Wimbledon 2023 LIVE: Reaction after Carlos Alcaraz defeats Novak Djokovic in final for the ages
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic 1-6 7-6 6-1 3-6 6-4 to win one of the greatest ever Wimbledon finals
Loading....
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic to win the Wimbledon men’s final, denying the Serbian a fifth consecutive title, in a five-set epic and one of the greatest matches ever played at the All England Club.
Alcaraz fought from a set down in an instant classic to end Djokovic’s winning run in SW19, with the match played across almost five hours of breathtaking drama. Before the final, Djokovic had won 34 consecutive matches at Wimbledon and had not lost on Centre Court since 2013, but Alcaraz overturned history to win his second grand slam title. Djokovic had also won his previous 104 grand slam matches after winning the opening set.
In doing so, the 20-year-old Spaniard brings one of the most dominant eras of tennis history to an end. Alcaraz is the first player outside of the sport’s ‘big four’ of Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray to win the Wimbledon men’s singles title since 2002. Djokovic had been bidding to join Federer by equalling his men’s record of eight singles titles, but was denied by an inspired Alcaraz.
“It’s a dream come true for me,” an emotional Alcaraz said after receiving the trophy from the Princess of Wales. “Making history in this beautiful tournament, playing a final against a legend of our sport – for me it’s incredible. It’s amazing, for a boy like me, 20 years old, to reach this kind of situation.”
Follow live updates and results from day 14 of Wimbledon, below.
Carlos Alcaraz: Wimbledon 2023 champion in profile
Carlos Alcaraz ended Novak Djokovic’s reign in the Wimbledon men’s final in a battle of youth against experience for the SW19 crown.
The final featured the widest age gap between two men’s grand slam finalists in 48 years, and the young Spaniard is faced with the toughest challenge in tennis; Djokovic had won 34 consecutive matches at Wimbledon, he had not lost at the tournament since 2017, and not on Centre Court since 2013.
Having won the US Open final last year to claim his first major title at the age of just 19, Alcaraz’s victory has truly announced the Spaniard as the next great player in the sport.
Wimbledon 2023 finalist Carlos Alcaraz in profile
The Spaniard, 20, is the youngest men’s No 1 in tour history and is pursuing his second major title
Carlos Alcaraz speaking after winning the Wimbledon final
“It’s big moment not just for me, but for my family, for all the people around me. It’s really, really special moment.
“I start playing tennis thanks my dad. Really huge fan of tennis. I mean, he was watching tennis before I was born. It’s crazy. His whole life, it’s about tennis.
“I think for them, watching his kid making history, lifting the trophy, winning Wimbledon, is something incredible for them. For me to have them there, giving them a big hug, it’s something that I will never forget. I hope to have a photo from that moment because I’m going to keep forever.”
Carlos Alcaraz speaking after winning the Wimbledon final
“If I would have lost that set, probably I couldn’t lift the trophy. I probably could have lost in three sets, straight sets. I would say that gave me a lot of confidence, a lot of motivation to still going and to think that I’m able to win Novak in that stage.
“I am totally different player than French Open. I grew up a lot since that moment. I learned a lot from that moment.
“I took lesson from that match. I did something different before the match. I prepared a little bit different mentally before the match. I could deal with the pressure, the nerves, better than I did in French Open.
“I think was the mental part that allow me to stay there during the five sets.”
Carlos Alcaraz speaking after winning the Wimbledon final
“It’s a dream come true for me, being a Wimbledon champion, something that I really wanted. Honestly, I didn’t expect to get it really soon. Yeah, it’s time to enjoy and share everything, all my feelings.
“Beating Novak at his best, in this stage, making history, being the guy to beat him after 10 years unbeaten on that court, is amazing for me.
“It’s something that I will never forget, that’s for sure. As I said, it’s great for the new generation, as well, I think to see me beating him and making them think that they are capable to do it, as well.
“It’s great for me and I think for the young players, as well.”
Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova took inspiration from sponsor snub
Marketa Vondrousova cited being dumped by sponsor Nike as a driving factor behind her surprise Wimbledon victory.
The Czech emerged as one of the most unlikely champions at the All England Club and the first unseeded women’s winner with a 6-4 6-4 victory against favourite Ons Jabeur.
