Wimbledon
Djokovic ready to live up to his own lofty expectations in final against Alcaraz
Without a title for over six months, Novak Djokovic is now within touching distance of a record 25th Grand Slam trophy — with the all-conquering Serb saying Wimbledon always brings the best out of him.
For a champion who has become accustomed to trampling over the opposition while amassing almost 100 titles in his career, this lean spell is not something he is used to.
The 37-year-old lost in his Australian Open fortress at the start of the year, with his bid to win a record-extending 11th Melbourne Park title cut short in the semi-finals.
A knee injury then prematurely ended his French Open title defence last month.
So when he reached the All England Club final after a 6-4 7-6(2) 6-4 win over Lorenzo Musetti Friday, he was finally living up to his own lofty expectations.
Standing in his way to an eighth Wimbledon crown that will see him equal Roger Federer’s mark is Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who beat Djokovic in last year’s title clash.
“I’m aware that Roger holds eight Wimbledons. I hold seven. History is on the line. Also, the 25th potential Grand Slam. It serves as a great motivation, but at the same time it’s also a lot of pressure and expectations,” Djokovic told reporters.
“Every time I step out on the court now, though I’m 37 and competing with 21-year-olds, I still expect myself to win most of the matches, and people expect me to win, whatever, 99% of the matches that I play.
“I always have to come out on court and perform my best to still be at the level with Carlos or Jannik (Sinner) or Sascha (Alexander Zverev) or Daniil (Medvedev).”
After winning three of the four majors last season, Djokovic has endured a disappointing run of form this year with injuries adding to his woes.
In fact for a while it looked like he would not be able to compete at this year’s Wimbledon after requiring knee surgery on a torn meniscus just five weeks ago.
Yet now he stands on the cusp of winning a 25th major and break a record that has stood for over half a century, with Margaret Court having won her 24th slam in 1973.
“This year hasn’t been that successful for me,” the Serbian added. “It’s probably the weakest results the first six months I’ve had in many years. That’s okay.
“I had to adapt and accept that and try to find a way out from the injury that I had and regroup. Wimbledon, historically, there’s been seasons where I wasn’t playing at a desired level but I would win a Wimbledon title and things would change, added Djokovic, who squeezed past Federer to win the 2019 final after saving two championship points against him.
“Wimbledon just extracts the best of me and motivates me to really always show up and perform the best I can.”
-Reuters
Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz produced an utterly ruthless performance to dismantle Serbia’s Novak Djokovic 6-2 6-2 7-6(4) in a rematch of last year’s Wimbledon final to successfully defend his title on Sunday.
Alcaraz now has four Grand Slam trophies with a perfect record in major finals, after his two Wimbledon triumphs, his U.S. Open victory in 2022 and his French Open win last month.
Defeat denied Djokovic a 25th Grand Slam title to surpass Margaret Court in the all-time list and also equal Roger Federer’s haul of eight men’s singles titles at Wimbledon.
Alcaraz pounced on his fifth break point in a tight first game that lasted 14 minutes, before the 21-year-old third seed dropped the hammer and powered through the opening set on the back of some solid serving.
Second seed Djokovic came under more pressure at the start of the next set as Alcaraz bullied the 37-year-old in the early exchanges to break and capitalised on his service woes for an imposing two-set lead.
Djokovic and Alcaraz went toe-to-toe until 4-4 in the third set before the Spaniard broke with a big backhand winner to take a 5-4 lead. However, despite being 40-0 up, he squandered three match points and dropped serve.
He tamed his nerves to clinch victory in the tiebreak when Djokovic crashed a return into the net.
