Nole is the 2023 Wimbledon runner-up.
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz ended Novak’s dominance at The Championships, as he beat the second seed in five sets 1-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 to win men’s singles title for the first time.
Both players delivered a high-quality championship-match display, with the defending champion, Djokovic, making a powerful start to take the opening set 6-1.
The 20-year-old Spaniard dug deep to clinch a crucial second-set tie-break, and kept the momentum to grab the third set as well, with three breaks of serve.
Novak, the seven-time titlist, raised his game again in the fourth set, and made a double break to level the contest, bringing the all-time classic final to the deciding fifth set.
The crucial moment came in the third game, when Alcaraz broke and held to love to consolidate it. The Spaniard, who will remain world no.1, found big serves and powerful forehands whenever he needed them, to serve out the match of his life.
“You never like to lose matches like this but I guess when all the emotions are settled I have to still be very grateful,” said Djokovic during his on-court speech. “I won many tough matches here. Maybe I have won a couple of finals I should have lost so maybe this is even-steven. It is a tough one to swallow when you are so close. I lost to a better player, I have to congratulate him, and move on – stronger hopefully. I have to praise Carlos and his team. What a quality at the end of the match when you had to serve it out. You came up with some big plays in the big situation and you absolutely deserve it. Amazing.”
Match statistics: aces (2-9), double faults (3-7), winners (32-66), unforced errors (40-45), total points won (166-167).
After a couple of weeks off, Novak will begin preparations for the US Open Series (Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati and the last Grand Slam in 2023 – the US Open).
You can download Nole 2023 August desktop calendar here.
Photo: Profimedia
