Featured Image Credit: Getty/BBC Sport
Topics: Tennis, Wimbledon, Novak Djokovic
Marcus Chan
After beating Novak Djokovic in a pulsating final, Carlos Alcaraz has claimed the 2023 Wimbledon men’s singles title.
In what was truly a classic encounter, it was the Spaniard who came out on top after winning 1-6, 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 after 4 hours and 42 minutes on the court.
This was a much-anticipated clash of the generations, with 36-year-old Djokovic taking on rising star and world number one Alcaraz in front of a packed Centre Court in the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
The Serbian raced to an early lead after clinching the first set 6-1 in just 34 minutes.
In the second set, 20-year-old Alcaraz raised his level and took it 7-6 after winning the tiebreak 8-6.
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Djokovic’s levels evidently dropped in the third set as Alcaraz claimed it 6-1.
The reigning champion decided to take a toilet break in between sets three and four and that worked a treat as he came back firing to take the set 6-3.
In the deciding fifth set, Alcaraz got the crucial break in the third game of the set.
From there, the Spanish star held his nerve to close out the set 6-4 to claim the Wimbledon title.
After today’s triumph, Alcaraz became the first player not named Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Andy Murray to win Wimbledon since 2002.
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The 20-year-old also ended Djokovic’s long unbeaten run on Centre Court, which dated back to 2013 when he lost to Andy Murray in the final.
After the match, Djokovic said: "Good afternoon, everyone. Not so good for me but for Carlos."
"I thought I would have trouble with you only on clay and on the hard courts but not on grass. You deserve it."
Whilst Alcaraz said: "It's a dream come true for me, even if I would have lost I would have been really proud of myself."