Carlos Alcaraz he flung himself on the grass. He kicked a ball into the stands and then ran to hug each other excited with Juan Carlos Ferrero, his coach, and his entire family. Carlitos, is already part of Wimbledon history. He is already a member of London’s All Engrand Tennis Club. Ten years ago, the Murcian tennis player dreamed of living that moment in his room in El Palmar (Murcia) full of posters of tennis champions.
What seemed impossible was possible. After 4 hours and 46 minutes alcaraz He won the title after a five-set battle that he made his own by 1-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1, 3-6 and 6-4. His childhood illusion came true. And he got it before a Novak Djokovic that he had not known defeat in the tournament since 2017 and that he had 45 victories in the center since the final that he lost with andy murray in 2013. At the age of 20, Alcaraz won his second Grand Slam (the first was in the United States in 2022). Alcaraz is already the third youngest tennis player to win the tournament after Boris Becker (17 years old) and Bjorn Börg (19). It is in the palmares next to manuel santana (1966) and Rafael Nadal (2008 and 2010).
“It has been a dream come true as a child. I am in love with this surface, having only played four tournaments before on grass and winning here is impressive. I have managed to learn very quickly”
Djokovic He began willing to impose the reasons why he had been entering the center for five years in a row to defend his champion title, which he has registered seven times in the list of winners at the All England Tennis Club in London. alcaraz He seemed impressed by that special environment of the Grand Theater of world tennis, although he had a first ‘break’ point. Djokovic saved him and took control of the situation, twice breaking the service of alcaraz and get ahead with a resounding 4-0 difficult to counter. Sure of his blows and powerful with the rest, he dominated the set (only 2 unforced errors) to give up a single game and score it in 34 minutes.
The wind that was blowing strongly on the track seemed to be in favor of the Serb, but alcaraz he forgot to respect that ‘giant’, as his coach had called him Juan Carlos Ferrero the previous day. “He has two arms and two legs like all of us,” said the former number 1 from Valencia. The second set was the announced and expected battle between two tennis players, the two best on the circuit and, in that fight, alcaraz he felt strong enough to stand up. She hit harder. She was braver. He made his first ‘break’ (2-0), with plays that raised the oh! of admiration from the 15,000 fans present, including the actors Brad Pitt and Daniel Craignear to King Felipe VIpresent in the box, together with the Minister of Culture miquel iceta.
Decisive tie break
Djokovic He withstood the first blow to respond quickly with a ‘break’ and ask for the applause of the fans raising his hands and had another ‘break point’, in the next game, which escaped him after a spectacular exchange of 27 blows which was for Alcaraz. The expected battle was underway. The two tennis players maintained equality on the scoreboard until they reached the ‘tie break’.
Djokovic took a 3-0 lead, but alcaraz endured. He put more pressure to recover until 5-5, when Djokovic received a ‘warning’ for wasting time with his serve. Despite that, he had a ‘set ball’ at 6-5, against the serve of alcaraz who saved it by winning his two serves to snatch the set from Djokovic with a spectacular backhand parallel return that left the Serb paralyzed. Djokovic gave up the first ‘tie break’ of 15 consecutive wins in Grand Slam matches.
In the third set, alcaraz He started with a ‘break’ and repeated it again (4-1) in a game that lasted 27 minutes to return a resounding 6-1 to the Serbian. Alcaraz yelled a Let’s go! that resounded throughout the plant. The impossible began to become possible. The pressure passed to Djokovic’s field. The Serbian had lost control and was leaving for the locker room. Alcaraz was waiting, playing to bounce the ball with the frame of his racket.
Djokovic He came back like he just got out of the shower. He willing to continue the battle. To fight until the last point. The Serbian tennis player, with a tension bandage on his left leg, managed to win the fourth set with two ‘breaks’ (2-3 and 3-6) to take the fight to the fifth and final set.
Broken racket and ‘warning’
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Avoid giving up service was essential. she saved him Djokovic in the first game and let it escape in the second, on an easy volley and alcaraz smoothie. The Serbian despaired and the Murcian tennis player broke him (2-1) in the next game. Djokovic broke his racket against the net stick. She received a ‘warning’ from the chair umpire. The game was slipping away. The Serb could not recover that disadvantage. The dream of winning the eighth Wimbledon and the 24th Grand Slam was fading before a brave tennis player who is already the future of tennis.
alcaraz he becomes the fifth Spanish tennis player to inscribe his name in the Wimbledon record after the men’s singles title here, after manuel santana (1966), conchita martinez (1994) ,Rafael Nadal (2008 and 2010) and Garbine Muguruza (2017).