-Reuters
List of Wimbledon men’s singles champions:
2024 Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) beat Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 6-2 6-2 7-6(4)
2023 Alcaraz (Spain) beat Djokovic (Serbia) 1-6 7-6(6) 6-1 3-6 6-4
2022 Djokovic (Serbia) beat Nick Kyrgios (Australia) 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6(3)
2021 Djokovic (Serbia) beat Matteo Berrettini (Italy) 6-7(4) 6-4 6-4 6-3
2020 Tournament cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2019 Djokovic (Serbia) beat Roger Federer (Switzerland) 7-6(5) 1-6 7-6(4) 4-6 13-12(3)
2018 Djokovic (Serbia) beat Kevin Anderson (South Africa) 6-2 6-2 7-6(3)
2017 Federer (Switzerland) beat Marin Cilic (Croatia) 6-3 6-1 6-4
2016 Andy Murray (Britain) beat Milos Raonic (Canada) 6-4 7-6(3) 7-6(2)
2015 Djokovic (Serbia) beat Federer (Switzerland) 7-6(1) 6-7(10) 6-4 6-3
2014 Djokovic (Serbia) beat Federer (Switzerland) 6-7(7) 6-4 7-6(4) 5-7 6-4
2013 Murray (Britain) beat Djokovic (Serbia) 6-4 7-5 6-4
2012 Federer (Switzerland) beat Murray (Britain) 4-6 7-5 6-3 6-4
2011 Djokovic (Serbia) beat Rafael Nadal (Spain) 6-4 6-1 1-6 6-3
2010 Nadal (Spain) beat Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) 6-3 7-5 6-4
2009 Federer (Switzerland) beat Andy Roddick (U.S.) 5-7 7-6(6) 7-6(5) 3-6 16-14
2008 Nadal (Spain) beat Federer (Switzerland) 6-4 6-4 6-7(5) 6-7(8) 9-7
2007 Federer (Switzerland) beat Nadal (Spain) 7-6(7) 4-6 7-6(3) 2-6 6-2
2006 Federer (Switzerland) beat Nadal (Spain) 6-0 7-6(5) 6-7(2) 6-3
2005 Federer (Switzerland) beat Roddick (U.S.) 6-2 7-6(2) 6-4
2004 Federer (Switzerland) beat Roddick (U.S.) 4-6 7-5 7-6(3) 6-4
2003 Federer (Switzerland) beat Mark Philippoussis (Australia) 7-6(5) 6-2 7-6(3)
2002 Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) beat David Nalbandian(Argentina) 6-1 6-3 6-2
2001 Goran Ivanisevic (Croatia) beat Pat Rafter (Australia) 6-3 3-6 6-3 2-6 9-7
2000 Pete Sampras (U.S.) beat Rafter (Australia) 6-7(10) 7-6(5) 6-4 6-2
1999 Sampras (U.S.) beat Andre Agassi (U.S.) 6-3 6-4 7-5
1998 Sampras (U.S.) beat Ivanisevic (Croatia) 6-7(2) 7-6(9) 6-4 3-6 6-2
1997 Sampras (U.S.) beat Cedric Pioline (France) 6-4 6-2 6-4
1996 Richard Krajicek (Netherlands) beat Mal Washington (U.S.) 6-3 6-4 6-3
1995 Sampras (U.S.) beat Boris Becker (Germany) 6-7(5) 6-2 6-4 6-2
1994 Sampras (U.S.) beat Ivanisevic (Croatia) 7-6(2) 7-6(5) 6-0
1993 Sampras (U.S.) beat Jim Courier (U.S.) 7-6(3) 7-6(6) 3-6 6-3
1992 Agassi (U.S.) beat Ivanisevic (Croatia) 6-7(8) 6-4 6-4 1-6 6-4
1991 Michael Stich (Germany) beat Becker (Germany) 6-4 7-6(4) 6-4
1990 Stefan Edberg (Sweden) beat Becker (Germany) 6-2 6-2 3-6 3-6 6-4
1989 Becker (Germany) beat Edberg (Sweden) 6-0 7-6(1) 6-4
1988 Edberg (Sweden) beat Becker (Germany) 4-6 7-6(2) 6-4 6-2
1987 Pat Cash (Australia) beat Ivan Lendl (Czechoslovakia) 7-6(5) 6-2 7-5
1986 Becker (Germany) beat Lendl (Czechoslovakia) 6-4 6-3 7-5
1985 Becker (Germany) beat Kevin Curren (U.S.) 6-3 6-7(4) 7-6(3) 6-4
1984 John McEnroe (U.S.) beat Jimmy Connors (U.S.) 6-1 6-1 6-2
1983 McEnroe (U.S.) beat Chris Lewis (New Zealand) 6-2 6-2 6-2
1982 Connors (U.S.) beat McEnroe (U.S.) 3-6 6-3 6-7(2) 7-6(5) 6-4
1981 McEnroe (U.S.) beat Bjorn Borg (Sweden) 4-6 7-6(1) 7-6(4) 6-4
1980 Borg (Sweden) beat McEnroe (U.S.) 1-6 7-5 6-3 6-7(16) 8-6
