up a second
major trophy in a row after last month’s triumph on the clay at the French
Open.
The Spaniard won his first Slam title at the 2022 U.S. Open
as a teenager, and no man ever has collected more Slam hardware before turning
22 than he has.
He improved to 4-0 in major finals.
The 37-year-old Djokovic, wearing a gray sleeve on his
surgically repaired right knee, was denied in his bid for an eighth Wimbledon
title and record 25th major overall. He tore his meniscus at Roland
Garros on June 3 and had an operation in Paris two days later.
Less than six weeks later, Djokovic was hardly at his best
on Sunday — and Alcaraz certainly had something to do with that.
It was when Alcaraz was right on the brink of victory that
things finally became a tad more intriguing, as some spectators offered chants
of Djokovic’s two-syllable nickname — “No-le! No-le!” — while others replied
with choruses of “Let’s go, Carlos! Let’s go!”
Alcaraz was up 5-4, 40-love in the third set when the
occasion got the better of him. He frittered away his first championship point
with a double-fault, beginning a run of five mistakes by him that donated
points — and that game — to Djokovic. There was a backhand that went awry. A
forehand volley. A forehand. Another forehand. That was the only time all match
that Djokovic broke Alcaraz.
Suddenly, it was 5-all. Suddenly, Alcaraz appeared rattled.
Suddenly, Djokovic could hope.
But in the ensuing tiebreaker, Alcaraz earned his fourth
match point and stayed cool as can be this time. Soon he was climbing through
the stands to hug his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, and others.
Just under 2 ½ hours earlier, at the outset, the opening
game appeared to portend an engrossing, back-and forth contest — and a long
one, perhaps worrying some folks about getting to a pub or a couch in time to
see England face Spain in the men’s soccer European Championship final in
Germany on Sunday night. Alcaraz, of course, had a rooting interest.
All told, that game consisted of seven deuces and 20 points
across a hair shy of 14 minutes, containing brilliant moments by both men.
Sprinting, sliding, stretching defense by Djokovic. Return winners by Alcaraz.
When he slapped a strong reply to a 125 mph (202 kph) serve and drew a wide
forehand from Djokovic, Alcaraz cashed in his fifth break chance.
That, it turned out, was the most competitive portion of the
proceedings until the third set.
Not to say there weren’t hints of brilliance the rest of the
way. Just the outcome never really seemed in dispute.