Djoker 'annihilated' in Wimbledon bloodbath as ruthless 'changing of ...

With a performance of rare brilliance, Carlos Alcaraz defended a major title for the first time in his exceptional career when routing Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final on Sunday, denying the Serbian legend’s bid to create more history.

Australian icon Ken Rosewall watched from the Royal Box as the Spanish sensation dismissed Djokovic’s attempt to replace him as the oldest player to win a grand slam title with ruthless ease when successful 6-2 6-2 7-6 (4) in 2hr 27min.

Surpassing stars including Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka as a four-time major winner, Alcaraz became the sixth man in the Open era to complete the English Channel double by following his Roland Garros success in June with his triumph on lawn at Wimbledon.

The others are Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Djokovic. Aged 21, Alcaraz already walks with the all-time greats.

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“I think I just (keep) fighting and believing. It’s huge for me to be part of those players who have achieved it in the same year,” he said. “(I’m) really glad to be in the same table as Novak. Huge champions did it. I don’t consider myself a champion yet like them. I’ll try to keep building my path and journey. It’s a huge moment for me.”

Seemingly resigned to his fate after Alcaraz played another spectacular game to break him at 4-5 in the deciding set, Djokovic barely sat down before walking to the opposite baseline, his audacious bid to create history just 40 days after undergoing knee surgery in tatters.

But there was a reprieve as the champion wobbled briefly when unable to convert three match points when serving for the championship, with a woman screaming at the top of her voice just as Alcaraz was about to swing at a drive forehand volley from mid-court at 40-30.

Distracted, he missed and subsequently dropped serve for the only time in the final. But despite the match tightening, it did not prove to be the scream that changed history, with Alcaraz regaining his focus to complete the rout over a man trying to equal Federer as an eight-time champion at the All England Lawn Tennis Club.

The win was described by Tim Henman as “an annihilation”, saying that “Alcaraz was just absolutely phenomenal.”

“He gave Djokovic nothing to get his teeth stuck into.”

Nick Kyrgios wrote on X that it could be the first proper “changing of the guard”.

“Me and Tim have had this conversation, it is a conversation all tennis fans need to have, is there one more Slam left for Djokovic on the calendar?” he said.

“With the come up of Alcaraz, and obviously two times in a row beating him in the final, does Djokovic have enough left in the tank to get one more Slam?”

In a tournament where a new record for five set matches was set at 37, the most anticipated of them all and one that drew stars from all walks of life was over in a rapid three sets, the fifth time Djokovic has experienced a whitewash from his 37 grand slam finals.

Triumphant in a vastly different final to their classic of last year, Alcaraz joins his idol Nadal as the only Spanish men to win Wimbledon twice and Borg and Boris Becker as players to win multiple titles at the AELTC by the age of 21.

He joins Federer as the only man in the Open era to win their first four major finals and Borg, Becker and Mats Wilander as four-time major winners at his current age.

“Honestly it’s a dream for me, winning this trophy,” Alcaraz said.

“I did an interview when I was 11 years old (and) I said my dream is to win Wimbledon. I’m repeating my dream. I want to keep going. “Obviously it’s a great feeling to play on this beautiful court (and) to lift this amazing trophy. For me, this is the most beautiful tournament, most beautiful court ... and the most beautiful trophy.”

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 14: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain kisses the Gentlemen's Singles Trophy following victory against Novak Djokovic. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Alcaraz faltered in his Queen’s Club defence and was tested throughout the fortnight by players including Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul and Daniil Medvedev, but those challenges steeled him for the task against Djokovic, who he has now beaten in both grand slam finals.

He was brilliant from the opening point, particularly on return, which pushed Djokovic on the back foot immediately. But his serving was also superb and his groundstrokes exceptional, with Alcaraz finishing the match with 42 winners and only 24 unforced errors.

Djokovic had enjoyed great success during the tournament when coming to the net and entered the match having won 78 percent of points when coming forward. Shortening points was a chief tactic to ensure he protected his knee as much as possible over the fortnight.

But against Alcaraz, who whipped winners past him at will, his success rate was well below 50 percent throughout the opening two sets of the final, with the pressure applied by the Spaniard drawing Djokovic into unusual errors, glaringly so on the backhand volley.

There were periods in recent years where Djokovic, who was superb when winning three major titles last year, would point out that his generation remained supreme. He knew Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner were coming, but the champion was defiant. He was still the King.

But his reign of dominance is over. It is not to say the Serbian will not add another record to his name as the oldest ever grand slam champion. But nor will be the favourite anymore as he bids for an elusive 25th grand slam title.

Sinner demolished him on his favourite court at Melbourne Park on route to the Australian Open. Injury grounded his hopes in Paris. Alcaraz has him covered at Wimbledon. And history shows that winning grand slams at the age of 37 and beyond is improbable.

Rosewall, who was seated in the Royal Box alongside Princess Kate and other luminaries including Andre Agassi and Lleyton Hewitt, won the 1972 Australian Open just shy of two months after celebrating his 37th birthday.

