The 2024 Wimbledon final featured a rematch from the previous year between defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.
Alcaraz won his second Grand Slam title in 2023 at the All England Club after defeating the Serb in a five-set thriller on Centre Court.
Djokovic‘s chance at revenge came 12 months later, when he met the Spaniard once again in the final, this time pursuing a record-breaking 25th major title.
It didn’t go to plan for him, however, as Alcaraz earned a statement victory, winning in straight sets to hold the famous trophy aloft for the second consecutive time.
Just three weeks before Wimbledon began last year, Djokovic had surgery on his knee and was in doubt for the tournament, but still managed to make his way to the final.
His performance level over the fortnight after the operation was incredible, and the eventual champion took a moment after his triumph to acknowledge the efforts of his opponent.
What Carlos Alcaraz said about Novak Djokovic after Wimbledon 2024
In his post-match press conference after the final, Alcaraz was asked: “Before the tournament, you said Novak was Superman. What are your thoughts about whether you’re Superman now?”
He responded: “Well, I mean, I’m still believing that Novak is Superman because what he has done this tournament with a surgery just before a few weeks before the tournament began.
“It is amazing. It is unbelievable. Honestly, as I said on court, I was talking to my team that the work that Novak has done has been unbelievable.
“Put himself the chance to be able to play the tournament and making the final, it’s something out of this world for me.
“I beat him today, but for me Novak is still being like a Superman,” added the two-time Wimbledon champion.
Novak Djokovic’s 2024 Wimbledon run after having knee surgery
After confirming he was healthy enough to play at the championships, Djokovic began his 2024 Wimbledon campaign.
He swept aside Vit Kopriva in the first round, and after a third-set scare against home hope Jacob Fearnley, he came out on top against the Briton.
Djokovic then defeated Alexei Popyrin over four sets and faced his first seeded opponent at the tournament in the form of Holger Rune, who he dismantled in straight sets.
| Round | Opponent |
|---|---|
| Final | Carlos Alcaraz (L) |
| Semi-Final | Lorenzo Musetti (W) |
| Quarter-Final | Alex de Minaur (Walkover) |
| Fourth Round | Holger Rune (W) |
| Third Round | Alexei Popyrin (W) |
| Second Round | Jacob Fearnley (W) |
| First Round | Vit Kopriva (W) |
The seven-time champion was then given a walkover after ninth seed Alex de Minaur withdrew from the quarter-final due to injury.
Lorenzo Musetti was his next task in the semi-final, and despite the Italian’s best efforts, he was unable to find an answer for the then-37-year-old.
Alcaraz proved too much for Djokovic in the final, but in getting to the last stage of the tournament after what had occurred prior to the event, the 24-time major champion displayed what an incredible athlete he is.
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