Wimbledon 2023: Novak Djokovic says defeat by Carlos Alcaraz 'tough one to swallow'

1 year ago 25

Venue: All England Club Dates: 3-16 July
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Novak Djokovic said his Wimbledon last nonaccomplishment to Carlos Alcaraz was a "tough 1 to swallow" but helium volition "move on".

The feeling of lifting a runner-up trophy helium had watched his opponents clasp successful the past 4 Wimbledons deed him hard arsenic the tears past flowed.

The mangled racquet adjacent to his seat was a reminder of the vexation helium had taken retired connected the nett station aft the cardinal interruption of service successful the 5th set.

"It hurts," helium said aft a accidental astatine record-equalling eighth rubric ended.

Djokovic, 36, had been seeking to gully level with Roger Federer for men's singles wins present and with Margaret Court connected 24 Grand Slam titles but came up abbreviated against 20-year-old satellite fig 1 Alcaraz.

The Spaniard won 1-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-1 3-6 6-4 to seal a 2nd large title, beating Djokovic successful superb manner connected a Centre Court wherever the Serb has dominated for truthful long.

Not since 2013 had Djokovic mislaid connected the All England Club's main tribunal - erstwhile Andy Murray bushed him for the rubric - and the Briton was successful the assemblage to spot the Serb's tally ended.

"It's a pugnacious 1 to swallow erstwhile you are truthful close," helium said. "I mislaid to the amended subordinate and I person to congratulate him and determination on."

As helium did astatine the 2021 US Open aft a bid to triumph each 4 Grand Slams successful a twelvemonth was ended by Daniil Medvedev, Djokovic became tearful here.

Addressing his young lad successful his box, Djokovic covered his eyes arsenic his dependable broke portion saying: "It's bully to spot my lad inactive there, inactive smiling. I emotion you, convey you for supporting maine and we tin each person a large hug, and emotion each other."

Then addressing Alcaraz, who won the US Open connected hard courts past twelvemonth and reached the French Open semi-finals this twelvemonth earlier cramping hampered him against Djokovic, helium said: "I thought I'd lone person occupation with you connected clay oregon hard court, not grass."

Four years agone Djokovic saved 2 lucifer points against chap large Federer successful a thrilling lucifer and it whitethorn good person been this that helium was reasoning of erstwhile helium said: "I've won immoderate epic finals that I was precise adjacent to losing. Maybe this is benignant of a fair-and-square woody I conjecture to suffer a lucifer similar this for maine here."

He inactive has plentifulness of chances to pursuit records, with the US Open little than 2 months distant and offering his adjacent accidental of that 24th major.

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