Dazzling Alcaraz destroys Djokovic's dream in Wimbledon Final

Carlos Alcaraz has destroyed Novak Djokovic’s dream of a record-breaking 25th grand slam triumph, outclassing the seven-time champion to defend his Wimbledon crown in a final that had an unmistakable feeling of a tennis changing of the guard.

Djokovic’s hopes of surpassing Australian Margaret Court’s tally of 24 grand slams were simply dismantled by the dazzling Spaniard, who was on a wholly different plane as he blitzed his way to a 6-2 6-2 7-6 (7-4) triumph on Sunday.

Twelve months after Alcaraz had outlasted the great Serb in a five-set classic on Centre Court, this time the young Spaniard cemented his fresh dominance at the grass-court slam with a much more one-sided victory, but perhaps even more magnificent.

From the moment Alcaraz won the first game of the match, a 14-minute, seven-deuce affair, to break Djokovic at the fifth attempt, the former champion, just five weeks since surgery on a torn meniscus, looked all of his 37 years.

Seeming flat and chasing Alcaraz’s tracers - 42 glorious winners, from drops shots to 106mph forehand bullets - Djokovic has rarely been taken to the cleaners like this as the Spanish comet landed his fourth grand slam at only 21.

“He was definitely very hot today,” smiled a gracious Djokovic afterwards, amid laughter. “He had it all.

“I extended the match a little bit, but it wasn’t meant to be. He was absolutely a deserved winner today.”

Outplayed, there was just one flicker of major resistance from the old warrior Djokovic.

Three match points down at 5-4 with Alcaraz serving for the Championship, the Spaniard blinked, serving up a double fault and tightening with the winning line tantalisingly in his grasp.

But the reprieve, as Djokovic earned his first break, was merely temporary. Alcaraz was back to his sublime best again in the tie-break, which he decorated with an amazing half-volley pick up at the net and an exquisite forehand drop shot that earned him a fourth match point.

This time, there was no way back for Djokovic as he smacked his backhand service return into the net after two hours 27 minutes to allow Alcaraz to add a second Wimbledon title to the French Open crown he won just a month ago in Paris and his US Open crown in 2022.

“I was seeing the win so far away, he’s an unbelievable fighter and I knew he’d have his chances again,” said Alcaraz, as he pondered his squandered match points.

“It was difficult for me. I tried to stay positive going into the tiebreak and I tried to play my best tennis. I’m glad I could find the solutions, I played a great tie-break.

“Honestly, it’s a dream for me, winning this trophy again. It’s a great feeling to lift this amazing trophy; this is the most beautiful tournament, the most beautiful court and most beautiful trophy.”

Alcaraz is just the sixth man in the Open era to pull off the same-season clay-court/grass-court grand slam double at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. “It’s a huge honour to be part of that group - the same table as Novak, huge champions,” he said.

“I don’t consider myself a champion yet, not as them - but I’ll keep on my path, on my journey.”

This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission