Didn't expect this trouble on grass,says Djokovic to Carlos Alcaraz after losing Wimbledon final

Novak Djokovic said that he was surprised by how Carlos Alcaraz made him work hard on grass in the Wimbledon 2023 final. The Serb was tipped to win his 23rd Grand Slam singles title, but lost 6-1, 6-7, 1-6, 6-3, 4-6 to the Spaniard in four hours and 43 minutes. Alcaraz also ended Djokovic's 34-match winning-streak at Wimbledon.

Djokovic eased past Alcaraz in the opening set with three service breaks, but failed to carry the momentum forward in the next two. Although he made a comeback to force the match into the decider, Alcaraz did not allow him to have the last laugh. The reigning World No.1 kept him in on his toes and eventually went on beat him in an epic clash on Centre Court.

"Tough one to swallow, when you're so close. But again, these are the moments you work for every single day, to play on the most important courts and in the most important tournaments in the world,” Djokovic was quoted as saying after the match.

"I'm really really



grateful. I lost to a better player, I just have to congratulate him and move on," he stated.

Alcaraz was looking to equal Roger Federer and Bjorn Borg’s record of winning five Wimbledon titles in a row. But that will not be the case anymore. Alcaraz also took his head-to-head count against Djokovic to 2-1.

Djokovic, who has seven Wimbledon singles titles to his name, was taken aback by Alcaraz’s skills on grass. It was also Alcaraz’s 13th match at SW19 and he took down a big name as big as Djokovic.

"You never like to lose matches like this. I guess all the emotions have settled. I have to be grateful because I won a lot of tight matches in the past year, maybe I should have lost a couple of finals I won, so maybe this is even," Djokovic said as tears rolled down his cheeks.

"I thought I would only have trouble with you on clay and hard, not grass! What a way to adapt to the surface, amazing," he added.