Bill Simons
Wimbledon
Serena couldn’t do it, Roger couldn’t do it, Rafa couldn’t do it and Novak still hasn’t done it. Today Nole was hoping to break “Court’s Curse” – no one had surpassed Margaret Court’s incredible mark of 24 Slam wins. But the most coveted record in all of tennis remains firmly in place.
In a stunning display of athleticism, the greatest player of all time got pummeled by the greatest player of this time. It was a lopsided master class.
As Kate Middleton, wearing a full length purple dress, looked on, the Spaniard hit a purple patch. The defending champion attacked Novak’s serve and peppered him at the net, and on his fifth breakpoint won a marathon opening game that lasted 14 minutes.
Carlos’s angled forehands, his anticipation, his movement and, most of all his powerful serve handcuffed his usually flawless foe. Djokovic looked like a 37-year-old. He double faulted and often netted volleys. We saw hints of frustration. Alcaraz said Slam finals are all about nerves. Today, his were calm. The Serb was tight.
Djokovic, who previously hadn’t reached a final this year, who’d lost to the No. 123 player in Indian Wells, and who’d had trouble breathing in Monte Carlo, had taunted the Wimbledon crowd, saying, “Have a gooooood night.” Today, Nole didn’t have a “goooood” day.
But, Pat Cash asked, “how is Novak even in the final? He’s turned lemon into lemonade. He’s been deported, booed by 25,000 Federer fans in New York. But he feels the fire. We didn’t even think he’d play.” Amazingly, thirty-nine days after having knee surgery, this superman was playing in the Wimbledon final. He dearly wanted to avenge his loss in the 2023 final.
The Serb is the Raj of Records. No other tennis star has so wanted to set marks. Even Roger Federer was supportive, saying, “Hopefully Novak can go on crushing every record.”
Last year Djokovic won the first set 6-1. This year he lost it 6-2. Then Carlos promptly broke him to start the second set. Potent serves, brilliant returns, nasty angles, outrageous drop shots – Alcaraz’s winners are wonders. Check out the highlight reels.
Here was a tapestry of power and delicacy – what hands! How is he so fearless? His variety begs the question: what can’t this genius offer? How has Spain managed to give us both Rafa and Carlos? Alcaraz’s shotmaking on the run brings Federer to mind. Even when this whirling dervish loses a point, he amazes.
Flat and rattled, Novak’s head often dropped, he flubbed volleys, his speed was modest, and his conviction vanished. Novak had an easy draw, but Carlos is at an altogether level. Radio Wimbledon commented, “Novak looks discombobulated. He’s in a world of trouble – and how often have we said this about Novak?”
Djokovic had barked at the crowd, “You can’t touch me!” But Carlos easily twisted tennis’ man of steel into submission. Early in the third set, fans chanted, “Nole! Nole! Nole!” A very British voice responded, “Gooood night!”
Darren Cahill noted, “Carlos did to Novak what Novak does to everybody else. Squeeze the court – and he makes you panic.”
The sight of aging sports icons in decline can be painful. The Serb is a man of such pride – this had to hurt. Muhammad Ali on the mat, Willie Mays striking out, Michael Jordan out of breath. Novak still has a lot of gas in his tank. He made the finals on a rebuilt knee. But today, tennis’ greatest game manager had few answers. Nole looked to the heavens as if to ask, “What can I do?” He chattered to his box, slapped his thigh and pulled on the net. Certainly his knee was less than ideal.
Wimbledon Radio said, “One senses that great champions are coming back – until they don’t.”
Novak did fight back, lifting his level. The Serb managed to get a third-set breakpoint. So what? Carlos unleashed monstrous serves, soon broke Nole and gained three championship points. But, tasting victory, he made a mess of it. He double faulted and missed a swinging volley. The third set went to a tiebreak.
The Spaniard then called on his mental strength to play a superb tiebreak. When Djokovic tamely netted a backhand return, Carlos prevailed 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(4) to win his fourth Slam in four tries, his second straight Wimbledon, and he became just the sixth man to win the Channel Slam – the French Open and Wimbledon – in one year.
Carlos just can’t stop winning. One fan summed it all up, calling out from section 305, “Carlos, you’re a beautiful beast!”
Not surprisingly, Djokovic was gracious in defeat. He said, “It was not meant to be…Keep it going [Carlos]…We’ll see a lot of you.”
For his part, Alcaraz said he was “happy to find solutions…This is the most beautiful tournament, the most beautiful court, the most beautiful trophy.”
Daniil Medvedev, who’s often played the Big 3, said Carlos was the toughest player he’s ever faced. And all of tennis wondered just how high this boy wonder could rise.
Yes, Carlos got Novak’s GOAT today, but he also put on full display his admirable, beyond-his-years perspective. He’s humble. When comparing himself to tennis’ best, he observed, “I don’t consider myself a champion of their level.”
As fabulous as this athlete’s shots are, what’s even better is how he embraces his sport. John McEnroe said the Spaniard “was the best 21 year-old ever, the best thing that’s happened to our game in fifteen years. And the best thing about him is his ability to smile.”
JOVIC DOUBLES DOWN: The Kramer Club’s Iva Jovic teamed with Tyra Grant to win the Girls’ doubles. It was the third straight Grand Slam final for the duo, who also won the Australian Open. Jovic, from Torrance and coached by Peter Smith, and Grant beat a British pairing 10-8 in the third-set breaker.
