Novak Djokovic ended two remarkable streaks at last year’s Wimbledon and the recently concluded Australian Open. Interestingly, both runs came to an end after 2195 days at the hands of two young talents, creating a striking coincidence that deserves further explanation.
Last year, Djokovic was the defending champion at Wimbledon, having won the title four times in a row. However, he was forced to retire in the 2017 quarter-final against Tomas Berdych due to an injury, marking the end of his unbeaten run at The All England Club that had lasted for 2195 days! In this year’s Australian Open, Djokovic fought for his eighth Wimbledon title against Carlos Alcaraz, with both players vying for a prestigious trophy and the top spot in the ATP rankings.
Despite Djokovic being the favorite, it was Alcaraz who showcased his talent and skill in a thrilling match. The Spaniard secured a hard-fought victory with a scoreline of 1-6, 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 after an intense battle lasting four hours and 42 minutes. This win not only ended Djokovic’s impressive streak but also earned Alcaraz his second Major title at the age of 20.
The match took place under windy conditions, but both players gave their all to maintain a high level of play and push each other to their limits. They created a total of 34 break points and delivered five return games each, making it a truly competitive Wimbledon final. Despite facing a break point in the opening game, Djokovic, being the more experienced player, managed to deny his opponent and gain an early advantage.
In the first set, Djokovic broke Alcaraz’s serve in games two and four, establishing a commanding 5-0 lead. Serving for the set at 5-1, Djokovic sealed it with a smash winner, wrapping up the set in just 34 minutes. However, Alcaraz raised his level of play in the second set, matching Djokovic’s pace.
Both players exchanged early breaks and served well, leading to a tie break. Djokovic initially took a 3-0 lead but then lost five of the next six points. The defending champion managed to level the score at 5-5 and even had a set point with a backhand winner. However, Djokovic failed to convert it and subsequently netted another shot, allowing Alcaraz to take the set 7-6. This equalized the match at 1-1 after almost two hours of play, giving Alcaraz a significant boost of confidence.
In the third set, Djokovic struggled to find his rhythm and made nearly 20 unforced errors, which allowed Carlos to secure three breaks of serve. Alcaraz took an early lead in the set and defended two break points in the fourth game to go up 3-1. The fifth game of the set became a memorable moment in Wimbledon history, lasting 27 minutes and featuring 32 points, including 13 deuces! Djokovic squandered several game points before Alcaraz finally converted his seventh break point to gain a significant advantage.
In a thrilling display of skill, the talented newcomer held strong at 15 in the sixth game and secured another break at 5-1 to claim the set in impressive fashion, edging closer to victory. Novak, taking a well-deserved break before the fourth set, managed to save two break points in the second game, putting an end to his decline and initiating a remarkable comeback. With determination in his eyes, the Serb broke his opponent in games five and nine, sealing the set 6-3 and forcing a decisive final set, all in pursuit of his eighth Wimbledon championship.
However, Carlos displayed his prowess in the third game, delivering a powerful backhand winner down the line to secure a break. He then held his serve flawlessly in the following game, establishing a 3-1 lead. The Spaniard closed out the sixth game with an ace, while Djokovic managed to grab the next game, keeping the deficit to just one break. Alcaraz demonstrated his skill once again, sealing the eighth game with an ace and serving for the title at 5-4. Carlos gained a 30-15 advantage with a stunning volley winner, and with a service winner, he earned himself a match point. The young prodigy capitalized on his opportunity, forcing an error from Djokovic and celebrating his first Wimbledon title, thus bringing an end to Djokovic’s remarkable winning streak.
Fast forward six months, and Novak faced a surprising defeat at the Australian Open, marking his first loss in 2195 days! Hyeon Chung emerged victorious in 2018 after an intense battle, prompting Djokovic to respond with four consecutive titles. In this year’s Melbourne Park campaign, Djokovic reached the semi-finals but fell short of advancing to his 11th final, succumbing to an inspired Jannik Sinner in a 6-1, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3 loss.
Novak Djokovic suffered his first-ever loss at the Australian Open after a remarkable streak of 33 consecutive wins. Unfortunately, he was unable to find his usual form and described the match as one of his worst performances in a Grand Slam tournament.
Jannik Sinner’s serve was incredibly effective, preventing Djokovic from earning any break points throughout the entire match, a first for the Serbian player in a major tournament. On the other hand, Djokovic made over 50 unforced errors and was broken five times out of the 11 opportunities that Sinner provided.
Despite the challenges, Djokovic fought hard in the third set, saving a match point and winning the tie break. However, Sinner regained his composure in the fourth set and ultimately secured the victory. Sinner played with determination and controlled his shots beautifully, leaving Djokovic far behind, especially in rallies consisting of four strokes or less. This impressive performance propelled Sinner into his first-ever major final.
The match began with Sinner taking an early lead, breaking Djokovic’s serve in the second game with a powerful drive-volley winner. Djokovic managed to save a break point in the fourth game but made a crucial mistake with a loose backhand when the score was 1-4, allowing Sinner to extend his advantage. In the seventh game, Sinner capitalized on Djokovic’s error and won the set 6-1 in just 35 minutes.
In the second set, Djokovic served at an impressive 75%, but it wasn’t enough to turn the match around. Sinner only lost four points in his service games and secured two breaks, further solidifying his lead. Djokovic lost his serve in the third game, and Sinner confirmed the break with a powerful service winner shortly after. With another break in the seventh game, Sinner comfortably won the set 6-2 in an hour and 13 minutes.
Although Sinner missed an opportunity to break Djokovic early in the third set, Djokovic improved his serving and managed to stay competitive in the remaining games. The set ultimately went to a tie break, with Sinner maintaining the pressure on Djokovic. Djokovic initially led 4-2 in the tie break but lost the next three points, allowing Sinner to take a 5-4 lead with a forehand winner. Djokovic equalized at 5-5 with a lob winner but faced a match point when Sinner fired an unreturned serve. However, Djokovic saved the match point with a forced error and ultimately won the tie break 8-6, extending the match to two and a half hours.
Undeterred by this setback, Sinner served exceptionally well in the fourth set and patiently waited for an opportunity to break Djokovic’s serve. He missed three break points in the second game but remained persistent and eventually broke Djokovic’s serve to take a 3-1 lead. Djokovic had a chance to prolong the match when serving in the eighth game, which he managed to hold at love. In the ninth game, Djokovic held a 30-15 lead but was unable to convert it into a game point as Sinner hit two powerful serves to earn a match point. Sinner seized the opportunity with a forehand winner down the line, ultimately defeating the world’s number one player and advancing to the final.