1979 Borg (Sweden) beat Roscoe Tanner (U.S.) 6-7(4) 6-1 3-6 6-3 6-4
1978 Borg (Sweden) beat Connors (U.S.) 6-2 6-2 6-3
1977 Borg (Sweden) beat Connors (U.S.) 3-6 6-2 6-1 5-7 6-4
1976 Borg (Sweden) beat Ilie Nastase (Romania) 6-4 6-2 9-7
1975 Arthur Ashe (U.S.) beat Connors (U.S.) 6-1 6-1 5-7 6-4
1974 Connors (U.S.) beat Ken Rosewall (Australia) 6-1 6-1 6-4
1973 Jan Kodes (Czechoslovakia) beat Alex Metreveli (Soviet Union) 6-1 9-8 (7-5) 6-3
1972 Stan Smith (U.S.) beat Nastase (Romania) 4-6 6-3 6-3 4-6 7-5
1971 John Newcombe (Australia) beat Smith (U.S.) 6-3 5-7 2-6 6-4 6-4
1970 Newcombe (Australia) beat Rosewall (Australia) 5-7 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-1
1969 Rod Laver (Australia) beat Newcombe (Australia) 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-4
1968 Laver (Australia) beat Tony Roche (Australia) 6-3 6-4 6-2
PRE-OPEN ERA:
1967 Newcombe (Australia) beat Wilhelm Bungert (Germany) 6-3 6-1 6-1
1966 Manuel Santana (Spain) beat Dennis Ralston (U.S.) 6-4 11-9 6-4
1965 Roy Emerson (Australia) beat Fred Stolle (Australia) 6-2 6-4 6-4
1964 Emerson (Australia) beat Stolle (Australia) 6-4 12-10 4-6 6-3
1963 Chuck McKinley (U.S.) beat Stolle (Australia) 9-7 6-1 6-4
1962 Laver (Australia) beat Marty Mulligan (Australia) 6-2 6-2 6-1
1961 Laver (Australia) beat McKinley (U.S.) 6-3 6-1 6-4
1960 Neale Fraser (Australia) beat Laver (Australia) 6-4 3-6 9-7 7-5
1959 Alex Olmedo (U.S.) beat Laver (Australia) 6-4 6-3 6-4
1958 Ashley Cooper (Australia) beat Fraser (Australia) 3-6 6-3 6-4 13-11
1957 Lew Hoad (Australia) beat Cooper (Australia) 6-2 6-1 6-2
1956 Hoad (Australia) beat Rosewall (Australia) 6-2 4-6 7-5 6-4
1955 Tony Trabert (U.S.) beat Kurt Nielsen (Denmark) 6-3 7-5 6-1
1954 Jaroslav Drobny (Egypt) beat Rosewall (Australia) 13-11 4-6 6-2 9-7
1953 Vic Seixas (U.S.) beat Nielsen (Denmark) 9-7 6-3 6-4
1952 Frank Sedgman (Australia) beat Drobny (Egypt) 4-6 6-2 6-3 6-2
1951 Dick Savitt (U.S.) beat Ken McGregor (Australia) 6-4 6-4 6-4
1950 Budge Patty (U.S.) beat Sedgman (Australia) 6-1 8-10 6-2 6-3
1949 Ted Schroeder (U.S.) beat Drobny (Egypt) 3-6 6-0 6-3 4-6 6-4
1948 Bob Falkenburg (U.S.) beat John Bromwich (Australia) 7-5 0-6 6-2 3-6 7-5
1947 Jack Kramer (U.S.) beat Tom Brown (U.S.) 6-1 6-3 6-2
1946 Yvon Petra (France) beat Geoff Brown (Australia) 6-2 6-4 7-9 5-7 6-4
1940-1945 No competition
1939 Bobby Riggs (U.S.) beat Elwood Cooke (U.S.) 2-6 8-6 3-6 6-3 6-2
1938 Donald Budge (U.S.) beat Bunny Austin (Britain) 6-1 6-0 6-3
1937 Budge (U.S.) beat Gottfried von Cramm (Germany) 6-3 6-4 6-2
1936 Fred Perry (Britain) beat von Cramm (Germany) 6-1 6-1 6-0
1935 Perry (Britain) beat von Cramm (Germany) 6-2 6-4 6-4
1934 Perry (Britain) beat Jack Crawford (Australia) 6-3 6-0 7-5
1933 Crawford (Australia) beat Ellsworth Vines (U.S.) 4-6 11-9 6-2 2-6 6-4
1932 Vines (U.S.) beat Austin (Britain) 6-2 6-2 6-0
1931 Sidney Wood (U.S.) beat Frank Shields (U.S.) walkover
1930 William Tilden (U.S.) beat Wilmer Allison (U.S.) 6-3 9-7 6-4
1929 Henri Cochet (France) beat Jean Borotra (France) 6-4 6-3 6-4
1928 Rene Lacoste (France) beat Cochet (France) 6-1 4-6 6-4 6-2
1927 Cochet (France) beat Borotra (France) 4-6 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-5
1926 Borotra (France) beat Howard Kinsey (U.S.) 8-6 6-1 6-3
