Tim Henman hails Alcaraz's Wimbledon 'annihilation' over Djokovic

Monday, 15 July 2024 at 22:30

Tim Henman analyzes the ‘annihilation’ of the Wimbledon final, where Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 to successfully defend his 2023 title. The Spaniard achieved the 4th Grand Slam title of his career, becoming the youngest player in history to reach that number at just 21 years and 70 days old.

Former Brit No. 1 Henman reflected on Alcaraz's convincing victory at Wimbledon, which was also the first Slam final that Carlitos won in straight sets: “In all honesty, for 6-2, 6-2, 5-4 [40-0], it was an annihilation. Alcaraz was just absolutely phenomenal,” Henman said to BBC TV.

The former world No. 4 commented that Alcaraz's dominant level was evident from the start of the match, and although most expected a reaction from Nole at some point, he simply couldn’t match an opponent who played one of the best matches of his career.

“The tone was set in that first service game of Djokovic, it was a 14 or 15-minute game, Alcaraz was able to get that break of serve and then he was just relentless. He gave Djokovic nothing to get his teeth stuck into. We were just waiting for the reaction, we were waiting for Djokovic to respond and that really only happened late in the third set when, in all honesty, it was just a little bit too late.”

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Serbian tennis analyst Sasa Ozmo expressed that Djokovic 'maybe panicked' in the face of his opponent's high level. The 24-times Grand Slam champion had only three break opportunities and converted just one, while Alcaraz secured 5 breaks from 14 opportunities.

“I’m not sure why Novak rushed so many times to the net when he saw that it’s not working, and it seems to me that he maybe panicked, similar to the way he played and acted during that US Open 2021 final against Medvedev,” Sasa Ozmo claimed. “Also, I don’t think he was 10/20 of first serve points won, and at some point he managed to win only 66 percent of points after his first serve, which I don’t think happened that often.

Alcaraz at the 2024 Wimbledon.

“What I’m probably most impressed with Alcaraz is the way he reacted after he squandered those three match points. John McEnroe used to say that how you react to the choke is what counts, and Alcaraz managed to react perfectly. So for Novak, it’s a bit bittersweet. I don’t think anyone expected it to be this easy.”

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The 11-times Grand Slam champion Rod Laver, who was present at Center Court during the final, also shared his impressions of Carlos Alcaraz's performance: "His triumph against a great champion like Novak Djokovic is a testament to his incredible talent, determination, and composure under pressure. He consolidated his place among the greats of tennis with his brilliant performance. Well done Carlos."

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Carlos Alcaraz takes the second set 🔥 What a point 🤩 #Wimbledon

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2:17 PM · Jul 7, 2024

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Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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