The tennis “robber” of the year: the day Alcaraz tamed Djokovic at Wimbledon

During the end-of-year holidays, the sports editorial team at Le Figaro brings you a series on the “robbers” of the sports year, these personalities or entities not necessarily expected and who have been talked about in 2023. Today, the score sumptuous performance of Alcaraz against Djokovic in the Wimbledon final.

It took a UFO like him to defeat boss Djokovic and his ten years of invincibility on Center Court. The master of the place suffering the lightning of a kid, without complexes, the strongest in five sets (1-6 7-6 6-1 3-6 6-4). An anthology duel lasting 4h42. Of these finals which remain in the memories. Purists will place it behind the Nadal Federer of 2008 or the Borg McEnroe of 1980, or even the Djokovic – Federer of 2019. Nevertheless, it is a great moment in the history of tennis which took place before our amazed eyes July 16, 2023. A masterpiece of almost five hours where the intensity almost never subsides. An epic duel which confirmed that Alcaraz is a budding genius. At 20, he became the third youngest winner of the tournament after Boris Becker and Bjorn Borg. By demolishing the Novak Djokovic statue from his Wimbledon garden, the Spaniard effectively took control of world tennis, offered himself a second Grand Slam coronation and deprived the insatiable Serbian of an 8th title on the London turf.

And to think that the student of Juan Carlos Ferrero had only played three tournaments on grass before. His slices, his stolen returns, his net play stunned everyone. Including his victim in the final Novak Djokovic. “I didn't expect him to play so well on grass. He surprised everyone with the way he adapted to grass this year when he didn't have many victories on this surface in the last two years (..) All credit goes to Carlos . He was incredible in the important moments. For someone of his age, to control his nerves so well, play attacking tennis and finish the match as he did... I thought I had returned well on the last game of the bet but he managed some incredible shots .”

And to think that the prodigy lost the first set 6-1 in 35 minutes against the best player in history. And to think that a month earlier, after a painful victory in the first round at Queen's against the Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech (4-6, 7-5, 7-6 [3]), the Murcian sighed a little haggard: "You know, I've only played two tournaments on grass in my career so far, and today was only my seventh round. So I need hours on the court, playing as much as possible to get used to the surface and gain experience.”

He quickly tamed the grass. After his laborious start against the Frenchman, he had 12 consecutive successes. His all-out attack game, his volleying game better than the majority of his peers and his diabolical drop shots worked wonders in the tournament which made him fantasize when he was younger. Even more than Roland-Garros. And against the one who remained on seven victories in eight finals contested in the Temple of tennis, and 14 decisive games awarded, he did not flinch under pressure, unlike at Porte d'Auteuil where stress cramps had weighed down his half. -final against the Serbian. From hell to heaven. Confirming that impossible was definitely not Alcaraz.