Alcaraz vs Djokovic LIVE! Wimbledon 2023 final latest build-up, score and updates from Centre Court
lcaraz vs Djokovic LIVE!
Carlos Alcaraz takes on Novak Djokovic this afternoon in what promises to be a truly epic Wimbledon final. The best two players in the world meet on Centre Court, giving the Championships the conclusion most have been expecting over the past fortnight.
Alcaraz was badly hampered by cramp when the pair met in the French Open semi-finals last month, as Djokovic went on to lift the trophy at Roland Garros and continue his calendar Grand Slam bid. Since then though Alcaraz is unbeaten in 11 matches on grass, including a run to the title at Queen’s, and the world number one appears to have quickly adapted to playing on the surface.
This though is as big a test as there is, with Djokovic unbeaten on Centre Court in 45 matches since defeat to Andy Murray in 2013. Victory this afternoon would see him move alongside Roger Federer with an eighth Wimbledon title. Follow Alcaraz vs Djokovic with Standard Sport’s dedicated LIVE blog below, manned by Matt Verri on Centre Court.
Live updates
Djokovic in yet another final
Jordan Thompson and Stan Wawrinka were beaten in straight sets as Novak Djokovic got his Wimbledon campaign up and running in serene fashion.
Hubert Hurkacz’s serve gave the defending champion real problems in the third round, but Djokovic came through that and then beat Andrey Rublev in four sets, after dropping the opener.
That set up a semi-final clash with Jannik Sinner, who took two sets off Djokovic a year ago. He could not manage even one this time, with Djokovic winning a third-set tie-break to reach a 35th Grand Slam final.
Stage is set!
We might finally have the Centre Court roof open this afternoon!
Awful weather on Friday meant it was closed throughout the men’s semi-finals, and it remained shut for the women’s final yesterday due to windy conditions.
It’s sunny today at Wimbledon though and it’s expected to stay dry – we should have no issues with the weather.
Cramp halts Alcaraz
Two brilliant sets… and then it was pretty much a walkover.
The French Open semi-final between Alcaraz and Djokovic initially lived up to expectations, until cramp ended Alcaraz’s chances of reaching the final.
He admitted nerves played a big part in that – hopefully he’ll be much more relaxed this afternoon and injuries are not a factor for either player.
Alcaraz finding top form?
Carlos Alcaraz very nearly lost his first match at Queen’s a month ago, the Spaniard just about edging past Arthur Rinderknech in three sets.
He went on to win the title there though and has carried that form into Wimbledon. Alexandre Muller was beaten in the opening round, before a battling four-sets win over Nicolas Jarry.
Alcaraz came from behind to beat Matteo Berrettini in four, before straight-sets win over Holger Rune and Daniil Medvedev booked his place in the final.
He absolutely cruised past third seed Medvedev in the semi-finals – more of that level of tennis today and we could be in for something special.
Dramatic Saturday…
Ons Jabeur will have hoped and maybe even expected that this year it might different. In the end, all that was different was quite how much tougher this second successive Wimbledon final defeat may be to stomach.
For the newly-crowned champion Marketa Vondrousova, it was telling quite how quickly she collapsed to the turf after her match-winning shot found the line.
It was only a week before the Championships began at SW19 that Vondrousova turned 24. A finalist at the 2019 French Open, she was thrashed in that showpiece. Here was a second chance that a player who has been dogged by injuries in recent years thought may never come.
Read our full report on Vondrousova’s shock win yesterday!
Prediction
Beating Djokovic at Wimbledon has seemed basically impossible in recent years, and little we have seen over the past fortnight suggests it will be much easier this afternoon.
Alcaraz was the favourite at the French Open a month ago but saw his hopes at Roland Garros swiftly fall apart as cramp hit, and he now gets a shot at revenge.
The world number one can certainly push Djokovic and this final has the potential to be an epic, but the seven-time champion looks set to pick up an eighth title.
Djokovic in four sets.
How to watch Alcaraz vs Djokovic
TV channel: The final will be broadcast on BBC One, with coverage getting underway at 1pm BST. The action begins about an hour later.
Live stream: As has been the case all fortnight, both the match on Centre Court and the tennis across SW19 can be enjoyed via the BBC iPlayer.
Live blog: Even better… follow it all right here with us!
Good morning!
Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic!
We’ve got a blockbuster Wimbledon final in store this afternoon, as the two best players in the world face-off for the SW19 title. It’s the match we wanted… it’s the match we’ve got!
We’ll have all the build-up before full coverage of the final, with the players walking out onto Centre Court at 2pm BST. Stay with us!
