Novak Djokovic completed two remarkable runs at Wimbledon last year and the recently finished Australian Open. Interestingly, both runs ended after 2195 days at the hands of two young guns, highlighting a strange coincidence that demands more explanation.
Novak was a four-time Wimbledon winner last year, retiring against Tomas Berdych in the 2017 quarterfinals owing to an injury and going undefeated at The All England Club for 2195 days! Djokovic faced Carlos Alcaraz for his seventh Wimbledon title, with both great adversaries vying for a prestigious prize and the ATP throne.
The Serb was the favorite, but the Spaniard demonstrated his class in a 1-6, 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 victory after four hours an
The circumstances were windy, and Novak and Carlos worked hard to maintain a high level while pushing each other to their limits.
They produced 34 break points and each provided five return games, keeping the match close and making it a true Wimbledon final.
In the first game of the clash, the more experienced player refused a break point, giving him an advantage.
Djokovic broke Alcaraz in games two and four, taking a commanding 5-0 lead. The Serb served for the opener at 5-1 and delivered a smash winner to take the first set in 34 minutes.
Carlos increased his intensity in the second set and matched Novak’s speed 42 minutes, breaking Djokovic’s streak and securing his second
They traded early breaks and served brilliantly to set up a tiebreaker.
Djokovic led 3-0 before squandering five of the next six points. The defending champion fought back to 5-5 and converted a backhand winner for a set point.
Novak squandered it with a weak backhand and netted another, falling 7-6 behind.
Alcaraz converted a set point with a backhand return winner, tying the game at 1-1 after an hour and 59 minutes and providing a significant boost.
Novak lost his rhythm in the third set, committing nearly 20 unforced errors and allowing Carlos to take three breaks! Alcaraz took an early lead and defended two break opportunities in the fourth set to go 3-1 up.
The sixth game secured its place i
The young gun held at 15 in game six and took another break at 5-1 to finish the set in style and move closer to the finish line.
Novak had an extended break before the fourth set and saved two break points in the second game, capping his defeat and launching a comebac
The Serb stepped in and broke his opponent in games five and nine to win the set 6-3 and force a decider, determined to give it his all while chasing his eighth Wimbledon title.
Carlos, on the other hand, broke in the third game with a brilliant backhand down the line winner and held at love in the next to take the match 3-1.
The Spaniard ended the sixth game with an ace, while the Serb
Alcaraz won the eighth game with an ace and served for the championship at 5-4.
Carlos took a 30-15 lead with a brilliant volley winner and created a match point with a serve winner.
The young gun took it with a forced error, winning his maiden Wimbledon title and breaking Djokovic’s run.
Novak lost his first Australian Open match in 2195 days, half a year later! Hyeon Chung defeated him in 2018 following a fierce struggle, and the Serb answered with four consecutive titles.
Djokovic reached the semi-finals of this year’s Melbourne Park tournament, but was unable to move to his 11th final after losing 6-1, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3 to an inspired Jannik Sinner.
It was Novak’s first Australian Open defeat after 33 consecutive victories, and he considered it as one of his worst Major matches.
Sinner’s serve did wonders, saving Djokovic from facing break points for the first time in a Majors match! On the other side, the Serb made over 50 unforced errors and was broken five times out of 11 opportunities presented to his opponent.
Novak fought valiantly in the third set, saving a match point and stealing the tie break, before Jannik regrouped in the fourth set to seal the triumph.
Sinner played determined tennis and controlled his strokes well, leaving Djokovic well behind in the shortest range of up to four strokes and advancing to his maiden Major final in style.
The Italian got off to a flying start, scoring with a drive-volley in the second game of the match.
Novak saved a break point in the fourth game before hitting a weak backhand at 1-4 to fall further behind.
Jannik capitalized on the opponent’s blunder in the seventh game, winning 6-1 in 35 minutes.
Djokovic served at 75% in the second set, but it was insufficient for him to turn the tables.
Sinner lost four points in his games but gained a significant edge with two breaks on his record.
Novak dropped serve in the third game, and Jannik sealed the break with a service winner a few minutes later.
The Italian took another break in the seventh game and held at 5-2 with a forced error, moving two sets to love up after an hour and 13 minutes!
Jannik wasted a break chance early in the third set, and Novak served better in the remaining games to stray in touch.
Sinner fired a smash winner in the 12th game to introduce a tie break, keeping the pressure on the other side. Djokovic led 4-2 before losing the next three points, with Sinner landing a forehand winner for 5-4.
Novak locked the result at 5-5 with a lob winner before Jannik fired an unreturned serve for a match point.
Djokovic erased it with a forced error and clinched the breaker 8-6 to extend his chances after two and a half hours. Jannik left that setback behind, serving well in the fourth set and waiting for a chance on the return.
He wasted three break points in the second game and pushed strong at 2-1 from 0-40.
Novak squandered game points and faced a break point following a double fault.
The Serb played a poor backhand, allowing his opponent to lead 3-1.
In game eight, Djokovic served to keep the match at love. Novak took a 30-15 lead in the ninth game before Jannik converted two strong serves for a match point.
