Today Carlos Alcaraz dominated Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon Men's Singles final, winning 6-2, 6-2, 7-6. Alcaraz's powerful serve and improved net play overwhelmed Djokovic, who was limited by recent knee surgery. This victory marks Alcaraz's second Wimbledon title and his fourth Grand Slam overall. He joins an elite group of players to win both the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year. He is also the youngest ever to achieve the "Surface Slam" by winning Grand Slams on all three major court surfaces - clay, grass, and hard court. For Djokovic, this loss marks his first straight-sets defeat at Wimbledon since 2013.
Spanish tennis prodigy Carlos Alcaraz, affectionately known as "Carlitos," has taken the world by storm with his aggressive baseline game and relentless determination. At just 21 years old, he boasts an impressive resume that now includes four Grand Slam titles, five Masters 1000 titles, and a historic stint as the youngest ever world No. 1. Alcaraz joins Bjorn Borg, Boris Becker and Mats Wilander among men to have won four Grand Slam titles at age 21 or younger.
Alcaraz's journey began in 2018, turning professional at the tender age of 15. He quickly demonstrated his potential, winning titles on the ITF and Challenger Tours. His breakthrough came in 2021 when, at 17, he became the youngest participant in the Australian Open and secured his first Grand Slam win. He continued to impress throughout the year, breaking records at the Madrid Open and reaching the top 100 rankings.
2022 proved to be a phenomenal year for Alcaraz. He announced his arrival on the big stage with a stunning victory at the Miami Open, his first Masters 1000 title. This was just the beginning, as he went on to conquer the Madrid Open, defeating tennis legends Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Alexander Zverev in a remarkable succession. The icing on the cake came at the US Open, where Alcaraz triumphed over Casper Ruud to become the youngest Grand Slam champion since Pete Sampras in 1990. This victory propelled him to the coveted No. 1 ranking, cementing his status as a future great of men's tennis.
Alcaraz continued his dominance in 2023, adding two more Masters 1000 titles at Indian Wells and Madrid. The highlight of the year was undoubtedly his epic Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic. In a thrilling display of skill and resilience, Alcaraz emerged victorious, etching his name on the prestigious trophy for the first time.
2024 witnessed another historic feat for Alcaraz. His triumph at the French Open made him the youngest player ever to achieve the Career Surface Slam. He further solidified his Wimbledon dominance today with a successful title defense, becoming the youngest player in the Open Era to complete the Channel Slam - winning the French and Wimbledon in the same year. In fact, Alcaraz is just the sixth man to win these two events in the same year and the first to do so since Djokovic in 2021. Bjorn Borg did it three times, Rafael Nadal twice. Carlos Alcaraz is in great company.
When asked about his achievement today by the press, Alcaraz responded by saying "For me, this is the most beautiful tournament, the most beautiful court and obviously the most beautiful trophy”.
Alcaraz's meteoric rise is a testament to his exceptional talent, unwavering dedication, and relentless pursuit of excellence. His aggressive baseline game, featuring a powerful forehand and exceptional athleticism, has captivated audiences worldwide. And he is only getting better and better as time passes. There's no doubt that 21-year old Carlitos will continue to rewrite tennis history for many years to come. Probably decades..
And he gets to celebrate twice today when his beloved Spanish national soccer team wins the UEFA European Championship final against England. He better celebrate quietly though if he is still in London.