Vondrousova’s success was all the more surprising given her lack of pedigree on grass and a long injury absence last year following wrist surgery, and her failure to build on her run to the 2019 French Open final meant her clothing contract with Nike was not renewed.
Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova took inspiration from sponsor snub
Vondrousova became Wimbledon’s first unseeded women’s champion with her victory in Saturday’s final.
Wimbledon shows lack of depth in British game – but it’s not all doom and gloom
Britain’s leading players were sunning themselves on holiday as the Wimbledon finals took centre stage.
The tournament was not even at the half-way stage when Katie Boulter’s late-night demolition by Elena Rybakina ended home singles hopes in the third round.
There had been some good moments, notably a first victory on Centre Court for Liam Broady against fourth seed Casper Ruud to join Boulter in the third round.
Wimbledon shows lack of depth in British game – but it’s not all doom and gloom
A few bright spots cannot hide ongoing weaknesses in the domestic game.
Neal Skupski rewards brother Ken’s travelling exploits with Wimbledon win
Neal Skupski rewards brother Ken’s travelling exploits with Wimbledon win
Neal Skupski revealed he had no choice but to win the Wimbledon men’s doubles title after his brother and coach Ken returned from his family holiday in Ibiza to watch the final.
Skupski became just the second Briton to win the SW19 men’s doubles in the open era, after Jonny Marray 11 years ago, as he and Dutch partner Wesley Koolhof beat Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos 6-4 6-4 on Centre Court.
The 33-year-old Liverpudlian thought he would have to play his final without Ken in his box after his older sibling drove home following Thursday’s semi-final to go on holiday.
Neal Skupski rewards brother Ken’s travelling exploits with Wimbledon win
Ken Skupski, who coached his brother and Wesley Koolhof, arrived on an early-morning flight from Ibiza to be there for the men’s doubles final.
Novak Djokovic on Carlos Alcaraz: ‘I haven’t played someone like him, not ever Roger or Rafa’
Novak Djokovic on Carlos Alcaraz’s greatest strengths: “I think people have been talking in the past 12 months or so about his game consisting of certain elements from Roger, Rafa, and myself. I would agree with that. I think he’s got basically best of all three worlds.
“He’s got this mental resilience and really maturity for someone who is 20 years old. It’s quite impressive. He’s got this Spanish bull mentality of competitiveness and fighting spirit and incredible defense that we’ve seen with Rafa over the years.
“And I think he’s got some nice sliding backhands that he’s got some similarities with my backhands. Yeah, two-handed backhands, defense, being able to adapt. I think that has been my personal strength for many years. He has it, too.
“I haven’t played a player like him ever, to be honest. Roger and Rafa have their own obviously strengths and weaknesses. Carlos is very complete player. Amazing adapting capabilities that I think are a key for longevity and for successful career on all surfaces.”
Novak Djokovic hopes to face Carlos Alcaraz at US Open
Novak Djokovic, in his press conference after defeat to Carlos Alcaraz: “I’ve won some epic finals that I was very close to losing. Maybe this is kind of a fair-and-square deal I guess to lose a match like this for me here. Even though it hurts, it’s never easy to lose a close match.
“Credit to Carlos. Amazing poise in the important moments. For someone of his age to handle the nerves like this, be playing attacking tennis, and to close out the match the way he did... I thought I returned very well that last game, but he was just coming up with some amazing, amazing shots.
“Yeah, congratulations to him and to his team. What a tournament for him. What a match today to be part of. I hope, yeah, everyone enjoyed it.”
One game, 26 minutes, 32 points: Numbers behind Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic’s Wimbledon final epic
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz were pushed to the limit in 26-minute game that was clinched by the Spaniard to put him in the driving seat of the Wimbledon final.
It was a mammoth effort in the fifth game of the third set, which saw 32 points played out in a thrilling eye-catching exchange. It had everything, including 13 deuces, before Alcaraz finally capitalised on his seventh break point to go two breaks up in the set.
There were as many points in that game as the entire first set, and Alcaraz almost ran a kilometre.
32 points, 26 minutes: Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic’s epic game in numbers
The fifth game of the third set saw 32 points played out in a high-pressure exchange
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments