Carlos Alcaraz Is Wimbledon 2023 Champion After Classic Final
Wimbledon
July 16, 2023
Carlos Alcaraz has deposed the great king of tennis – and heralded a new generation of Wimbledon heroes.
He defeated the warrior-like Novak Djokovic in an epic battle that ended 1-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4.
Strokes from the tennis gods in the final game. Drop shots, lobs, the whole delicious repertoire. Nothing else would do at this mighty feast.
Then when all was said and done, Alcaraz fell to the floor in relief and disbelief, rising only to salute and embrace his illustrious opponent.
Later he explained: ‘It’s a dream come true for me. Making history in this beautiful tournament and playing a final against a legend, It’s incredible. It’s amazing for a boy of 20 years old. I’m really proud of myself and my team. It’s unbelievable.’
There were cheers and tears as Carlitos climbed up into the players’ box to hug his family and team. And we could all reflect on a truly joyful occasion.
The key break in the final set saw a wonderful backhand pass from Carlitos fizz past the advanced Novak.
A stunned Djokovic smashed his racquet on the net post – and received a code violation for his expression of sheer frustration at the brilliance of his adversary.
But it would be wrong to cast Novak as the villain of the piece, because both these gladiators were total heroes.
Novak was generous in defeat. ‘Not so good for me but so good for Carlos. Amazing. What quality at the end of the match.! You deserve it absolutely. Amazing. I thought I’d have trouble with you on clay and hardcourt but not on grass. Amazing how you adapted!’
Indeed it was – and we should all be so grateful for a glittering future. Poor Novak cried at the thought of having lost in front of his son. But he is still a legend and his family will be proud.
Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic gave us a Wimbledon 2023 final we will never forget! We should applaud them – and look forward to the next one.
Djokovic hadn’t been beaten on Wimbledon’s famous Centre Court for ten years. Andy Murray was the last man to get the better of him, way back in 2013.
But Alcaraz was within touching distance of the title as early as the fourth set here at Wimbledon 2023. Two sets to one ahead, one game up in the fourth and two break points in his favour at 15-40. Yet Novak dug deep – and slowly set about turning the tide.
That’s what made it such a great final. The reigning champion wasn’t ever going to do anything but go down fighting. A fifth set was inevitable.
Everyone was mesmerised. Hollywood superstars and royals rubbed shoulders on Centre Court, the most atmospheric sporting stage of them all.
Brad Pitt and Daniel Craig were there. So were the Prince and Princess of Wales, along with King Felipe of Spain. These are the kind of people a Wimbledon final attracts. Will you be at the next one?
This final was never going to disappoint. There was drama aplenty, and lashings of scintillating tennis from the greatest exponents of this glorious art on the planet.
There were some pivotal moments, too. The second-set tie-break, which saw Novak warned for taking too much time. The incredible 26-minute game in set three, won by Carlitos.
Carlos Alcaraz is a very cool customer when it really matters. That’s why he is champion now.
But just as tellingly, Djokovic had begun to struggle on the forehand stretch. Shots that would ordinarily have been miraculously returned, simply found the net or drifted long instead.
Novak slipped on numerous occasions, his renowned balance and flexibility letting him down so unusually. He felt his wrist gingerly in the fifth. Did all this amount to time finally catching up on the great Serb?
We don’t know for sure just yet. All we know is that he remains on 23 Grand Slams, like Serena Williams – still one short of the legendary Margaret Court.
The fight to become the undisputed greatest of all time, statistically at least, is still on.
Carlos Alcaraz has much simpler career statistics for Grand Slam victories. The US Open – and now Wimbledon 2023.
And let’s not forget the achievement of a young Brit called Henry Searle on this unforgettable Sunday.
He won the Junior Wimbledon Men’s Singles title with a commanding 6-4, 6-4 performance against fifth seed Yaroslav Demin, who took defeat superbly.
Searle was entitled to feel ecstatic. He becomes the first Brit to win this title, since Stanley Matthews, son of the famous footballer, some 61 years ago.
Today belonged to the young. Alcaraz and Searle. Here’s to the future. And every Wimbledon to come!