Federer and Djokovic claimed majors aged 36 and Nadal and Serena Williams added her final triumph at the age of 35.

Williams serves as a case in point for the challenge confronting Djokovic as he seeks a 25th major title that would put him beyond Margaret Court. After winning the Australian Open in 2017 to move to 23 grand slam titles, she was unable to clinch another to equal Court.

In the four finals she reached after that superb triumph in Melbourne, the American legend was well beaten by younger, more powerful rivals. In Alcaraz and the world No.1 Sinner, Djokovic has two formidable rivals to overcome who are more than a decade younger.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 14: Djokovic was downed in straight sets.Source: Getty Images

Again, it is not to say the superstar cannot clinch a 25th major title for it is never wise to write a champion off, particularly one with Djokovic’s record, but winning another will be his greatest challenge.

In a heartfelt speech in which he praised the level of Alcaraz, thanked his family and credited his team for helping him through physical battles both public and those Djokovic has kept quiet while signalling his determination remained, saying; “Let’s keep it going.”

Alcaraz, for his part, praised his rival for his ability to reach a final so soon after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus.

“It’s been a difficult few weeks for you. You guys have done unbelievable work,” Alcaraz said.

“After the French Open having surgery ... you didn’t know if you’d be able to play this tournament. Making the final is a really great run. It’s been unbelievable. I was telling my team it’s something difficult to realise. I have huge respect for you and your team. Great job and keep going.”

Djokovic, for his part, offered praise to Alcaraz for his excellence and will now prepare for Paris as he seeks the one major goal to elude him so far – an Olympics Gold Medal.

“He was definitely very hot today. It’s obviously not the result I wanted,” he said.

“Especially the first few sets ... the level of tennis wasn’t up to par from my side. (But) credit to Carlos. He had it all today. I saved the three match points and I extended the match a bit, but he was an absolutely deserved winner today. Huge congratulations.”

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An exceptional opening game lasting 20 points and 13 minutes was a portent of what was to come, with Alcaraz seizing the initial break on his fifth opportunity when Djokovic cracked.

The pressure was high, with the Spaniard making 16 returns in the service game to ensure the Serbian was forced to play almost every point in a high-stress opening.

Djokovic, as has been his manner throughout a tournament he entered under a cloud, showed a determination to shorten points, but found returns whizzing past him at the net.

Alcaraz won Roland Garros while restrained from fully unleashing on his forehand due to an arm injury that forced him out of a number of lead in events.

But that did not prove an issue throughout Wimbledon and in his opening service game he smacked his fastest serve for the tournament at 218khm.

His service percentage against Djokovic early in the match was also significantly higher than it had been in his two previous victories, when it dipped below 50 percent.

A factor, too, was the speed of his groundstrokes.

Djokovic was able to protect his knee and seemed to have ample time to work into points in his five victories through the tournament. But Alcaraz robbed him of time in the final.

This saw the Serbian pressing from the baseline and on serve and the cumulative pressure saw him conceded a second break for the match when double-faulting at 1-3.

A year ago Djokovic whipped through the first set 6-1 against a hesitant and errant Alcaraz. This time around he was rattled by the sustained excellence of a more mature man.

The Spaniard clinched the first set in 41 minutes, having won 35 of the 69 points, with his dominance particularly clear in rallies of less than four shots, where he led 27 to 16.

The second set started in a similar fashion to the first in one regard, with Alcaraz breaking the seven-time champion immediately.

But he did not need 20 points this time, instead seizing the initiative when breaking Djokovic to 15 when drawing a forehand volley error from the legend.

The Serbian had a front row seat to The Alcaraz Experience and even joined in the applause at one stage after the Spaniard made a superb low volley off a return Djokovic had timed sweetly when leading 2-1, 30-0.

The pattern of the match continued when Djokovic was again broken when serving at 2-5, with the 24-time major champion again netting a backhand volley late in the game.

It may have appeared a regulation volley but, rest assured, when pitted against a player with Alcaraz’s explosiveness, trying to put away a ball dipping below the net is tricky.

A point later, he double-faulted for the second time on break point in the final in another indication that he was both below his best but also playing under extreme pressure.

Djokovic was heavily outgunned.Source: AFP

Djokovic managed something he was yet to do in the final when holding his serve to open the third set. And he fought hard to deny Alcaraz two games later but saving three break points with precise serving and big-swinging forehand volley drives.

Djokovic was irked through the tournament by the support the Centre Court crowd gave rivals including Alexei Popyrin and Holger Rune late in matches as the begged for their time watching the grand theatre to be extended.

The shoe was on the other foot this time, for it was Djokovic the crowd jumped behind midway through the third set as he attempted to find a toehold in the final and to make it competitive.

A case in point came when he whipped a backhand winner to bring up a rare break point at 30-40 while leading the third set 3-2. Alcaraz responded like Djokovic has done with such distinction through his career, namely by pumping an unreturnable serve down the middle.

The mid-point scream gave the Serbian a brief reprieve late in the final. But the pattern of play continued in the tiebreaker, with Alcaraz both more brilliant and precise, while Djokovic was unable to find his range with his usual consistency.