15:48
Alcaraz 1-6 Djokovic, 1-0
Better start from Alcaraz. The first serves pass and the Spaniard gets his service at 15. For the first time this afternoon, the Spaniard is leading and can start the set from the front.
15:47
Alcaraz 1-6 Djokovic, 0-0
Carlos Alcaraz starts the second set with new balls. The first point goes to him and then Alcaraz throws in the forehand stop. Djokovic counters with the stop, so that Alcaraz ends up taking the lob too far, 15:15.
15:45
Conclusion first sentence
What a first sentence! It is a pure demonstration of power by the record champion, who is pulling all the strings. Djokovic feels comfortable and is the game-determining player. Alcaraz has not yet found a remedy against today’s opponent. However, he currently lacks tactical access. One or the other stop ball and slice variants would possibly throw Djokovic more out of rhythm.
15:44
Alcaraz 1-6 Djokovic
Novak Djokovic serves to win the set. Without much effort, he puts the lid on the first set with a clean serve game.
15:42
Alcaraz 1-5 Djokovic
Two slight mistakes, including the first double fault of the game, bring Djokovic back up. Afterwards, Djokovic shows excellent work on the defensive, but cannot reward himself. Alcaraz completes the point with the smash. With a forehand longline winner on Djokovic’s slice ball, Alcaraz gets the first service game.
15:39
Alcaraz 0-5 Djokovic
Will Carlos Alcaraz still get on the scoreboard? The first point goes to the Spaniard after a net roller. This is followed by a backhand return from Djokovic, who drifts off.
15:37
Alcaraz 0-5 Djokovic
Djokovic shows he feels really good. He plays serve-and-volley on Alcaraz’s forehand. Although he does not make the point, because Alcaraz is careful and pulls his backhand longline through to the passing shot. But Djokovic only does that when he’s arrived in the game. The point remains the only one from Alcaraz and so Djokovic gets his service game to 15. The first set seems to be decided.
15:35
Alcaraz 0-4 Djokovic
Novak Djokovic anticipates Alcaraz’s second serve in his backhand and dangerously reverses the return again. It’s not a winner, but he transports the necessary pressure to the other side so that Alcaraz can only pull his backhand into the net.
15:34
Alcaraz 0-3 Djokovic
This time, however, the 20-year-old can fend off both break chances, the second with a service winner. However, the next rally goes to the 36-year-old again, who places his shots extremely well on the baseline. Alcaraz struggles with length and is forced to make the next mistake with the backhand.
15:32
Alcaraz 0-3 Djokovic
Djokovic creates two opportunities to double break! He keeps targeting Alcaraz’s forehand and is currently using his own backhand slice perfectly. There was not a slice from the Spaniard in the first set.
15:31
Alcaraz 0-3 Djokovic
Now Alcaraz is slipping too! On his way to the net he slides to the ball and becomes unstable in the foot area. But everything seems to be ok.
15:30
Alcaraz 0-3 Djokovic
Strong return from Djokovic! He puts the ball longline directly on the baseline, so Alcaraz has to start an emergency shot. He just holds out the bat, but the ball bounces off the field again.
15:29
Alcaraz 0-3 Djokovic
What bad luck for Alcaraz! He’s pushed way back by Djokovic and responds with a tweener through the legs. The tweener becomes the lob, missing the field by inches. The spectators would have liked to see the ball inside. Novak Djokovic takes a 3-0 lead. But the game is certainly not as clear as the result reflects at the moment.
15:26
Alcaraz 0-2 Djokovic
Once again Novak Djokovic can’t keep his balance in the rally. He falls slightly behind so the next mistake follows. This is followed by a rally with a whopping 21 shots. In the end, Alcaraz’s short ball isn’t short enough and Djokovic can switch to attack mode.
15:24
Alcaraz 0-2 Djokovic
The first point goes to Djokovic before a slight error follows from his side. He puts the forehand into the net without needing it and seems a little irritated by this carelessness himself, 15:15.
15:22
Alcaraz 0-2 Djokovic
Djokovic is the one who plays from the middle to the angle. He takes control of the rally and forces Alcaraz to take more risks. He puts too much speed into his forehand and shoots the ball wide. The early break is here!
