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Wimbledon Final Preview: Novak Djokovic is vying for a record-tying eighth Wimbledon singles title and fifth in a row. Carlos Alcaraz is gunning for his first trophy at the All England Club. Djokovic wants his 24th Grand Slam title. Alcaraz his second. There is plenty on the line when Djokovic and Alcaraz meet each other at Centre Court in the Wimbledon final on Sunday. There’s also this: Alcaraz, a 20-year-old from Spain, is ranked No 1, and Djokovic, a 36-year-old from Serbia, is second in the world. In addition to the Wimbledon trophy, the winner will have the top ATP ranking on Monday. This is a rematch of the showdown between Alcaraz and Djokovic in the French Open semi-finals last month. The first two sets were terrific, and each man won one. But then Alcaraz was overcome by cramping — he said later he thought nerves were the main cause — and Djokovic took the anticlimactic next two sets. (with inputs from AP)
Wimbledon 2023, Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz highlights: Spaniard Alcaraz wins his first title at All England Club
Wimbledon 2023 Final: Carlos Alcaraz comes from a set down to beat Novak Djokovic and win his first title at All England Club
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Carlos Alcaraz: “It’s a dream come true for me. … For a boy, 20 years old, I didn’t expect to reach these situations really, really fast. I’m really proud of myself.”
Being able to play in this stages. It is amazing.”
“I’m fully in love with grass right now.”
Novak Djokovic: “You came out with some big serves and some big plays. You deserve it. Congratulations! I thought I had trouble with you only on clay and hard court but not on grass. Well done!”
“Obviously, it is a different story from this year onwards”
“I guess when all the emotions are settled, I have to still be very grateful because I won very many tight and close matches in the past here … Maybe I should have lost couple finals that I won, so maybe this is even steven.”
Novak Djokovic at the speech: “Nice to see my son still up there, smiling. I love you. Thank you for supporting me. I’ll give you a big hug & we can all love each other. Thank you.”
Carlos Alcaraz is the CHAMPION!
Carlos Alcaraz wins his first Wimbledon title by beating Novak Djokovic 1-6, 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4. He retains the World No 1 ranking. The third Spaniard to win the Wimbledon men’s singles title.
Carlos Alcaraz is serving for the Wimbledon champion
Carlos Alcaraz with a fantastic drop followed by a lob to make it 15-15. And then a slip and pick at the net for 30-15. That was a fantastic volley. Mishit from Alcaraz on the forehand and it sits up for Djokovic to run into for a forehand winner. It is now 30-30. Big serve down the T and the return goes long. Match point. Championship point. Alcaraz with a forehand into the corner and Djokovic sends the return into the net.
Wimbledon Live
An incredible serving effort from Carlos Alcaraz. A kick serve, a zinger out wide and he holds at 15 to go 5-3 up in the fifth set
Wimbledon final Live
WHAT A SHOT! A 91mph forehand cross court winner from Carlos Alcaraz. But Djokovic shuts it all to go on and hold serve from 30-30. Alcaraz now leads 4-3
Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz Live
Djokovic sends a forehand into the net to bring up break point. WHAT A POINT! AN INSANE RALLY! Djokovic stumbles but gets up to keep the point going with a deep forehand. A very short approach shot from Djokovic and Alcaraz with a backhand winner. An upset Djokovic smacks his racket into the net post. Alcaraz now leads 2-1 in the fifth set
Wimbledon Live
Novak Djokovic has a break point at 0-1 and 30-40. Carlos Alcaraz with a gorgeous defensive effort to keep the point alive. A backhand from near behind him and then sees Djokovic hit a drive volley into the net. The Serb is surprised. The Spaniard is elated. Alcaraz goes on to hold with a drop-dead-gorgeous drop shot and then a forehand winner
Novak Djokovic taking the ball earlier now, confirms HawkEye
Wimbledon Live
Carlos Alcaraz has a break point after a divine backhand winner down the line. But Novak Djokovic comes back with two smart and well-placed suspects. The Serb goes on to hold in the end and clenches his fist to make a strong start to the fifth set
Novak Djokovic wins the fourth set
Novak Djokovic wins the fourth set 6-3 and we’re going into the fifth set!
