Carlos Alcaraz and Markéta Vondroušová are first-time Wimbledon champions
The GIST: A fortnight of electric tennis culminated with some historic firsts, as two new champions hoisted their first Wimbledon trophies on Centre Court over the weekend. Bow down.
Men’s singles championship: As you read, No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz topped No. 2 Novak Djokovic in a five-set thriller yesterday, halting The Joker’s crusade for a 2023 calendar Grand Slam and handing him his first L on Centre Court since 2013. World rankings aside, few expected Alcaraz to prevail considering this was just his fourth tournament on grass.
- But Djokovic raved about Alcaraz after the match, calling him “the best player in the world, no doubt.” High praise from the guy who’s (still) just one Grand Slam shy of tying Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24.
- Speaking of, until yesterday, the same four men had exchanged Wimbledon singles’ titles since 2002: Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Murray. Alcaraz has now won two Slams in less than a year. The future is now.
Women’s singles championship: On Saturday, Markéta Vondroušová overpowered No. 6 Ons Jabeur in straight sets to become the first unseeded woman to win the whole damn thing in the Open Era. If you’d like a side of tears with your morning bevvy, watch her sister take it all in as Vondroušová won the championship point. Nothing like support from your people.
- On the opposite side of the court, that match marked Jabeur’s second straight Wimbledon finals loss in her quest to become the first Arab and African woman to win a Grand Slam. Not to be deterred, she promised to “come back stronger” with just 42 days until the U.S. Open begins.
