Carlos Alcaraz outlasts Novak Djokovic in five-set epic to claim maiden Wimbledon crown

Carlos Alcaraz ushered in a new era of men’s tennis at Wimbledon on Sunday, outlasting defending champion Novak Djokovic in an epic five-set thriller to win his first All-England Club title.

The two top seeds battled in a final for the ages at centre court, with the Spaniard emerging victorious after four hours and 42 minutes to become the third youngest winner at SW19. The 20-year-old recovered after dropping the first set to beat the seven-time Wimbledon champion 1-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 and grab his second grand slam title in just his fourth-ever tournament on grass.

Aiming for a fifth consecutive win at the All England Club to keep his hopes of a calendar slam alive, Djokovic was outmatched by the young Spanish phenom, who became the first man outside of the Big 4 of Federer, Nadal, Murray, and Djokovic to win Wimbledon since 2002.

Carrying a 34-match win-streak at Wimbledon heading into the final, Djokovic burst out of the gates on Sunday. The 23-time grand slam champion broke Alcaraz’s serve at the first time of asking and comfortably took the first set 6-1 in 34 minutes as he inched closer to a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon crown.

However, Djokovic soon realised the enormity of the task at hand as Alcaraz raised his level in the second set, trading breaks and going toe-to-toe with the Serbian in some mind-bending rallies that covered every inch of the manicured court. Alcaraz grabbed the second set in the tie-break, saving a set point before lacing a backhand winner past Djokovic to level the scores at 1-1.

The third set was defined by an everlasting 32-point, 27-minute game at 3-1 which involved 13 deuces. Aiming to secure a double break, Alcaraz outmatched the 36-year-old in the rollercoaster game, eventually converting his seventh break point to take control of the set and grab a 2-1 lead in the match.

Djokovic dropped an unprecedented three games on his serve in the third set and showed some signs of fading in the marathon encounter, but displayed his champion spirit in the fourth as he found a second wind to force a decider. The number two seed saved a couple of break points before breaking Alcaraz twice, winning the set 6-3 to take the game to a fifth.

The momentum swung towards the 36-year-old in the final set, but Djokovic squandered a break point to start the fifth, hitting his volley into the net to give the Spaniard a lifeline. Alcaraz went on to secure the decisive break in the very next game and showed nerves of steel to serve out the set to complete a famous victory at centre court and secure his first Wimbledon title.