Carlos Alcaraz celebrates a break of serve in the fifth set during the Gentlemen’s Singles final against Novak Djokovic on day 14 of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon. Picture date: Sunday, July 16, 2023. (Photo by Victoria Jones/PA Images via Getty Images)
In a generational battle that matched the king of men’s tennis and the young Spanish star intent on taking his throne, Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic in a thrilling five-set match 1-6, 7-6 (9- 7), 6-1. , 3-6, 6-4 to win his first Wimbledon championship and his second major overall.
Alcaraz’s win at the All England Club denied Djokovic a 24th career Grand Slam title, and a third in 2023.
Alcaraz, 20, was the youngest Wimbledon finalist since 2006. The last time Djokovic, 36, lost at Wimbledon, Alcaraz was just 10 years old.
After Djokovic raced through a 6-1 first set, the second set defined the kind of thrilling back-and-forth action expected of this budding rivalry. Djokovic initially went down 2-0 before rallying, and the set held on serve until the tiebreaker. Alcaraz had to fight off a set point from Djokovic before finally prevailing 9-7 in the tiebreaker to level the match at one set apiece. It also ended Djokovic’s impressive Grand Slam streak of 15 consecutive tiebreak wins.
Alcaraz continued the momentum by breaking Djokovic in the first game of the third set. He broke it again to go up 4-1 in what was immediately hailed as one of the most exciting matches in Wimbledon history. The numbers don’t lie: 33 points, 13 twos, almost 27 minutes. Alcaraz fought off eight game points from Djokovic — and had seven break points himself — before winning. He then made quick work of the rest of the set to win 6-1 and take a two sets to one lead in the match.
Djokovic did not go quietly. After a long break between the third and fourth sets, he regained his focus and broke Alcaraz in the fifth game. Djokovic cruised from there to send the match to a deciding fifth set.
Alcaraz looked like he might fight back. A break point break in the second game of the fifth set seemed to re-energize him. He continued to break Djokovic in the next match. This was all the space Alcaraz needed. Djokovic seemed to have problems with his right arm and was never able to break Alcaraz.
10:48 AM ET — Djokovic hits the net for a thrilling break to hold serve and level the second set at 5-all.
10:25 a.m. ET — Djokovic holds serve to keep the second set even at 3.
10:04 a.m. ET — Djokovic wasted no time returning the favor, breaking Alcaraz in the third game of the second set.
9:58 a.m. ET — Despite losing the first set, Alcaraz got off to a fast start in the second, winning the first game and looking more settled in his first final on center court. Alcaraz went up 2-0 after breaking Djokovic. It was just the fourth service game Djokovic has lost at this year’s tournament.
9:45 a.m. ET — Alcaraz managed to collect a match before a dominant Djokovic delivered the final blow of the first set, winning 6-1. According to ESPN, Djokovic is 79-1 all-time at Wimbledon when he wins the first set.
9:38 AM ET — Djokovic started fast against Alcaraz, going up 5-0 in the first set. The Serbian faced break point in the fourth game before overwhelming the young Spaniard to save serve.
