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Novak Djokovic concluded two incredible streaks at Wimbledon last year and the recently ended Australian Open. Interestingly, both runs terminated after 2195 days by the hand of two young guns, drawing the striking coincidence that deserves further illustration.
Novak was a four-time defending champion at Wimbledon last year, retiring against Tomas Berdych in the 2017 quarter-final due to an injury and staying undefeated at The All England Club for 2195 days! Djokovic fought for his eighth Wimbledon title against Carlos Alcaraz, with two great rivals chasing a notable trophy and the ATP throne.
The Serb was the favorite, but the Spaniard proved his class in a 1-6, 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 victory after four hours and 42 minutes, ending Djokovic's streak and securing his second Major title at 20.
The conditions were windy, and Novak and Carlos did their best to maintain a high level and push each other to the limits.
They created 34 break points and delivered five return games each, staying neck and neck and making it a proper Wimbledon final. The more experienced player denied a break point in the encounter's first game and gained a boost.
Djokovic broke Alcaraz in games two and four and forged a massive 5-0 advantage. The Serb served for the opener at 5-1 and landed a smash winner, sealing the first set in 34 minutes. Carlos raised his level in the second set and followed Novak's pace.
They traded early breaks and served well to arrange a tie break. Djokovic moved 3-0 up before dropping five of the following six points. The defending champion climbed back to 5-5 and landed a backhand winner for a set point.
Novak squandered it with a loose backhand and netted another to fall 7-6 behind. Alcaraz seized a set point with a backhand return winner, leveling the score at 1-1 after an hour and 59 minutes and gaining a massive boost. Novak lost his pace in the third set, spraying almost 20 unforced errors and allowing Carlos to secure three breaks!
Alcaraz forged an early lead and defended two break points in the fourth game to move 3-1 up. The fifth game earned its spot in Wimbledon history, lasting 27 minutes and embracing 32 points, including 13 deuces! Djokovic squandered game points before Alcaraz seized his seventh break point to grab an enormous boost.
Novak Djokovic ended his streaks in Melbourne and London after 2195 days.
The young gun held at 15 in game six and secured another break at 5-1 to wrap up the set in style and move closer to the finish line.
Novak took an extended break ahead of the fourth set and saved two break points in the second game, ending his downfall and launching a comeback. The Serb stepped in and broke his opponent in games five and nine to wrap up the set 6-3 and force a decider, eager to give everything while chasing his eighth Wimbledon title.
However, Carlos broke in the third game with a cracking backhand down the line winner and held at love in the next one for 3-1. The Spaniard closed the sixth game with an ace, and the Serb grabbed the next one at 30, staying within one break deficit.
Alcaraz clinched the eighth game with an ace and served for the title at 5-4. Carlos moved 30-15 in front with a beautiful volley winner and created a match point with a service winner. The young gun seized it with a forced error, celebrating his first Wimbledon title and ending Djokovic's streak.
Half a year later, Novak experienced his first Australian Open loss after 2195 days! Hyeon Chung ousted him in 2018 after a massive battle, and the Serb responded with four consecutive titles. Djokovic reached the semi-final at this year's Melbourne Park campaign but could not advance to his 11th final following a 6-1, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3 loss to an inspired Jannik Sinner.
It was Novak's first Australian Open defeat after 33 straight wins, never finding his A-game and playing, as he described it, one of his worst matches at Majors.
Sinner's serve worked like a charm, keeping Djokovic away from break points for the first time in a complete match at Majors! On the other hand, the Serb sprayed over 50 unforced errors and got broken five times from 11 chances offered to his rival.
Novak fought well in the third set, saving a match point and stealing the tie break before Jannik made a fresh start in the fourth set and brought the victory home. Playing determined tennis and taming his strokes nicely, Sinner left Djokovic miles behind in the shortest range up to four strokes, moving into his first Major final in style.
The Italian made a flying start, breaking in the encounter's second game with a drive-volley winner. Novak saved a break point in the fourth game before hitting a loose backhand at 1-4 and falling further behind. Jannik forced the rival's mistake in the seventh game, clinching the opener 6-1 in 35 minutes.
Djokovic served at 75% in the second set but it was not enough for him to turn the tables. Sinner lost four points in his games and forged a massive advantage with two breaks on his tally. Novak lost serve in the third game, and Jannik cemented the break with a service winner a few minutes later.
The Italian secured another break in the seventh game and held at 5-2 with a forced error, moving two sets to love in front 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 blew game points and faced a break point after a double fault. The Serb played a loose backhand, getting broken and pushing his rival 3-1 in front. Djokovic served to prolong the match in game eight and held at love. Novak opened a 30-15 lead in the ninth game before Jannik landed two powerful serves for a match point.
The Italian seized it with a forehand down the line winner, beating world no. 1 and moving into the final.