Review of the Wimbledon Final: Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic

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Image Credits: www.wimbledon.com

Carlos Alcaraz beat the 24 time grandslam champion Novak Djokovic to win his second straight wimbledon and his fourth grandslam title. Alcaraz was clinical throughout and dominated the match winning the final in straight sets. Alcaraz became only the sixth player ever to win the Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year, one of whom was his opponent today.

The match began with a near 15 minute game on Djokovic’s serve with Djokovic seeming to be playing a bit reserved while Alcaraz came out all guns blazing. Djokovic also started making a large number of unforced errors while Alcaraz took advantage of this by attacking almost every second serve with utmost precision down the line with both forehand and backhand. Sometimes, Djokovic managed to intercept them but couldn’t really close the point with his volleys as the shots from Alcaraz were really powerful. At the end of the 15-minute game, it was Alcaraz who had the break and the lead into the first set.

After the first game, it was pretty straightforward from Alcaraz as he overpowered his opponent with precision. The longer the rallies went, the more eager Djokovic was to try and close the point through a volley, which didn’t turn out to be his best shot today. Alcaraz soon raced to 4-1 lead, breaking Djokovic for a second time while the Serbian managed to get a couple of break points in the sixth game, Alcaraz was cool under pressure and managed to close the game and the set 6-2. This was in sharp contrast to the opening set last year where Djokovic overpowered Alcaraz 6-1.

The second set began in similar fashion again with Alcaraz breaking Djokovic. This time though, Djokovic was completely dominated in the rallies and at 15-40, Djokovic missed a straight forward serve and volley giving the break away. Alcaraz consolidated the break in the next game even though he had two double faults, thanks to the unforced errors from Djokovic. For an idea, Djokovic hit the most casual second serve from Alcaraz long, which according to his standards would most likely never happen. In the third game, Djokovic was once again pushed hard by Alcaraz going up 15-30 early, but a few unforced errors from Alcaraz this time, and a beautiful drop shot by Djokovic got him the game back.

Djokovic slowly looked better and better as the set progressed, starting to hit more corners, better volleys, and drop shots but still the initial break and a few moments of brilliances from Alcaraz along with his on-point serve kept Alcaraz ahead with the break he earned at the start of the set. For instance, a return from Djokovic as Alcaraz tried to go for the volley, caught him near his feet but Alcaraz managed to half volley the volley winning the point. Infact, with these moments of brilliance in clutch periods coupled with a few unforced errors from Djokovic, gifted Alcaraz another break which he consolidated in the next game, taking the second set 6-2.

Djokovic, unlike the first two sets, started the third by holding his serve through great serves and finishes after those serves. A few unforced errors from Alcaraz in the next game, gave the Serb a 0-30 lead, for the first time in the match. Alcaraz responded with a brilliant serve on the body and finishing it down the line with a forehand and in the next point Djokovic couldn’t finish a comfortable volley which Alcaraz finished with a beautiful pass. Alcaraz then could close the game with a couple of good points. At 1-1, on Djokovic’s serve Alcaraz started with a beautiful passing shot on his forehand followed by another beautiful passing shot on the backhand, going 0-30 up on Djokovic. He repeated this again at Deuce as Djokovic approached the net, but the charge was neutralized as Djokovic ended up winning the game with a few good points.

For the next couple of games, Alcaraz and Djokovic held their respective serves to love with excellent serves. In the next game, while Alcaraz was serving, Djokovic had his chances after setting up the points beautifully but failed to finish some of these points making unforced errors, again so uncharacteristic of him. At 4-4, on Djokovic's serve, Alcaraz started with three powerful shots going 0-40 up immediately, each of them unique and awe inspiring. Alcaraz won the game, with a passing shot using his backhand. Alcaraz wasted no time in trying to close the game as he went up 40-0 up but double faulted and missed a couple of points to get Djokovic back into the game and give him the break back. Djokovic was then clinical in the next game pulling it back to 6-5 and pushing it into the tie breaker. Alcaraz held his nerve in the tie breaker beating Djokovic 7-4.

References

  1. Image Credits: www.wimbledon.com
  2. Thumbnail Image Credits: www.wimbledon.com