Carlos Alcaraz has levelled the Wimbledon men’s final at one set all, sending a star-studded Centre Court and army of fans on Henman Hill wild after Novak Djokovic had taken an early lead.
The Spaniard, 20, was blown away 6-1 by Djokovic in just 34 minutes in the opening set, but the World No 1 has pulled it back to 1-1 in the second to keep his hopes of winning the prestigious tournament alive.
With the Centre Court crowd behind him, Alcaraz is hoping to stand in the way of 36-year-old Djokovic matching Roger Federer‘s record eight Wimbledon wins.
The Wimbledon crowd erupted when Alcaraz broke Djokovic early in the second set as he finally started to find his rhythm. Chants of ‘Carlos, Carlos, Carlos!’ could be heard from those watching the battle unfold.
Djokovic, hitting back at the early support for the young Spaniard, roared and goaded an animated Wimbledon crowd as he broke the next game to heap more pressure on the young star.
During the thrilling second set, which went to a tiebreak before Alacaraz came out on top 8-6, Djokovic warmed to the crowd and cracked a smile as he took on the role of being the pantomime villain. They responded by chanting his nickname for the first time, ‘Nole! Nole! Nole!’
Alcaraz, seemingly copying Djokovic’s earlier antics, celebrated his second set win by cupping his ear to the crowd as well.
As royalty descended on SW19 this afternoon, the Prince and Princess of Wales received a warm ovation from the Centre Court crowd as they took their seats in the royal box with Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
Carlos Alcaraz has levelled the Wimbledon men’s final at one set all after Novak Djokovic had taken an early lead
Djokovic plays up to the crowd as they get behind young Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon today
Alcaraz celebrates in similar fashion after taking the second set to haul himself back into the game
A dominant Novak Djokovic showed his class as he won the first set of the Wimbledon final
Grass-court king veteran Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates during the Men’s Singles final
Carlos Alcaraz got off to a horror start but with support from the crowd, he responded well in the second set
William and Kate have been joined by Prince George and Princess Charlotte in the royal box
Prince George and Princess Charlotte smile and point in the royal box ahead of the men’s singles final
Tennis fans have piled onto Henman Hill ahead of the showdown between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon 2023 grand final
Djokovic will take home an astonishing £2.35million if he can add one more victory to his 34-match winning streak at Wimbledon by overcoming Alcaraz.
Despite being 16 years older than his opponent, the veteran looks determined as ever as he looks to win a fifth consecutive title at Wimbledon – something only done by Federer and Bjorn Borg.
William and Kate – who presented the women’s trophy to Marketa Vondrousova yesterday – have been joined by several other high-profile names as crowds flock to see the two finalists meet again following their Hollywood-worthy battle at the French Open last month.
After four gruelling sets, it was Djokovic who came out on top in Paris – and he would go on to win a record 23rd Grand Slam title, one more than Rafael Nadal.
Alcaraz comes into the clash after sealing a stunning 6-3 6-3 6-3 victory in the semi-final against Daniil Medvedev. Meanwhile the ever-present Djokovic finds himself in the final again after defeating Jannik Sinner 6-3 6-4 7-6.
Kate, 41, and William, 41, both waved to crowds and were in good spirits as they walked along the players bridge with Prince George, nine, and Prince Charlotte, eight, and AELTC Chairman Ian Hewitt in the glorious Wimbledon sunshine.
They then received a warm applause as they sat down as Charlotte and George laughed and waved.
One person the family have been joined by in the royal box is Wimbledon champion turned global fashion icon Stan Smith who revealed to MailOnline that he has gifted Kate, George and Charlotte shoes in the past.
Novak Djokovic of Serbia during a training session prior to the Wimbledon Men’s Singles final match
Spectators get ready with some seen buying refreshments before the Wimbledon Championships this afternoon
Fans readied themselves for all weathers as they went to take their seats ahead of the final
Crowds are flocking to SW19 for the men’s singles final at Wimbledon this afternoon. Novak Djokovic, 36, is hoping to win a fifth Wimbledon title in a row as he takes on 20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz
The Serbian great (pictured during a practice session today) will take home an astonishing £2.35million if he can add one more victory to his 34-match winning streak at SW19
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in action during the Wimbledon final against Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz
Daniel Craig and his wife Rachel Weisz were also spotted in the royal box – as were James Norton and his partner Imogen Poots.
The men’s singles final comes after Czech player Marketa Vondrousova made history after winning the women’s final against Tunisian Ons Jabeur yesterday afternoon.
In a packed out crowd with Princess Kate, Dame Maggie Smith and Jonathan Van Tam, the 24-year-old became the first ever unseeded female player to be crowned Wimbledon champion.
Vondrousova was awarded the iconic Wimbledon plate by Kate – but not before the Princess of Wales comforted Jabeur.
Today, crowds are returning to SW19, not just for the iconic strawberries and cream, but more importantly for the men’s singles final which should bring plenty of fireworks.
A packed 14th day of Wimbledon will also see crowds entertained with the ladies’ doubles final, the men’s and quad wheelchair singles finals, the ladies’ wheelchair doubles final, the boys’ singles final, the junior finals, and the invitation doubles.
Actors including Sir Ian McKellan and Brad Pitt, fresh from filming his new film at Silverstone last weekend, have been spotted in SW19,. At the women’s final, Lewis Capaldi was spotted sat next to unlikely pal Emma Watson.
In true Wimbledon style, tennis fans have been camping for days in a bid to make it into the stadium.
