Historical work of Carlos Alcaraz, who at the age of 21 became the thirteenth player of all time to win, in the same season, consecutively, the dirt of Roland Garros and the grass of Wimbledon. Two opposing worlds, almost entirely different sports, have been conquered in less than a few months.
As they did in their time, as the last representative examples, Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Bjorn Borg. The Spaniard was exceptional, the ninth professional to retain his Wimbledon crown. It adds up to achievements at a very fast pace, making the phenomenon normal, chosen for a select few.
At the peaks of its form is declared untouchable. Depends on yourself. With the experience of 2024 and the constant progress made in twelve months, he planted himself in the headquarters of the All England Club like a garden in his native district of El Palmar. Full of tennis and confidence, ambitious, ‘killer’, he broke a legend, a seven-time champion of the event, with a record of 24 Grand Slam crowns, which he will continue to share on the Australian Margaret Court.
Alcaraz, 21 years old and world No. 3 (he will not move to this position despite his Paris-London double), crushed Novak Djokovic, 37 and No. 2, by 6-2, 6-2 and 7-6 (4) in 2h.26′. With a few drops of drama, convenient for an event like this. At 5-4 and 4-0, the Spaniard failed to finish any of the three match points, which he opened with a double fault and closed with a clear forehand that he hit without the ball bouncing and dropped. The logical roots of the sentence. He tied them in a tiebreak. A super champion lesson.
It was enough to settle the score, although it was one of the heaviest defeats the Serbian has suffered, at Wimbledon and Grand Slam. He managed just 10 games, his worst record at this event, and it all happened very quickly as the Murcian won a marathon 13-minute opening game. At the fifth break ball he anticipated the recital that would follow.
A Alcaraz take heart in the face of a Djokovic who is currently living in a different reality. He pulled off a miracle to reach the competition a month after undergoing surgery for a meniscal tear in his right knee. His talent and resilience, along with a friendly team that even gave him a free round due to his injury. Alex de Minaurhelped him reach the final.
An opponent awaited him that did not allow comparison with the Serbian predecessors, who collided with too much speed and acceleration of the ball for a limited capacity of movement. A Alcaraz omnipresent, covering every millimeter of grass. Ruthless in attack, a wall in defense.
There’s a lot of difference between the two, nothing to do with almost an hour and five sets of 2023. A better Alcaraz. Pure, more effective than baroque. Not luxury. It’s huge. And a Djokovic conditioned, with problems depending on what kind of support or displacement.
He suffered his second worst loss in 37 Grand Slam finals. He scored eight games, one more against Rafa Nadal at Roland Garros 2020 (6-0, 6-2, 7-5). He debuted in this category of events, overwhelming the Russian Marat Safin, 6-0, 6-2 and 6-1. This time he received a severe penalty from Alcaraz, which evened the record at two (3-3).
Alcaraz is life insurance in the Grand Slam finals. Pleno, a 4 out of 4 only eight tennis players in history have done it. On the professional stage, only the Swiss Roger Federer.
US Open 2022, Wimbledon 2023, Roland Garros and Wimbledon 2024. An under-21 gem who will go for gold at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, he will return to Roland Garros, looking for individual gold and what would become an iconic Olympic title. Rafael Nadal in double.
There is little time left, but Alcaraz He enjoys the track. An injury to his arm in the spring left his body scared. Liberated, he wants more.
Fifteenth professional title Alcaraz, third of the course because before Paris he had found Indian Wells, and a heel for 2,700,000 pounds, approximately 3.2 million euros. How not to be happy, if he also finished in time to fulfill many promises of the champion before watching the final of the Spain-England Euro Cup. Even this he did well.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Robert Maynard, and I am a passionate journalist with experience in sports writing. For the last few years, I have been writing for Today Times Live. My main focus has been on sports-related stories and features. With my strong background in journalism and extensive knowledge of the industry, I am able to provide readers with well-crafted pieces that are both informative and engaging.
