ATP
Alcaraz overcomes Djokovic to win Wimbledon title
Carlos Alcaraz out-duelled 23-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic 1-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 on Sunday, becoming the third Spaniard to win Wimbledon.
The 20-year-old top seed who will hold onto the No. 1 ranking triumphed in one of the longest men’s finals at Wimbledon – four hours, 42 minutes.
The record of four hours 57 minutes was held by Djokovic and Roger Federer from 2019. Alcaraz follows Spanish champions Manolo Santana and Rafael Nadal
Defeat ended Djokovic’s Wimbledon win streak at 34 matches, the result of him winning the last four editions here; he was bidding to tie Federer on eight Wimbledon trophies.
Alcaraz set up match point with a service winner which was followed by Djokovic delivering the ball into the next to end the marathon.
“This is a dream come true, the winner said. “It’s great to win but even if I had lost I would be proud of myself for making history at this beautiful tournament.
“To be able to play at this. I didn’t expect things to happen so fast.”
Djokovic, winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles and 16 years older than the 20-year-old winner, was able to swallow his massive disappointment
“It’s not such a good afternoon for me – better one for Carlos.
“It’s amazing the quality at the end of the match. Carlos came up with big serves, big plays. You deserve this win.
“I didn’t think I would have this much trouble with you on the grass – just clay and hardcourt.
“It’s amazing the way you’ve adapted to the surface,” he told the pre-Wimbledon winner at Queen’s last month.
Djokovic added: “I never like to lose matches like this, it’s a tough one to swallow when you are so close. But when the emotions have settled, I have to be grateful.
:”I’ve won a few tight finals here, maybe I should have lost a few of them – so this is even Steven.
“I lost to a better player and can move on and be stronger.”
With Djokovic running out the first five games, it took 32 minutes for Alcaraz to get onto the scoreboard as he finally held for 1-5. But that minor success was followed minutes later by a winning over head smash on set point from the Serb.
Alcaraz got into rhythm in the second set as he broke his opponent for 2-0, with Djokovic immediately breaking back.
But the tight set went to a tiebreaker, with Alcaraz coming from 0-3 down and saving a set point before converting his own on a Djokovic backhand error to level the match after two hours.
Photo Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
The Spaniard began the third with a break and moved into domination mode, with Djokovic arguing along the way with chair umpire Fergus Murphy about a time violation as he went for the backcourt towel.
Alcaraz built up confidence as he broke the second seed for 4-1 in a 26-minute game with 13 deuces; Djokovic saved six break points before netting a forehand on the seventh.
Alcaraz took a two-set-to-one lead with a concluding break, for his own 6-1 scoreline; Djokovic left the court for a lengthy seven-minute toilet break, getting some jeers when he returned.
The veteran fought off two break points in the second game of the fourth to hold for 1-1 as he tried to get back into the final. The tactic worked a treat as Djokovic broke twice to square the match at two sets each.
With tensions running high, Djokovic was first to lose serve, dropping to 1-2; during his losing effort he slipped down, got up in time to return the next ball and was finally passed by the youngster.
A racquet smashed in anger into the net post earned a code violation for the second seed.
Main photo:-Wimbledon 2023 Carlos Alcaraz celebrates as he wins Men’s Singles Final by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
Holger Rune battled past injured Carlos Alcaraz to spoil the Spanish Easter party at the Barcelona Open, with the Dane lifting the trophy 7-6 (6), 6-2.
The pair of 21-year-olds were familiar foes, having played 20 times in juniors before hitting the Tour; Rune won the first 500 series title of his career and his fifth overall.
Alcaraz was treated three times in the second set after an apparent injury to his upper right thigh/groin after duelling hard in the opening set at the Real Club.
The loss will send Alcaraz back to third in the rankings, with Alexander Zverev moving back to second behind Jannik Sinner as a result of winning the Munich title on Sunday.
Rune, a first-round victim last week in Monte Carlo, reversed his clay momentum in Spain, handing Alcaraz a first loss of a set for the week.
The Spanish top seed’s two final shots both clipped the top of the net and fell back as Rune raised his hands in celebration after 97 minutes on court in the Catalan capital.
“This means the world,” the winner said. “I started the match stressed, he was playing big-time tennis.
“I was able to find my rhythm after he broke me (3-2 in the opening set) and I got more into the match.
“The first set was a big battle with a lot of important points. It was super-important to win the set and gain momentum.
“I’m so proud of myself.”
Rune ended with 18 winners while the ailing Alcaraz produced 33 unforced errors. The Dane claimed his 50th match win on clay and levelled his Tour record in the series to 2-2.
Rune said he channeled Novak Djokovic’s Paris Olympic gold medal win from last summer over Alcaraz as he struggled to turn his game around in Barcelona.
“I asked myself what Novak did to win that final. I (realised) that I didn’t need to hit every ball on the line. I need to make him play and hit a lot of balls.”
Rune, who won the elite Paris Bercy Masters 1000 title in 2022, finally began reversing a 13-match loss streak against top five opponents.with his title victory.
Alcaraz may be racing for fitness with the Madrid Masters starting on Wednesday as the ATP ploughs ahead with an unpopular two-week format for Masters tournaments despite growing protest from exhausted players.
Main photo:- Holger Rune celebrates Barcelona win – by ATPTour.com
Alexander Zverev turned 28 on Sunday and awarded himself a third title on his home Munich clay as he beat Ben Shelton 6-2,6-4 to win the ATP event.
The 2017 and 2018 champion here is now threatening Carlos Alcaraz as the pair duel for the world No. 2 position which the Spaniard took over last week after winning Monte Carlo.
Zverev schooled lefthander Shelton in 70 minutes for a second win in their series. The winner becomes the second to hold three Munich titles after countryman Philipp Kohlschreiber (2007, 2012, 2016).
“I’m enjoying my birthday so far,” Zverev said. “It’s extremely special to win in Germany, the most special thing I can do.
January’s Australian Open finalist added: “It’s definitely a great birthday present, I knew I had to play my best today, conditions were very hot and very fast.They were perfect for me.”
The winner broke three times while never facing a challenge to his serve from Shelton as he claimed a sixth career title at the 500-Tour level.
Main photo:- Alexander Zverev with his “birthday” trophy – by BMW Open/Bitpanda
Alexander Zverev gave fans in Munich what they were after as the top seed rolled into the final of the clay ATP in Bavaria with a 7-6 (3), 6-3 defeat of Fabian Marozsan.
World No. 3 Zverev, who won the titles in 2017 and 2018 needed 91 minutes to advance into a title match with Ben Shelton.
The American earned his spot with a .2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4 defeat of Argentine Francisco Cerundolo.
Zverev advanced with nine aces and broke twice in the tidy win over his Hungarian opposition.
“It’s awesome. The entire week has been great. Everybody is really enjoying the weather as well as the new Center Court,” the winner said. .
“I’m enjoying myself and hopefully I will have another great day tomorrow.”
Shelton reached his fourth career final, becoming the first American man to reach a clay final above ATP 250 level since Andre Agassi won the Rome Masters 23 years ago.
“It’s a big win for me. To get a win on clay against a guy like him gives me a lot of confidence,” Shelton.
“I’m really happy and excited to be in a 500-level final in Europe, my second clay-court tournament this season.
“I’ve been playing well this week and I’m not too stressed right now.”
Main photo:-Alexander Zverev winning in front of his home crowd – by ATPTour.com
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