15:21
Alcaraz 0-1 Djokovic
Djokovic falls off balance and puts his backhand out through the middle of the field. A forehand winner from Alcaraz follows, which also destroys the second break opportunity. A breakball stays!
15:20
Alcaraz 0-1 Djokovic
Another wild mistake by Alcaraz gives the Serb three quick break chances. Can the number one in the world fight back again?
15:19
Alcaraz 0-1 Djokovic
A little too wild! Alcaraz sees that Djokovic is on his way to the backhand corner after his return and wants to hit the forehand against the running direction to the winner. He wants to hit the line directly, although it wasn’t necessary to take that much risk. After that it is Djokovic who pulls his forehand from the run to 0:30.
15:16
Alcaraz 0-1 Djokovic
First Alcaraz moves his backhand through the middle, then the first serve from the record champion is too strong. After seven minutes, Novak Djokovic still gets his serve through.
15:15
Alcaraz 0-0 Djokovic
Djokovic develops the advantage, but Alcaraz shows a great angle play. He briefly crosses the forehand and puts the Serbs in trouble. It goes back to the starting point.
15:14
Alcaraz 0-0 Djokovic
But that, too, is quickly history. The backhand return of the world number one lands behind the edge of the field.
15:13
Alcaraz 0-0 Djokovic
So far, there have been no long rallies. This time Alcaraz’s forehand return ends up out of bounds. The Serb seems to think too long and hesitantly puts his backhand into the net. There is the first breakball for Alcaraz!
15:11
Alcaraz 0-0 Djokovic
Strong return from the 20-year-old! He carpenters his forehand cross to the winner. In addition, Djokociv slips on the baseline and cannot do anything against the return.
15:10
Alcaraz 0-0 Djokovic
Djokovic hits Alcaraz’s forehand, who returns directly to the ball. The Spaniard then does magic with his backhand and attacks Djokovic’s free side. The run is too far, so the Serb pulls his forehand behind the baseline, 15:15.
15:09
Alcaraz 0-0 Djokovic
Dinner is served! Novak Djokovic opens the game with his own service.
15:06
players are there
The players have arrived on Center Court. The impact phase has begun, so we can start in a few minutes!
15:00
Favorite role?
Today it’s not just about the title, but also about number one in the world. No matter which of the two wins, that person will become the old or new number one on Monday. The favorite is certainly Novak Djokovic, who can look back on more experience. In addition, he is fitter than ever before and feels “that 36 is the new 26”. In addition, Djokovic has been unbeaten on Center Court for a full ten years. But Alcaraz also knows the feeling of winning a Grand Slam. Last year he won the title at the US Open. In addition, he can pitch freely at the age of 20, which can make him extremely dangerous. At Wimbledon, world number one and number two met a total of 50 times in the final. The world number one emerged as the winner 25 times, and the number two in the world triumphed 25 times. This statistic underscores once again that there is no clear favorite.
14:53
Challenger as number one in the world
On the other side is Carlos Alcaraz, the current number one in the world. The now 20-year-old Spaniard got through the tournament in great shape and only lost a set against Nicolas Jarry and Matteo Berrettini. Alcaraz doesn’t feel any pressure to do this, because according to his own statement, the favorite is clearly Novak Djokovic. Nevertheless, the Spaniard will be highly motivated because he still has scores to settle with the record champion. Five weeks ago, both faced each other in the semifinals of the French Open. In this game he suffered from severe cramps and was not mentally prepared for this match. However, he will not make this mistake a second time and is well prepared today.
14:46
Djokovic continues to hunt for records
Will Novak Djokovic break the next record today? He could win his 24th Grand Slam title today and stay on course for the Grand Slam after triumphing at the Australian Open and the French Open. He is missing a win today and the title at the US Open that is still pending. But not only that. So far, Roger Federer holds the record for the most titles in Wimbledon. The Swiss was victorious a total of eight times in the previous tournament. Novak Djokovic and Pete Sampras each have seven successes. With a win over Carlos Alcaraz, the 36-year-old could draw level with his former main competitor.
14:26
Welcome
Good afternoon and welcome to the men’s final at Church Road. Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz are expected on Center Court at 3 p.m.