Carlos Alcaraz v Novak Djokovic: Wimbledon 2024 men’s singles final – live | Wimbledon 2024

Alcaraz breaks: Alcaraz* 6-2, 1-0 Djokovic (*denotes next server)

I think it’s showing right now how much of a step up in class Alcaraz is for Djokovic today. Kopriva, Fearnley, Popyrin, Rune, De Minaur, Musetti … Djokovic has only faced players that you’d very much expect him to beat so far. Alcaraz is an entirely different proposition. And the Spaniard underlines that with a clinical break to 15 at the start of the second set – having broken in the opening game of the first set too. Djokovic is absolutely reeling.

Alcaraz wins the first set 6-2

First set: Alcaraz* 5-2 Djokovic (*denotes next server)

15-0, 30-0, 40-0, game. Djokovic’s first love hold. But it’s most likely come far too late to save this opening set.

First set: Alcaraz 5-1 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)

Alcaraz, all youthful bounce and energy, is making the 37-year-old Djokovic look his age right now. Alcaraz is shaking his racket in celebration after a winning serve-volley combination. But from 30-15, Djokovic ups his returning and gets his first break-point chance at 30-40. Just as the camera zooms in on Andre Agassi, another of the game’s greatest ever returners. So nice to see him back at the scene of his 1992 triumph. Djokovic mis-directs his lob. Deuce. Then Djokovic flashes a forehand long and Alcaraz is a game away from the first set.

Alcaraz breaks: Alcaraz* 4-1 Djokovic (*denotes next server)

I think this first set is more important for Djokovic than it is for Alcaraz. Djokovic says he’s not feeling any pain in his knee now, but it would come under the most intense examination the longer this match goes on for. A 10th net approach from Djokovic is fruitless. 0-15 – then very swiftly 0-30 as Alcaraz attacks the Djokovic second serve. Djokovic often dropped 0-30 down on serve in his semi-final against Lorenzo Musetti – and then survived with some big serves. He does that to scramble back to 30-all, but at 30-40 here’s a point for the double break for Alcaraz. Another second-serve opportunity for Alcaraz … and Djokovic doubles! Alcaraz has the double break!

First set: Alcaraz 3-1 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)

A first drop shot is sweetly struck from the Alcaraz racket and Djokovic, still wearing his knee support, is left stumbling into the grass as he tries to chase it down in vain. 15-0, 30-0, 40-0, game. The first love hold of this final.

First set: Alcaraz* 2-1 Djokovic (*denotes next server)

Djokovic has already come to the net eight times; he clearly doesn’t want to be going toe-to-toe with Alcaraz at the baseline for too long. But he’s only won two of those points. At 15-30, he’s in trouble once more, but Alcaraz lets him off the hook with a miscued backhand. 30-all turns into 40-30 – and Djokovic gets his side of the scoreboard moving with an ace down the T. Cue applause from his son Stefan – who’s closer in age to Alcaraz than Djokovic is.

First set: Alcaraz 2-0 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)

Alcaraz is focused on consolidating his early advantage. From 30-15, he leaves Djokovic spinning, sliding and ultimately failing to return a 136mph serve. 40-15. And game, when Djokovic rams a backhand wide. A no-nonsense serving game to balance out that war of attrition in the first.

Alcaraz breaks: Alcaraz* 1-0 Djokovic (*denotes next server)

So Alcaraz elected to receive having won the toss. Djokovic slides 15-30 down – just as my computer freezes. The most inopportune of moments. My computer can’t give up yet – we’ve probably got another five hours of this. Then from deuce, Alcaraz runs forward to Djokovic’s volley, attacks down the line and Djokovic can only get his frame to it! An early break point.

Alcaraz has been slow to get going in his past couple of matches; he’d love an early break here. But he drills into the net. Deuce. Djokovic edges to advantage, but then hits wide. Deuce again. Then Alcaraz creates a second break point, with a forehand winner off a second serve. But again he makes the error. A fourth deuce. A fifth deuce, as the first game extends to 10 minutes … and now a third break point. But another Alcaraz error. A fourth break point – already Alcaraz’s parents look exhausted in his box – and Djokovic slams away a winner. A fifth break point, as Djokovic dumps a volley into the net … and Alcaraz breaks when Djokovic hits wide! One game. Fourteen minutes. Fancy more of this? Of course you do!

As for my thoughts, Alcaraz hasn’t been at his absolute best this tournament – there have been bursts of brilliance but many lapses in concentration – but if he does play at a consistent level and bides his time rather than going for too many low-percentage winners, the 21-year-old should beat the 37-year-old. Especially when the 37-year-old has a recuperating knee. But then the 37-year-old, the fiercest competitor in tennis being driven by history. I make Alcaraz the slight favourite – but it’s going to be a helluva lot of fun finding out.