Five set record:
Djokovic is 37-10 (10-1 at Wimbledon)
Alcaraz is 8-1 (2-0 at Wimbledon)
Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz Live
Novak Djokovic with a comfortable hold to go 5-3 up and we’re inching towards a fifth set
Wimbledon Live
Alcaraz sends the serve return into the net and Djokovic holds to consolidate the break to go 4-2 up
Wimbledon Live
Novak Djokovic slips and hits the deck on the baseline as Carlos Alcaraz goes behind him to bring up two break points at 1-0 15-30. But both go to waste with consecutive errors. Novak with a smartly placed volley into the corner to bring up game point. Alcaraz sends the serve return into the net. It is 1-1 in the fourth set
Carlos Alcaraz takes the third set
Carlos Alcaraz wins the third set 6-1 and is up by two sets to one. A gorgeous backhand winner to convert the second set point for the Spaniard. What an incredible turn around from the first set disappointment for Carlitos
Wimbledon Final Live
First set: 34 minutes
5th game of third set: 27 minute long
Carlos Alcaraz leads the third set 4-1!
Carlos Alcaraz wins the second set
Carlos Alcaraz takes the second set 7-6 (6) and makes it one set all. A sublime backhand winner beats Djokovic who looked to approach the net. What a shot that was and Alcaraz maybe should have gotten the job done at 5-4
Second set tiebreak
At 6-6, Djokovic with a second straight backhand into the net. He is bewildered and the crowd applauds
At 7-6, Alcaraz strikes a backhand winner down the line to win the second set!
Second set tiebreak
Djokovic and Alcaraz exchange a point each after the change to make it 4-4.
The ball sits up and Alcaraz plays a smart drop shot. Djokovic was caught off guard there
At 5-4, Djokovic is given a time violation. He had been teasing with it throughout the match. When the point is finally played, Djokovic gets it to make it 5-5.
At 5-5, Djokovic with a backhand winner to bring up set point
At 6-5, Djokovic hits the top of the net with the backhand. So close!
At 6-6, they change ends.
Tiebreak
Djokovic has won 15 consecutive tiebreaks at majors. This is going to be yet another arduous task for Alcaraz. It is 3-3 at the change in the tiebreak as Djokovic’s attempted drop shot doesn’t come off
Alcaraz 1-6, 6-6 Djokovic (* denotes next server)
From 30-30, Djokovic holds to force a tiebreak. Two serve returns going long at this crucial stage stage
Alcaraz* 1-6, 5-5 Djokovic (* denotes next server)
Carlos Alcaraz goes for a drop shot on deuce but it doesn’t come through. It brings up game point for Djokovic. Things not easy and plain sailing for Djokovic anymore. Alcaraz with a lovely drop shot and Djokovic, in an ideal, human world would not have gotten to it. Except he gets there in some time to play an angled drop shot of his own. Alcaraz gets to it but is unable to get the ball up and over. He hits the deck and Djokovic makes a sarcastic smile and gesture to the crowd. ‘Not bad, was it?’
Vika thinks it is a stretch to call Alcaraz favourite vs Djokovic. Agree?
Alcaraz* 1-6, 4-4 Djokovic (* denotes next server)
Alcaraz goes for a fierce backhand return on the serve but has overcooked it. Djokovic holds and gestures angrily at his box with the game not going as smoothly as the first set
Wimbledon Live
Jonathan Bailey, Ariana Grande, Andrew Garfield, Tom Hiddleston and Woo-bin Kim also in attendance. As are Andy Murray and men’s doubles champion Neal Skupski
Alcaraz* 1-6, 2-2 Djokovic (* denotes next server)
Djokovic is rushed into a forehand and he smacks it into the net to bring up a break point for Alcaraz. And it is shut down after a 29-shot rally. Sublime rally with both players hitting some incredible deep shots before Djokovic gets the upper hand. Djokovic holds with a thumping big serve which doesn’t come back
Alcaraz 1-6, 2-1 *Djokovic (* denotes next server)
Huge roar from Novak Djokovic as Carlos Alcaraz’s forehand goes into the tramlines. Djokovic has broken Alcaraz back to bring the second set on sevre. Error prone game from Alcaraz and he has been made to pay for it
Alcaraz* 1-6, 2-0 Djokovic (* denotes next server)
Novak Djokovix is BROKEN! Having saved two break points, Djokovic is broken! A backhand unforced error from the Serb and he is broken for just the fourth time this Championship!
Novak Djokovic wins the first set!
Novak Djokovic takes the opening set 6-1 and Carlos Alcaraz has barely had a look in!
Stat: Djokovic is 79-1 at Wimbledon when he’s won the first set!