Generational Rivalry: Jannik Sinner wins first 2026 clash with Carlos Alcaraz in Monte Carlo for biggest career clay title

Carlos Alcaraz has ended the longest Centre Court winning streak in history—and captured his first Wimbledon title—with a 1-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Novak Djokovic in the final today.

Winning Wimbledon is already huge for Alcaraz—it’s his second career Grand Slam title, after his triumph at the US Open last year, and he’s actually the first man outside of the “Big 4” of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray to win The Championships since 2002.

But what he overcame in the final stage of his run is just as incredible an achievement.

Going into the final, Djokovic had won 45 matches in a row on Centre Court, the longest winning streak on the world’s most famous tennis court since it was introduced in 1922. His last loss on the court came to Murray in the 2013 final—when Alcaraz was 10 years old.

Djokovic had also been on a 27-match winning streak at Grand Slams, a 34-match winning streak at Wimbledon and a 34-match winning streak on grass courts.

The Serb, who captured his all-time record 23rd career Grand Slam title at Roland Garros last month, was also 7-1 in his career in Wimbledon finals going into this one.

But Alcaraz defied all of those stats to become just the third Spanish man ever to win Wimbledon, joining Manolo Santana (1966) and Nadal (2008 and 2010).

Alcaraz also hangs onto his No. 1 ranking now—Djokovic would have taken it back with a win on Sunday.

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Alcaraz finishes the 2023 grass-court season with a 12-0 record, having won his first career ATP grass-court title at Queen’s Club two weeks before Wimbledon (5-0) and then going all the way to the title at the All England Club (7-0).

The No. 1 ranking was also on the line in the final, with whoever won the title leaving the tournament on top of the ATP rankings—Alcaraz will kick off his 29th career week at the top spot tomorrow.

The Spaniard is now 2-1 in his career against Djokovic, too. They’re 1-1 on clay against each other, with Alcaraz winning in the semifinals of Madrid last year and Djokovic getting his revenge in the semifinals of Roland Garros this year.

“It’s a dream come true for me,” Alcaraz said in his on-court interview after winning his first Wimbledon title.

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