So what of a probably-not-at-his-peak-yet Alcaraz v a past-his-peak Djokovic?

John McEnroe and Pat Cash give Alcaraz the edge. But McEnroe, dressed all in black – he says it’s his “Djokovic villain outfit” and a tribute to the Serb – says he wouldn’t be surprised if Djokovic wins: “His serve is really underrated. He’s a genius at figuring out ways of getting under the skin of his opponent. If we have anything like last year we’re in for a treat.”

Cash, meanwhile, when asked what Djokovic needs to do, replies: “Novak has served really well and volleyed really well. He’s trying to shorten the points, he doesn’t want to get into long rallies with these young guys and he’s doing that exceptionally well. Novak’s going to have to hit the one extra ball against Alcaraz. Alcaraz’s speed, power and ability to get shots back is exceptional.”

“I know we all love a GOAT debate,” emails Gregory Phillips, “but in tennis I don’t think it ever has a satisfying answer. Sure, Djokovic has total slam wins on his side. And Daniel Harris wrote once that if he needed someone to win a match to save his life it would be Djokovic, but doesn’t that depend on timing and surface? I’d back peak Rafa over peak Djokovic on clay, and I can’t be alone in that. I would also pick peak Roger to beat him on grass. Federer gave Novak all he could handle at Wimbledon even in the twilight of his career.”

Here the players come, making their way through the corridors of the All England Club and sharing a joke in the process. They haven’t got their game faces on yet. A standing ovation follows as they arrive on court.

And a huge cheer as Catherine and Princess Charlotte take their places in the Royal Box, along with the great and the good in tennis.

Princess of Wales in attendance on Centre Court

Stat attack.

So Alcaraz, 21, is attempting to claim his second successive Wimbledon title, which would make him the youngest back-to-back men’s singles champion here since Boris Becker in 1986. He would also become the youngest man to win Wimbledon and Roland Garros in the same year.

Djokovic, 37, is bidding to draw level with Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon men’s titles and move ahead of Margaret Court with a record 25 major singles titles.

This is a fourth slam final for Alcaraz and a 37th for Djokovic – and this is the biggest age gap in a slam final since Jimmy Connors beat a 39-year-old Ken Rosewall at Wimbledon and the US Open 50 years ago.

Brad Gilbert, the coach of Coco Gauff and former coach of Andy Murray, Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi, is hanging out by the hill:

Roads to the final

Alcaraz

First round Defeated Mark Lajal 7-6, 7-5, 6-2 in 2hr 22min
Second round Defeated Aleksandar Vukic 7-6, 6-2, 6-2 in 1hr 48min
Third round Defeated Frances Tiafoe 5-7, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 in 3hr 50min
Fourth round Defeated Ugo Humbert 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 in 2hr 58min
Quarter-finals Defeated Tommy Paul 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 in 3hr 11min
Semi-finals Defeated Daniil Medvedev 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in 2hr 55min
Total time on court 17hr 4min

Alcaraz hasn’t won in straight sets since the second round, coming from two sets to one down against Tiafoe in the third round and a set down against Paul in the quarters and also Medvedev in the semis. He hasn’t consistently played his best – but he has always found a way to win.

Djokovic

First round Defeated Vit Kopriva 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 in 1hr 58min
Second round Defeated Jacob Fearnley 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 in 3hr
Third round Defeated Alexei Popyrin 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 in 3hr 5min
Fourth round Defeated Holger Rune 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in 2hr 3min
Quarter-finals Walkover against Alex de Minaur
Semi-finals Defeated Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 7-6, 6-4 in 2hr 48min
Total time on court 12hr 54min

Djokovic looked a little wobbly in the first week – not surprising given he must have been thinking about his knee – but arrives in the final having generated impressive form momentum as the rounds have gone by (despite his walkover in the quarters).

Chris Cousens emails. “Hi, just voting to include Shingo Kunieda in discussion of GOATest tennis players – more singles slams than anyone else, and there wasn’t even a Wimbledon wheelchair event for part of his career.”

More on Hewett’s win:

My eyes may be getting a little damp as the BBC shows a montage of Andy Murray’s farewell ceremony last week. And speaking of great Brits, after Henry Patten’s brilliant victory with Finland’s Harri Heliovaara in the men’s doubles final yesterday (and big congratulations to Patten’s coach Calvin Betton, a friend of this blog), Alfie Hewett has today won that elusive men’s wheelchair singles title, defeating Spain’s Martin de la Puente 6-2, 6-3. It completes a career grand slam in singles and doubles for the 26-year-old, who lost in the final in 2022 and 2023.

Do get in touch with any predictions/predilections: you can email me here.

Preamble