Author: Barkha Roy
Carlos Alcaraz reached a significant milestone by taking over the world number one spot in the ATP rankings after a thrilling five-set Wimbledon final victory over Novak Djokovic. The match had high stakes, as the winner would not only secure the Wimbledon championship, but also the top spot in the world rankings. Alcaraz’s victory made him world number one for the 29th week, an extraordinary achievement for the 20-year-old Spanish tennis prodigy.
Facing defending champion Novak Djokovic, Alcaraz initially struggled with nerves, but showed remarkable resilience to secure a hard-fought victory with a final score of 1-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4. Djokovic, seeking his fifth consecutive Wimbledon title, his eighth overall Wimbledon title and to equal Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 major titles, was outclassed by the determined and impressive Alcaraz, who celebrated his second major title.
The Spanish sensation has done it 🇪🇸@carlosalcaraz triumphs over Novak Djokovic, 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 in an all-time classic#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/sPGLXr2k99
– Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 16, 2023
Before the final, Djokovic had already won the Australian Open and the French Open, surpassing Rafael Nadal’s record of 22 major titles. Her ultimate goal was to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 major victories. On the other side, Alcaraz represented the younger generation of players and wanted to prove that he wasn’t intimidated by Djokovic’s great tennis.
The Wimbledon final began with Djokovic showing dominance on the court, putting in an exceptional performance. However, Alcaraz reacted with determination, breaking Djokovic’s 14-match tie-break winning streak in Grand Slam events and securing a crucial second set. Despite Djokovic’s tireless efforts to recover, Alcaraz held his ground and eventually won the championship. The exchanges of blows on London’s slippery grass kept the Centre Court crowd on their feet throughout the match.
The spectators on center court, including esteemed figures such as the Prince and Princess of Wales, actor Brad Pitt and two-time champion Andy Murray, erupted in applause as they celebrated the newest Wimbledon champion in the tradition of the All England Club. After the match, Alcaraz ran to hug his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, as well as his family and friends, expressing his joy and gratitude for the significant success.
The smile says it all 😁#Wimbledon | @carlosalcaraz pic.twitter.com/s9mhueFqOx
– Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 16, 2023
Djokovic, visibly emotional after the defeat, reflected on the immense physical and mental effort he had put into his quest for tennis history. Despite his best efforts, he was unable to match Roger Federer’s men’s record of eight Wimbledon titles and Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 considerable wins. In addition, Alcaraz ended two of Djokovic’s astonishing streaks: 34 consecutive wins in matches dating back to 2017 and 45 consecutive wins on Centre Court dating back to 2013.
In an exceptional triumph, Alcaraz became the third youngest man in the Open era to win the Wimbledon title, following in the footsteps of Boris Becker in 1985 and Bjorn Borg in 1976, who reached this milestone at even younger ages. His victory served as proof of the talent and potential of the next generation of tennis stars.