Djokovic thrown from throne at Wimbledon

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Carlos Alcaraz made history at Wimbledon as he dethroned Novak Djokovic in an electrifying five-set battle to claim his first All England Club title on Sunday. The 20-year-old Spaniard ended Djokovic’s decade-long dominance on Centre Court with a sensational 1-6 7-6(6) 6-1 3-6 6-4 victory.

Djokovic, the 36-year-old Serbian, had been invincible at Wimbledon, but he couldn’t find a way to halt Alcaraz’s charge towards the championship. In the decisive fifth set, after Alcaraz broke for a 2-1 lead with a remarkable passing shot winner, Djokovic vented his frustration by smashing his racket against the wooden net post, leaving it in a mangled state. This outburst resulted in a second warning for Djokovic, who had already been cautioned earlier for taking too much time between serves.

However, Alcaraz remained undeterred by the distractions, becoming the youngest man since Boris Becker in 1986 to claim the Challenge Cup. The match was billed as a clash of generations, and Alcaraz, aged 20 paid tribute to Djokovic, acknowledging his inspiration and remarking cheekily that Djokovic was already winning tournaments when Alcaraz was born.

For Djokovic, who won his first ATP title when Alcaraz was just three years old, it seemed like he was on track to secure a record-equaling eighth Wimbledon crown as he stormed to a commanding 5-0 lead in the opening set. But Alcaraz found his rhythm and fought back, igniting the highly anticipated contest.

The match was filled with drama, with Djokovic struggling to cope with Alcaraz’s crafty drop shots, resulting in slips and tumbles on the grass. Alcaraz’s comfort on the slick surface grew as he aimed to end Djokovic’s impressive 34-match winning streak at Wimbledon.

As the match progressed, Alcaraz’s relentless determination prevailed. He battled through a grueling 26-minute game in the third set, finally breaking Djokovic’s serve to puncture the Serbian’s air of invincibility. Although Djokovic managed to win the fourth set, his mental and physical fatigue proved costly in the fifth, allowing U.S. Open champion Alcaraz to secure a well-deserved victory.

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