Carlos Alcaraz wins his second Wimbledon title | ATP Tour

Wimbledon

Alcaraz wins his second Wimbledon title

The Spaniard won the fourth Grand Slam of his career and the second of the year

July 14, 2024

Carlos Alcaraz is breaking many of the barriers that seemed insurmountable in Spanish tennis. At 21, he became the first player from his country to defend his Wimbledon crown and equalled Rafael Nadal with two titles at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

The No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings repeated last year’s success on the British grass against the same opponent, Novak Djokovic, by winning 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(4), in two hours and 27 minutes. In addition, he already knows what it is like to link consecutive titles at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, something within the reach of only a privileged few.

“It’s a dream for me to win this trophy,” Alcaraz said at the trophy ceremony. “In an interview when I was 11 or 12, I said that my dream was to win Wimbledon, so I’m fulfilling my dream again. I want to move on, but it’s a great feeling to play on this beautiful court and lift this incredible trophy. This is the most beautiful tournament, the most beautiful court and the most beautiful trophy.”

Roland Garros-Wimbledon double (Open Era)
1969. Rod Laver

1978-80. Bjorn Borg

2008, 2010. Rafael Nadal
2009. Roger Federer

2021. Novak Djokovic

2024. Carlos Alcaraz

“I think fighting and believing,” Alcaraz said as the keys to winning Roland Garros and Wimbledon back-to-back. “It is a huge honour for me to be part of those players who have won Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year. They are great champions. I don’t consider myself a champion yet, not like them, but I will continue to build my path. It is a huge honour.”

For the Murcia native, this is his second Grand Slam title of the season and the fourth of his career, equalling Manuel Santana in second place in the history of Spaniards with the most titles in this category. Only Nadal’s 22 have more.

Alcaraz’s 4 Grand Slams
2022. US Open

2023. Wimbledon
2024. Roland Garros

2024. Wimbledon

On the other side of the net, Djokovic – the same player he faced in the last Wimbledon final – was trying to extend the number of Grand Slams on his tally to 25, but Alcaraz prevented him from doing so with a stellar performance. From the first game, which lasted 14 minutes and ended in the form of a break.

He was not impressed by the legend that the Serbian carries with him, nor by his splendid track record or his ability to play on the big stages. Alcaraz gave no respite from the start and made it clear that he was not going to give away an inch of ground, no matter how much respect he had for him.

The Spaniard insisted on his return and went for his fifth break opportunity, when he broke the Serbian’s serve. That was the boost he needed to win from start to finish in an impeccable set, in which he was still able to break for the second time (2/6) and raise his percentage with first serves to 87%.

Alcaraz did not take a step back in the second set. He did not relax or allow the Serbian to regain his confidence. To do so, he started the set in the same way as the first, with a new break that allowed him to escape again (2-0).

Her service stability continued with 86% of points won with her first serve and her ability to decide when and how to approach the net (8/9 in the first two sets). She thus dealt another great blow to the match in the form of a break to repeat the same result as the previous one (6-2).

The Spaniard became even bigger and ended up closing out the match on his own to lift the Cup at Wimbledon. However, he showed his human condition when at 5-4, 40/0 he let three championship points slip away. Djokovic gave everything he had left to reach the tie-break, but once there, Alcaraz ended up sealing his title.

And he has achieved all this at an age that puts him on a par with Boris Becker, Bjorn Borg and Mats Wilander, the players with the most Grand Slam titles at 21 years of age or younger.

Alcaraz has been able to defy history at every level. Not only has he proclaimed himself as one of the great precocious talents of all time, but he has also broken with the tradition of his country, making grass the surface that has brought him the most success so far.

Wimbledon is now the venue where he has won the most Grand Slam titles and where he has had the most victories in a tournament of this category – together with Roland Garros – with 18. His record on the surface rises to 88.8% success rate with 24 victories in 27 matches played.

And the last of those triumphs came this very Sunday on the biggest stage possible, London’s Centre Court, against the most successful rival in the Grand Slams.

Did you know…?

Carlos Alcaraz has won his first four Grand Slam finals, becoming only the eighth player in history to do so (also Manolo Santana) and the second in the Open Era, after Federer, who won his first seven finals.