Kate, fresh from presenting the trophy for the women’s final yeserday, waved as she walked along the bridge with William, George and Charlotte
Princess Kate, 41, looked effortlessly elegant in a green flowing dress as she arrived on the bridge at the All England Lawn, Tennis and Croquet Club
Princess Kate was smiling and waving as she and Prince George (right) were pictured arriving at Wimbledon with William and Kate
Kate and William smile as they are accompanied across the players bridge by AELTC Chairman Ian Hewitt
The Prince of Wales waves as he walks along the players bridge with Kate, Charlotte and George
Graeme Durno, 61, was the first person in the queue on the final day of Wimbledon.
The tennis fan, from Aberdeen, has come to Wimbledon 12 years in a row and plans to watch the action on Centre Court.
He said: ‘I want to see a game. I love atmosphere. To me it’s not about who’s playing but obviously I loved it when Murray won it. I absolutely loved it.
‘I waited years for a person from Britain to win the men’s singles so it would be lovely to see some of the wheelchair Brits do the same.
‘We saw Andy Murray years ago. You would not have thought for a second he would make it into Wimbledon, let alone win the thing twice.’
Jeff Hughes, wearing an Andy Murray t-shirt to mark 10 years since he won Wimbledon, has been camping outside the tournament since it began.
The 64-year-old from Chester has been going in to watch the tennis at Wimbledon every day and said the camping ‘catches up with you in the end’.
US actor Brad Pitt is pictured at Centre Court as he watches the men’s singles final this afternoon
Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig watch Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic from the royal box today
James Norton and Imogen Poots were also in the Royal Box on Centre Court this afternoon
Wimbledon champion Stan Smith and Maggie Smith are seen in the royal box for the thrilling final
Speaking from the queue Mr Hughes said: ‘I was in Friday and got soaked in the resale, obviously there was no tennis yesterday so I may just chill out all day today.
‘The first week was wet. We had a particularly bad day on Tuesday but on the whole I’m used to it now.
‘I go in every day. Mainly in the first week (I get) ground passes because there is so much great tennis on the outside courts.
‘I don’t want (Novak Djokovic) to win, put it that way.’
Katherine Livesey, 27, and her mother Sarah Livesey, 57, travelled to London from Scarborough for the weekend.
The pair camped outside the tennis tournament and have been in the Wimbledon queue since 6pm on Saturday.
The daughter, who hoped to get a ground pass for the final day of tennis, said: ‘It’s a great deal. I’d like it to be a really good tight match between the two men. Hopefully it will be a five setter.
Czech Republic’s Marketa Vondrousova celebrates winning the Ladies Final against Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur
Princess Kate looked emotional as she watched unseeded Vondrousova take the Wimbledon crown
The Princess of Wales congratulates Vondrousova yesterday after comforting a devastated Ons Jabeur
‘We have come down for the weekend to have a nice time in London, we went to Frozen and now this. It has been a good weekend. We have had a pizza, we have had a bottle of wine. I would suggest (the queue) to anyone.’
The pair made friends with Jeff Hughes, 64, in the queue. Mr Hughes said: ‘Three couples have actually met in the queue and gone on to get married.’
Meanwhile Nikki Tate, 50, and Tina Cooke, 53, flew over from Northern Ireland to watch the final.
The pair, dressed in tennis ball-themed earrings and hats were sixth and seventh in the queue on the final day of the tournament and were visiting Wimbledon for the first time.
Ms Cooke said: ‘It’s part of Nikki’s 50th birthday celebrations. We have got the earrings to match. I have had a bad hair day because we were camping last night.’
Ms Tate has placed a £2.50 bet on Carlos Alcaraz to beat Novak Djokovic in the men’s singles final.
Celebrities have been spotted at Wimbledon for the men’s final including actors Daniel Bruhl (left) and Angelababy (right)
Sir Ian McKellen has been pictured at Wimbledon ahead of the men’s final this afternoon
Actor Andrew Garfield and singer Nick Jonas were among the celebrities to descend on SW19
Spectators attempt to see Carlos Alcaraz of Spain practising prior to the final on Centre Court
Novak Djokovic during a practice session on Day 14 of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships
All eyes will be on whether the Serbian great can win an astonishing fifth Wimbledon crown in a row
The iconic Empire State Building in New York was lit up in Wimbledon’s colours ahead of today’s final
Spice Girl and Brit Award winner Mel C flipping the switch to illuminate the Empire State Building in Wimbledon’s colours of purple, green and white
Djokovic described the battle as ‘the best final that we could have’ in his pre-match conference.
He added: ‘We are both in good form. We’re both playing well.
‘I want to take this title without a doubt. I look forward to it. It’s going to be a great challenge, the greatest challenge that I could have at the moment from any angle really: physical, mental, emotional.
‘He’s one of the quickest guys on the tour. He can do pretty much anything on the court. I consider myself also a very complete player.
‘Obviously completely different conditions here. I do have more experience playing in many more Grand Slam or Wimbledon finals than him. Still, he’s in great shape. He’s very motivated. He’s young. He’s hungry. I’m hungry, too, so let’s have a feast.’
US Open Champion Alcaraz, who admitted the stress of facing Djokovic brought on cramps that led to his downfall in Paris, is hoping to end Djokovic’s 10-year winning streak on Centre Court.
‘It gives you extra motivation. I think it’s more special to play the final against a legend from our sport,’ the Spaniard said.
‘If I win, it could be amazing for me – not only win a Wimbledon title but to do it against Novak would be super special.
‘But I always say if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. Novak is one of them. It would be great if I can do it.’
