There were only two center-court seats available today for the Gentlemen’s final at Wimbledon. Both of them close to the Royal Box, and the market price for the tickets nearly $34000 each, higher than a super bowl ticket, or a pass to a Taylor Swift concert could cost in the grey market. Outside the stadium, on Henman Hill, that gentle grassy slope, which over the years has become a favorite spot to watch live action for those who couldn’t or cannot afford to get in, was already full two hours before the scheduled start of the match. The Men’s final this year had an air of something magical about it. There was an undeniable sense, across the tennis world that this match between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz could be a decisive moment for the sport itself. After the iron rule of the three champions – Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic – for fifteen years, when nobody else had a chance to break through, the time was ripe for someone new. But the question was who? Who in the current crop of players had the audacity, the talent, the drive, and the execution to beat Djokovic on grass to claim that spot? There have been many pretenders to the throne in the last few years, but who is the real deal?
When Alcaraz burst on the international scene a couple of years ago to win the US Open, as an eighteen-year-old, there was something about him and the way he played that presaged the dawn of a new era. He reminded us of how Andre Agassi played when he was young. The athleticism, wildly confident, and the quality and timing of his strokes seemed preternatural, gifted. Alcaraz was 10 years old when Djokovic played his first final at Wimbledon, and the age gap between the reigning champion and Alcaraz, as they walked to the center court today, was 15 years and 348 days. Both of them had their own reasons to fight it out. For Djokovic, immortality awaited: it was his chance to equal the great swede Bjorn Borg’s record of five consecutive Wimbledon titles, equal Federer’s count of eight titles, and extend his total grand slam tally to twenty-four, and above all show the world that he was still the best in the world. On the other hand, Alcaraz, the young Spaniard, a prodigy, and a bundle of energy and passion, had a point to prove as well – that he had it in him to beat the best and win the big matches without succumbing to physical and mental exhaustion as he did in the semi-finals of the French Open a few weeks ago. And that he could play on the grass courts, which is a completely different ball game altogether. Alcaraz also had to answer the question that was on the top of everyone’s mind: can he be the one to stop the Djokovic juggernaut and usher in the future of tennis? Lots were at stake for both players and where else can it be decisively settled except in the tradition-filled, history-imbued, royalty-graced green lawns of Wimbledon?
What a spectacular game of tennis it turned out to be! Five sets of pure talent were on display. The battle was filled with breathtaking strokes, and sprinkled with several moments of ecstatic beauty, deft touches, and blistering passes, that only grass-court tennis of the highest order can produce. One couldn’t have asked for anything better. If the first set was taken as a sign of things to come, we were mistaken. The Spaniard was just warming up before he took control of the second and third sets. The champion swung the tide back by taking the fourth, and the match was poised for a grand finish in the fifth. The final set of a Grand Slam championship is not always about skill and talent, it is about nerves, and the ability to clinically finish a match. It separates the pretenders from the champions. It is a test of emotional maturity and confidence to finish what one has started. The Spaniard played a dream set to close out the match. Serving 5-4 for the championship, Alcaraz had the audacity to play a drop shot on the first point of the game, which failed, only to follow it up with another peach of a drop shot a point later followed by an impeccable lob that left Djokovic stranded on the other side. The psychological pendulum had clearly swung in Alcaraz’s favor. Alcaraz showed no signs of nerves, serving well and hitting clean ground strokes that left Djokovic no chance at all. Both men had fought valiantly, but in the end, the Spaniard played better to clinch the title. There was absolutely no embarrassment or shame for Djokovic in losing the match. It was a great final, and only one can win, and today it happened to be Alcaraz.
Over the years, I have come to admire Djokovic for his post-match interview and comments. Always the gentleman in defeat, and at the same time, not afraid to speak his mind without reservation. It has gotten him into trouble sometimes, but more than not, I like him for it. Holding the runner-up trophy when so many records were at stake for him, was not an easy thing to do, but he did not forget to praise the young twenty-year-old for his brilliant performance and even hinted that Alacaraz may be the next to sit on the tennis throne. Anyone who can play equally well on grass and hard courts stands a good chance to rule the professional world of tennis. Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Kent, has adopted the role of the patron with grace and style. Her dignified presence and charm continue the long-standing tradition of Royalty, that Wimbledon so resolutely and fondly cherishes. In an era when everything we do is so commercialized, the Wimbledon championships maintain a sanctity that cleanses the heart and soul. Yes, there is the prize money of £2,350,000 ($2,986,025) for the winner and £1,175,000 ($1,493,012) for the runner-up, but, it is not the money alone at stake, especially at Wimbledon. It is about glory, honor, and dignity. Just as a cricket match at the Lords is something more than just cricket, Tennis at Wimbledon is not just tennis, but it is about living, breathing, and paying homage to a time-honored tradition that stands for something valuable and eternal in human civilization. Even though the game of tennis may have radically changed over the decades, the Wimbledon championships have absorbed the changes that matter to the game and still remains what it is. The strawberries and cream, the umbrellas, the dress code, the etiquette – continue year after year, and people come to Wimbledon not just for the wonderful tennis, but to soak in traditions that are slowly disappearing in other areas of life.
This Sunday at Wimbledon could be the start of a new era in Men’s tennis. I still remember Novak Djokovic’s first Grand Slam title on January 28, 2008, at the Australian Open. He defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final to claim his maiden victory. A lanky young man ( he still is) with piercing eyes and a touch of arrogance, he announced his arrival into the major league, and since then has emerged as one of the greatest ever in the sport. Who knows, this may be the day when Carlos Alcaraz has broken the glass ceiling. This win at Wimbledon is special for the young Spaniard, and looking at his game, attitude, and maturity, it looks like we will see him around for a very long time. We wish him all the best.
I really enjoyed your writing
I saw the Finals
Agree in toto with your obevtions
Thanks Uncle Harsha.