Wimbledon 2024 LIVE: Brilliant Alcaraz thrashes Djokovic in men’s final rematch

For a little more than two hours, Carlos Alcaraz took to the Wimbledon final and made facing Novak Djokovic look like a saunter under the sun on Centre Court. It wasn’t until the very end, serving for the title with three Championship points, that the 21-year-old was gripped by nerves. But as he banished thoughts of that forehand drive volley, put agonisingly wide, and took to the tiebreak, Alcaraz underlined what was clear from the very start of this Wimbledon final: this was a merciless destruction of the most successful men’s player of all time, who was once again denied a record-equalling eighth title by the brilliant Spaniard.

If the rematch did not live up to last year’s five-set epic, it was only because Alcaraz’s victory was so crushing, a 6-2 6-2 7-6 (7-4) scoreline that would have been even more emphatic had he not blinked when serving for his second successive title. In his 37th grand slam final, Djokovic suffered one of his heaviest ever defeats, second only to Rafael Nadal in the final of the 2020 French Open. Centre Court waited on a flicker from Djokovic but Alcaraz smothered him from start to end. When given a reprieve in the tiebreak, Alcaraz picked apart his 37-year-old opponent and found the serves required to finally get over the line.

If Alcaraz’s first Wimbledon title was an improbable and unexpected triumph, his second signals that he is already on the path to becoming an all-time great. Alcaraz becomes just the third man aged 21 and under to win multiple Wimbledon titles, after Bjorn Borg and Borris Becker. The Spaniard is just the sixth man in the Open era to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same summer, joining Borg, Rod Laver, Federer, Nadal and Djokovic. Those are the footsteps that the 21-year-old is following and this victory over Djokovic proved that when Alcaraz is locked in, he is close to unstoppable.

“Honestly it’s a dream for me winning this trophy,” Alcaraz said as he spoke on Centre Court following his win. “It’s a great feeling to play on this beautiful court and trophy. It’s the most beautiful tournament.

He is asked about the game which saw him lose three match points and get broken when serving for the match, to which he replied:

“It was 40-0. Djokovic is an unbelievable fighter, I tried to win with my serve, but I couldn’t. I tried to stay calm and positive going into the tie-break and play my best tennis.

“That’s all I was thinking about. I’m glad at the end I could find the solutions.”

Alcaraz dominated his opponent to win 6-2 6-2 7-6(4) on Centre Court and claim back-to-back Wimbledon titles and his fourth grand slam at only 21 years old.

Djokovic managed to save three Championship points at the end of the third set, forcing a tie-break, but it was not enough to stop Alcaraz, as the 37-year-old’s wait for a 25th grand slam went on.

“To my wife I love you. To my wonderful children thank you for bringing the smile to my face every single day. I’m so thankful to be a father of two little angels who love tennis.

“I don’t know if I have the nerves to have a coaching career with my son; but if you really wish to pursue it I’ll be there for you.

“Enough talking. I just want to say thanks to my whole team, for sticking with me through good and bad times. I love you guys, thanks for being in my corner, let’s keep this going.”

Here’s more from Novak Djokovic’s post-match interview. He said: “I have to be very proud.

“Obviously there’s disappointment right now but when I reflect on the last four to five weeks [37 days after knee surgery]. What I’ve been through, I’m very satisfied.

“I try to remind myself sometimes of how surreal it is being here; being really blessed to fight for the trophy. Every time I step on the court it feels like the first time.

“I’m a child living my childhood dream.”

“He was definitely very hot today,” Novak Djokovic says in his post-match interview.

“Obviously not the result I wanted, especially in the first couple of sets. I wasn’t up to par but credit to Carlos. I tried to push him and save the three match points to extend the match a little bit longer.

“But he was the deserved winner today.”

Here’s the moment Carlos Alcaraz won his second Wimbledon title:

Carlos Alcaraz becomes just the third player to win two men’s Wimbledon titles before the age of 22.

Boris Becker is the youngest ever Wimbledon winner, taking the title aged 17 and then retaining it the following year with Bjorn Borg the only other player to have achieved the feat.

Alcaraz (21 years, 70 days) is the third-youngest player in the Open Era to win the men’s singles title at Wimbledon in back-to-back editions, after Becker (18 years, 227 days, 1985-86) and Borg (21 years, 26 days, 1976-77).

Carlos Alcaraz becomes the ninth man to retain his Wimbledon title in the Open era.

Novak Djokovic was the last player to do so, winning in both 2021 and 2022. Also on the list is Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, Boris Becker, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, John Newcombe and Rod Laver.