Wimbledon 2024 LIVE: Tennis result as sensational Carlos Alcaraz retains title with Novak Djokovic demolition

A passing backhand winner from Alcaraz beats Djokovic’s approach to the net. That option hasn’t worked for the 24x Grand Slam champion.

Alcaraz has certainly settled quicker. He takes on a second serve from Djokovic and moves 0-30 up but a sharp serve in the next rally puts him on the defensive. Djokovic presses the advantage and forces an error but flinging down an ace to make the game level at 30-30.

An attempt to go down the line with a backhand clips the tape and offers up another break point for Alcaraz. Can he take it?

Yes! But it’s Djokovic at fault. He double faults the serve and Alcaraz has a double break in the first set.

What has been evident from these opening matches is that Carlos Alcaraz’s serve is on point. If he keeps that up then Novak Djokovic is going to have a tough time today (and how often have we been able to confidently say that).

Alcaraz holds to love and moves two games ahead once more. Another break of serve could decide the first set.

There will be a response. Having watch Novak Djokovic over the years he rises to the occasion when he’s being put under the test.

Djokovic takes the first point with a nice serve then comes up to the net and watches Alcaraz ping a passing winner wide of his outstretched forehand. He has approached the net eight times already and only won two of those points.

Both men accummulate another point each before Alcaraz drives a forehand into the net. Djokovic’s next serve lands on the centre line, Alcaraz doesn’t move and the ace brings the Serb a hold of serve.

That opening game took 14 minutes to decide. If things continue like that then we’re in for a long, long day. In response Djokovic takes the first point of Alcaraz’s first service game before the Spaniard gets his serve to work.

Two quick serves bring him the next two points before a fizzing 136mph serve out to the Djokovic backhand puts him 40-15. Alcaraz seems to mean business here.

Djokovic hooks a backhand out of play to give the game up and Alcaraz completes the break in this first set.

Djokovic chips a volley into the net and gives Alcaraz another chance to break. Alcaraz gets the first serve back but Djokovic drills a forehand out of play!

It’s a break for the Spaniard.

Wow! Alcaraz goes after a second serve and whips a two-handed backhand with of Djokovic to set up a third break point. But again Alcaraz drills one into the net.

Djokovic obviously thinks approaching the net is key. He comes forward and manages to return a couple of fizzing forehands with volleys but Alcaraz’s third effort forces the error.

The next serve goes out wide but Alcaraz manages to get it back only for Djokovic to smash back a winner. It’s the fourth break point he’s saved in this game.

He doesn’t get it! An unforced error sees Alcaraz run a cross court forehand into the net and Djokovic brings him back down to deuce.

The Serb then moves to advantage with a pacey serve but overhits a backhand trying to close out the game.

A third deuce sees Djokovic attempt a serve-and-volley from his second serve but Alcaraz smokes a forehand down the line for a passing winner. The second break point is saved with a great serve again.

Djokovic isn’t giving this game up despite it being the opening one of the match. He moves to advantage on deuce number four, misses his first serve and then lands the second one.

Alcaraz dictates the rally moving Djokovic left-to-right before approaching the net. Djokovic goes for a lob and knocks it long. Back to deuce.

Djokovic is quick to get on the board though and moves level before serving to Alcaraz’s backhand. Alcaraz powers a two-handed return into the tape and sees the ball drop into Djokovic’s side of court to which he offers up an apology.

Alcaraz is then too exuberent on a forehand and pings it over the back before Djokovic takes control of the game with an ace. He leads 40-30.

Not to be outdone, Alcaraz focuses on keeping the ball in play. He’s worked left-to-right but takes the game to deuce thanks to an error from his opponent.

In the next rally Djokovic switches it up and comes forward, he volleys a powerful hit into the deck but Alcaraz goes down tge kube and Djokovic can’t get there.

A first break point for the Spaniard coming up...

Here we go.

Novak Djokovic has the opening serve and sends it to Alcaraz’s backhand. A short rally follows with the Spaniard holding steady on the middle of the baseline. He works a forehand over to the sideline and Djokovic’s attempted cross court return lands out of play.

Alcaraz takes the first point.

Alcaraz has tended to start slowly throughout this tournament and Djokovic will know that. The 37-year-old is looking to become the oldest champion ever at Wimbledon and knows he has a very strong chance this afternoon.

This match could be a long one and both men will need to be on it from the get-go.

They go through a few warm up serves and start to settle on the court. There’s a humming anticipation from the crowd ahead of this match commencing.