Strong Alcaraz wins the Wimbledon final in three sets

Carlos Alcaraz wins the Grand Slam tournament at Wimbledon for the second time in a row. The 21-year-old Spaniard outclassed Novak Djokovic 6:2, 6:2, 7:6 (7:4) in the rematch of last year's final.

It is Alcaraz's fourth Grand Slam title in his fourth final. Djokovic's record remains at 24 titles, tying him with Australian Margaret Court. At Wimbledon, the 37-year-old Serb is still one behind Roger Federer with seven triumphs.

Unlike in his epic five-set victory a year ago, when he was 5-0 down after 27 minutes, and unlike in three of the last four matches on his way to the final, in which he dropped the first set, Alcaraz had no teething problems in the rematch of the final duel with Djokovic. The French Open winner started with a break, added a second to make it 4:1 and led 1:0 after 41 minutes.

Djokovic also found it difficult to counter Alcaraz's wide repertoire of shots, his powerful, variable game and impressive leg and defensive work. Alcaraz took the second set after 34 more minutes, again with two breaks, and the third after a detour 7:4 in the tiebreak.

Djokovic has only once lost a final by a clearer margin

Alcaraz first showed weakness and nerves when he served for the match at 5:4 in the third set and recklessly gave away a 40:0 lead. Djokovic then managed his first break and saved himself in the tie-break. Alcaraz again had the upper hand there.

Instead of snatching the record as the oldest Wimbledon winner from Roger Federer, Djokovic had to concede after just under two and a half hours and his second clearest defeat in a Grand Slam final: He had only been similarly defeated in one of his 36 previous Grand Slam finals, a 0:6, 2:6, 5:7 loss to the king of clay Rafael Nadal at the French Open in 2020.

Alcaraz, who played close to perfection until 5-4 in the third set in front of Princess Kate and other celebrities, now has four titles after four Grand Slam finals. The last player to win his first four top-level finals was Roger Federer in 2003/2004, and the only players to have won four Grand Slam titles before Alcaraz at the age of 21 were Björn Borg and Boris Becker.