Carlos Alcaraz wins Wimbledon by beating Novak Djokovic and now has 4 Slam titles at the age of 21.

LONDON (AP) – Carlos Alcaraz was ready from the start this season. Last year at Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic, Alcaraz got off to a slow start, dropping the first set and needing five to claim. his first tournament at the All England Club.

Sunday’s game started with what felt like a very important game: 20 points in about 15 minutes, which provided an amazing, late – and long contest. There were moments of brilliance from both men. However, Alcaraz was better. As he would be for the next two hours.

Alcaraz learned from 2023 and using those lessons until 2024, including a 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4) victory over Djokovic for the second consecutive Wimbledon championship and the fourth Grand Slam title overall. And think: He is still only 21 years old.

“At the end of my career, I want to sit at the same table with the great people,” said Alcaraz, who won. French Open last month and, after receiving the Wimbledon gold trophy from Kate, Princess of Wales, he is now only the sixth man to win both the red clay at Roland Garros and the grass at the All England Club at the same time. “That is my main goal. It’s my dream now.

Alcaraz improved to 4-0 in major finals, including the 2022 US Open; Only Roger Federer had a better career start among men, going 7-0.

“He was better than me in every aspect of the game,” said 37-year-old Djokovic, who had knee surgery less than 1 1/2 months ago was still hoping to tie Federer’s men’s record of eight Wimbledon titles and become the first player in tennis history to win the tournament 25 Grand Slams. “With the movement, the way he hit the ball beautifully, served well. Everything.”

For Alcaraz, there was one brief blip, a five-point streak that took him from victory to near fall. It happened when he was one point away from the competition while serving 5-4, 40-love. But he made two mistakes. Then he missed a backhand. Then volley. Then forward. And one in advance. Suddenly, it was 5-all. Suddenly, Alcaraz appeared trembling. Suddenly, Djokovic could hope.

Suddenly, there was a trick.

But only briefly. Alcaraz rallied again, reached a tiebreaker, and closed things out.

Last year, Djokovic recalled, “We went toe to toe.”

“This year,” he continued, “there was no such thing. It was about him. He was the best on the court and he deserved to win.”

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain plays a return game against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during the men’s singles final at the Wimbledon tennis tournament in London, Sunday, July 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)

Wearing a blue arm on his knee, Djokovic was not doing well on a cloudy afternoon on Center Court – and Alcaraz was undoubtedly a big part of the problem.

The first game, it turned out, was the most competitive part of the proceedings until the third set.

Needless to say, there was no sense of joy all the way through. Moreover, the result never seemed contradictory.

“The first game was very good. One of the longest matches I’ve ever played,” Djokovic said. “That set the tone. He came out of the blocks ready to fight and ready to play his best right away, which was not the case last year. “

Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a return match against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during the singles singles final at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Sunday, July 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Djokovic double faulted to take a 5-1 lead in the first set. She put a volley into the net to get out of the break to start the second, then double-faulted to end it. Finally, in the third set, Djokovic held back a bit, registering his only break of serve all day, as the spectators chanted his two-syllable nickname – “No-le! Nnyaa!” — while others responded with choruses of “Let’s go, Carlos! Let’s go!”

However, this wasn’t the body-changing, get-everything thing that Djokovic is used to seeing, which makes sense considering there was and serious questions about whether it is possible to participate in Wimbledon.

Against Alcaraz, Djokovic sometimes bounced wildly when coming down after a serve or stepped lightly – as if barefoot on hot beach sand – between points. Missing his usual volleys, Djokovic won 27 of his 53 shots at the net. After closing out one volley in the first 11-stroke, Djokovic sighed and went to his side seat to grab a purple and green towel to soak up the sweat. The look on his face said: “Come, Carlitos, choose one of your peers.”

Alcaraz excelled in every way, from the basics to the types of shots no one else could attempt. On one occasion, he leaped and wrapped his racket around his back to get the ball over the net, though Djokovic putted a hole to earn the point. Alcaraz drove in a two-run double for the leadoff hitter. Points to look for in drop shots. Smacked works up to 136 mph (219 kph). Collected 14 break points, converted five, and faced just three.

What can’t Alcaraz do?