1925 Lacoste (France) beat Borotra (France) 6-3 6-3 4-6 8-6
1924 Borotra (France) beat Lacoste (France) 6-1 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-4
1923 Bill Johnston (U.S.) beat Frank Hunter (U.S.) 6-0 6-3 6-1
1922 Gerald Patterson (Australia) beat Randolph Lycett (Australia) 6-3 6-4 6-2
From 1877 to 1921 the men’s singles was decided on a challenge-round system with the previous year’s winner automatically qualifying for the final (British unless stated):
1921 Tilden (U.S.) beat Brian Norton (South Africa) 4-6 2-6 6-1 6-0 7-5
1920 Tilden (U.S.) beat Patterson (Australia) 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-4
1919 Patterson (Australia) beat Norman Brookes (Australia) 6-3 7-5 6-2
1915-18 No tournament held
1914 Brookes (Australia) beat Anthony Wilding (New Zealand) 6-4 6-4 7-5
1913 Wilding (New Zealand) beat Maurice McLoughlin (U.S.) 8-6 6-3 10-8
1912 Wilding (New Zealand) beat Arthur Gore 6-4 6-4 4-6 6-4
1911 Wilding (New Zealand) beat Herbert Barrett 6-4 4-6 2-6 6-2 retired
1910 Wilding (New Zealand) beat Gore 6-4 7-5 4-6 6-2
1909 Gore beat Major Ritchie 6-8 1-6 6-2 6-2 6-2
1908* Gore beat Barrett 6-3 6-2 4-6 3-6 6-4
1907* Brookes (Australia) beat Gore 6-4 6-2 6-2
1906 Laurence Doherty beat Frank Riseley 6-4 4-6 6-2 6-3
1905 Doherty beat Brookes (Australia) 8-6 6-2 6-4
1904 Doherty beat Riseley 6-1 7-5 8-6
1903 Doherty beat Riseley 7-5 6-3 6-0
1902 Doherty beat Gore 6-4 6-3 3-6 6-0
1901 Gore beat Reginald Doherty 4-6 7-5 6-4 6-4
1900 Reginald Doherty beat Sydney Smith 6-8 6-3 6-1 6-2
1899 Reginald Doherty beat Gore 1-6 4-6 6-3 6-3 6-3
1898 Reginald Doherty beat Laurence Doherty 6-3 6-3 2-6 5-7 6-1
1897 Reginald Doherty beat Harold Mahony 6-4 6-4 6-3
1896 Mahony beat Wilfred Baddeley 6-2 6-8 5-7 8-6 6-3
1895* Baddeley beat Wilberforce Eaves 4-6 2-6 8-6 6-2 6-3
1894 Joshua Pim beat Baddeley 10-8 6-2 8-6
1893 Pim beat Baddeley 3-6 6-1 6-3 6-2
1892 Baddeley beat Pim 4-6 6-3 6-3 6-2
1891* Baddeley beat Pim 6-4 1-6 7-5 6-0
1890 Willoughby Hamilton beat William Renshaw 6-8 6-2 3-6 6-1 6-1
1889 William Renshaw beat Ernest Renshaw 6-4 6-1 3-6 6-0
1888 Ernest Renshaw beat Herbert Lawford 6-3 7-5 6-0
1887* Lawford beat Ernest Renshaw 1-6 6-3 3-6 6-4 6-4
1886 William Renshaw beat Lawford 6-0 5-7 6-3 6-4
1885 William Renshaw beat Lawford 7-5 6-2 4-6 7-5
1884 William Renshaw beat Lawford 6-0 6-4 9-7
1883 William Renshaw beat Ernest Renshaw 2-6 6-3 6-3 4-6 6-3
1882 William Renshaw beat Ernest Renshaw 6-1 2-6 4-6 6-2 6-2
1881 William Renshaw beat John Hartley 6-0 6-1 6-1
1880 Hartley beat Lawford 6-3 6-2 2-6 6-3
1879* Hartley beat Vere St Leger Goold 6-2 6-4 6-2
1878 Frank Hadow beat Spencer Gore 7-5 6-1 9-7
1877 Spencer Gore beat William Marshall 6-1 6-2 6-4
*Denotes no challenge round. Winner of all-comers’ final declared champion. REUTERS
Summary
- Czech staves off Italian seventh seed Paolini to win title
- Second Grand Slam singles crown after 2021 French Open win
- More heartbreak for Paolini after Roland Garros final loss
An inspired Barbora Krejcikova etched her name onto Wimbledon’s famed honours board alongside her late mentor Jana Novotna after the seasoned Czech survived a stirring fightback from Jasmine Paolini to seal a 6-2 2-6 6-4 victory in the final on Saturday.
