Carlos Alcaraz and Markéta Vondroušová are first-time Wimbledon champions

July 17, 2023
A fortnight of electric tennis culminated with some historic firsts, as two new champions hoisted their first Wimbledon trophies on Centre Court over the weekend.
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Carlos Alcaraz and Markéta Vondroušová are first-time Wimbledon championsCarlos Alcaraz and Markéta Vondroušová are first-time Wimbledon champions
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The GIST: A fortnight of electric tennis culminated with some historic firsts, as two new champions hoisted their first Wimbledon trophies on Centre Court over the weekend. Bow down.

Men’s singles championship: As you read, No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz topped No. 2 Novak Djokovic in a five-set thriller yesterday, halting The Joker’s crusade for a 2023 calendar Grand Slam and handing him his first L on Centre Court since 2013. World rankings aside, few expected Alcaraz to prevail considering this was just his fourth tournament on grass.

  • Speaking of, until yesterday, the same four men had exchanged Wimbledon singles’ titles since 2002: Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Murray. Alcaraz has now won two Slams in less than a year. The future is now.

Women’s singles championship: On Saturday, Markéta Vondroušová overpowered No. 6 Ons Jabeur in straight sets to become the first unseeded woman to win the whole damn thing in the Open Era. If you’d like a side of tears with your morning bevvy, watch her sister take it all in as Vondroušová won the championship point. Nothing like support from your people.

  • On the opposite side of the court, that match marked Jabeur’s second straight Wimbledon finals loss in her quest to become the first Arab and African woman to win a Grand Slam. Not to be deterred, she promised to “come back stronger” with just 42 days until the U.S. Open begins.