New Delhi, July 15, 2024.
After controlling the first two sets and withstanding Djokovic’s comeback in the third, Alcaraz was one point away from the championship while serving at 5-4, 40-love. However, he then double-faulted, missed a backhand, a volley, and two forehands. Suddenly, it was 5-all. Alcaraz seemed unsettled, Djokovic saw a glimmer of hope, and the match became tense.
It took an additional 20 minutes to secure the win, but Alcaraz, despite his youth, regained his composure and stayed focused, ultimately defeating Djokovic 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4) to claim his fourth Grand Slam title at the age of 21.
“For me,” Alcaraz said after receiving the gold champion’s hardware from Kate, the Princess of Wales, “this is the most beautiful tournament, the most beautiful court and, obviously, the most beautiful trophy.”
This match was a rematch of last year’s championship at the All England Club, where Alcaraz won in five sets. This time, the match was easier for Alcaraz until his stumble at 5-4 with three match points.
“It was difficult for me,” said Alcaraz, who is 4-0 in major finals, including at the 2022 U.S. Open as a teenager. “I tried to stay calm. I tried to stay positive.”
He managed to regroup and secured his second consecutive major title following his victory on the clay at the French Open last month.