The 2021 French Open champion added the Venus Rosewater Dish to her bulging trophy cabinet that also includes 10 Grand Slam doubles prizes besides an Olympic doubles gold medal from the Tokyo Games three years ago.
Moments after her triumph, Krejcikova was reflecting on a chat that she had as a junior with her idol Novotna, who lifted the Wimbledon title 26 years ago and tragically died in 2017 following a battle with ovarian cancer aged 49.
“Knocking on her door, it changed my life,” said Krejcikova, who reached out to Novotna for help by writing her a letter before they started working together in 2014.
“In that period, when I finished the juniors, I didn’t know what to do. Should I continue playing professionally or should I go into education?
“She was the one who told me I had the potential. I should definitely turn professional. Before she passed away she told me I can win a Grand Slam. I achieved that in Paris in 2021.
“It was an unbelievable moment for me and I never really dreamed I would win the same trophy as Jana did in 1998.”
Novotna had captured the hearts of fans when she famously sobbed on the shoulders of the Duchess of Kent during the 1993 presentation ceremony after being beaten by Steffi Graf.
On Saturday, it was Krejcikova who broke down in tears when she was shown her idol’s name on the honours board at the All England Club.
“The only thing that was going through my head was that I miss Jana a lot. It was just a very emotional moment to see my name on a board right next to her,” Krejcikova told reporters.
“I think she would be proud. I think she would be really excited that I’m on a same board as she is because Wimbledon was super special for her.”
MENACING MOOD
In a final between two players whose styles are more suited to the slow claycourts of Roland Garros rather than slick grass at the All England Club, Krejcikova began in a menacing mood with some heavy hitting to dictate play.
She raced through the opening set on a sunlit Centre Court before the crowd roared on French Open runner-up Paolini to coax her into action.
The ever-smiling Italian obliged and levelled the contest in her usual rollicking fashion, but Krejcikova quickly wrestled back the advantage after breaking serve at 3-3 thanks to a double fault and pulled away.
Serving for the title at 5-4, Krejcikova endured a nervy spell as she wasted two match points before saving two break points to seal victory at the third time of asking — a result that even left her stunned.
“I think nobody believes it that I got to the final and nobody believes that I won Wimbledon,” said Krejcikova, who joined an elite list of Czech Wimbledon champions including Marketa Vondrousova, Petra Kvitova and Novotna.
“I still can’t believe it.
“… It’s definitely the best day of my tennis career and also the best day of my life.”
Victory was all the more special for Krejcikova who had a losing record heading into Wimbledon. In fact, she had only won seven matches all season when she arrived in London due to a back injury and illness. Her 7-9 win-loss record in 2024 was nothing to shout about.
She doubled that match-win tally with her run to the title at the grasscourt major and on Saturday she threw her arms up in the air and was shouting “It feels great” after completing her incredible journey.
She also became the eighth different women’s champion in as many editions.
“Two weeks ago I had a tough match (in the first round against Veronika Kudermetova) and I wasn’t in good shape before that because I was injured and ill. I didn’t really have a good beginning to the season,” Krejcikova said.
“It’s unbelievable I’m stood here and I’ve won Wimbledon.”
It was heartbreak all over again for the bubbly Paolini, who lost the French Open final against Iga Swiatek a few weeks ago and was bidding to become the first Italian player to win a Wimbledon singles title.
“Sometimes I’m a little bit scared to dream too much. I’m going back, trying to practice, to stay in the present. This is the goal for me, my team, to try to keep this level as much as possible,” the seventh-seeded Paolini said.
“If I keep this level, I think I can have the chance to do great things. But if I’m not keeping this level, it’s not coming anything good.
“I don’t know what to dream right now. Today I was dreaming to hold the trophy, but didn’t go well. I’m just enjoying the position where I am right now, number five in the world.
“It’s unbelievable, honestly. I just did two finals in two Grand Slams. I have to be also happy with the results. I’m also a little bit disappointed.”
-Reuters
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