Wimbledon | Carlos Alcaraz overthrows Novak Djokovic in the final

Carlos Alcaraz not only faced Novak Djokovic, but also history with a capital letter, in the Wimbledon final. And only a young prodigy of his caliber had the potential to reverse the course of history.

There was tension in the air on center court at the All England Club on Sunday. Mainly because whatever the outcome of the match, the spectators were sure to become privileged witnesses of a match that could become legendary.

An exceptionally rare opportunity, given the already rich history of the most prestigious tournament of all.

When Novak Djokovic sent his last shot of the match into the net, Carlos Alcaraz immediately became a giant. An immortal.

He had just won the Wimbledon tournament in five sets of 1-6, 7-6, 6-1, 3-6 and 6-4.

If he had ever entered the big leagues, pacing the fences waiting for someone to call his name, the 20-year-old is now the most popular boy among his contemporaries.

Smiling like a kid every time he gets the chance, Alcaraz is not only the happiest player in the world, but this coronation also confirms one thing: he is the legitimate number one in the world rankings.

A final in five stages

The task was colossal.

Gargantuan and titanic could also have been words used to describe the challenge to which Alcaraz was going to lend itself.

Like Loud, all Djokovic knows how to do is set records and break records.

With a win, Djokovic could join Margaret Court at the pinnacle of tennis history with 24 major titles. He could also equal Roger Federer’s record with eight titles on the London turf. He could also win his third title in three major tournaments this season, thus heading towards a calendar Grand Slam, unheard of since 1969. Then, he could incidentally regain first place in the world.

To stop him, Alcaraz, with all the naivety of a player not even yet allowed to drink alcohol in the United States, would have to be flawless.

The first run, however, left everyone hungry. In 34 expeditious minutes, it was folded. At 6-1, the prophecy seemed set to come true. Even that Djokovic was sailing in much too calm waters.

Alcaraz’s forehand didn’t work, while his rival controlled all the elements.

“After the first round, I said to myself: “Carlos, raise your level! Everyone will be disappointed otherwise, ”said Alcaraz.

With passion and courage, the Spaniard, acting as a guest in this select garden in front of one of its most exclusive members, decided that the lawn was not going to be greener at the neighbor. On the other side of the net, Djokovic panicked at such accuracy.

Alcaraz was much more diligent, attacking and consistent. On the other hand, Djokovic was flat, helpless and at the end of his resources.

In the annals, the fifth game of the third set will be remembered as the tipping point of this final, which is in the same category as that of 2008 between Federer and Rafael Nadal and that of 2019 between Federer and Djokovic.

Like a fighter in impenetrable armor, Carlos Alcaraz resisted throughout this 27-minute game. Decided after 13 ties and seven break points, this game increased his lead to 4-1.

Under the watchful eye of Brad Pitt, this match looked similar to the storyline of The strange story of Benjamin Buttonwhere the experience was overtaken by the youth, in front of a swooning audience, not knowing what to do between applauding or crying with joy in front of so much beauty.

Victory

Juan Carlos Ferrero, Carlos Alcaraz’s coach, chose tears. In his box, while his colt shook his rival’s hand after a fifth and final round negotiated admirably, Ferrero could not contain his joy. Usually at the end of his seat and fist raised between each play and each Let’s go!, the Spanish clan chose patience and temperance for this decisive match. And that was reflected in the game of her golden egg hen.

Even though Djokovic took away the fourth set to force a final one, Alcaraz never panicked. On the contrary, even if the duel lasted 4 h 43 min, the young right-hander seemed to enjoy it more and more. Like what it gives the taste to live, to get closer to immortality.

Since the beginning of his young career, Alcaraz has relied on three facets of his game: his forehand, his drop shots and his service returns.

The more the game progressed, the more each of these elements became sensitive. His missiles in the form of forehand passing shots jostled the Serb, yet master of balance and flexibility. His drop shots were lethal weapons in the final moments of the game. Then his returns got the better of a particularly weakened Djokovic in the service, surprisingly. He gave too much to the best returner in the world. And in this kind of context, it is impossible to be happy by being too generous.

“When you needed a big serve, you served well. When you needed a big game, you played well. This victory is completely deserved, ”said Djokovic towards his young rival with his usual class.

Djokovic also burst into tears in his post-match speech. Usually straight and strong like an oak tree, the tree often bent, but there it broke when his son Stefan’s gaze met, admiring his father’s effort despite such a brutal end.

The 36-year-old was not a shadow of himself during this meeting. Often imprecise, sometimes disturbed and sometimes frustrated, Djokovic handled this match differently. The outcome, also unusual, is explained by the refinement of the strategy of his opponent in the heart of the meeting. Rare are the occasions where the Joker is beaten at his own game, but Alcaraz was better physically and mentally in the important points. And that changed everything.

“I was beaten by better than me today,” replied the Serb honestly.

A great day

While Ferrero and Djokovic cried, Alcaraz smiled. After all, that’s what he does best.

This second major title in less than a year, after that of the United States Open last September, makes him the main and logical heir to the Big Three, because he knew how to take the best of each of them to become the best version of himself.

“I grew up watching you play, Alcaraz reminded Djoko. When I was born, you had already won tournaments! »

It is too early to say that by hugging above the net, the torch had passed. Let’s not forget that Novak Djokovic has still won two of the three majors since the start of the season.

Even more maddening, it was only his second title in his fourth career tournament on grass. “I thought I was in trouble against you on clay and sometimes on hard, but not on grass,” Djokovic told him jokingly.

Alcaraz had before him the most successful, intimidating and focused player in the history of the sport in which he is still a newcomer. He is the third youngest player to win the tournament.

But he stood up, because only in this way is it possible to bring down the greatest.

On the balcony of the All England Club, in front of a horde of people in dresses and shirts asking for more, Alcaraz is a shadow of himself with the Holy Grail of tennis at arm’s length, just 20 crumbs away.

Before a world that is now his own, Carlito smiles.