July 14 (UPI) — Carlos Alcaraz’s felt-shredding forehands and ball-blurring serves forced uncharacteristic blunders from Novak Djokovic en route to his second-consecutive Wimbledon title Sunday in London.

The Spaniard unleashed 41 winners in the 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(4) victory — his first straight-sets win over Djokovic — at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. His Serbian foe, whose serve was broken just five times through the first six rounds of the tournament, was broken five more times in the finale.

“It’s a dream for me winning this trophy,” Alcaraz said on the ESPN broadcast. “It’s a great feeling to play on this beautiful court and win this amazing trophy.

“For me, this is the most beautiful tournament, the most beautiful court and the most beautiful trophy.”

The victory denied Djokovic of a 25th singles title, which would have broken Margaret Court’s overall record for the most women’s or men’s Grand Slam crowns.

Alcaraz, who also beat Djokovic in the 2023 Wimbledon finale, earned his second-consecutive Grand Slam title — following the 2024 French Open — for the first time of his career.

“It was obviously not the result I wanted, especially the first couple of sets,” Djokovic said. “The level of tennis wasn’t up to par from my side, but credit to Carlos for really playing some amazing tennis, very complete tennis, from the back of the court, serve, I mean, he had it all today.

The former world number one has an up-and-down relationship with the public.

This year’s Wimbledon was no different. As Djokovic stepped down to play the final against Carlos Alcaraz, a local fan took the spotlight with a playful jab at the 24-time Grand Slam champion.

A cheeky fan drew everyone’s attention by sporting a t-shirt that poked fun at Djokovic in a lighthearted manner, much to the amusement of the spectators.

Rather than taking offense, the Serbian tennis star responded with a grin, showcasing his appreciation for the fan’s enthusiasm and humor. The fan’s t-shirt humorously declared, “Have a goooooooood match,” a phrase that brought back memories of a recent on-court incident.

Djokovic vs. the crowd

Just days earlier, during his Wimbledon match against Holger Rune, Djokovic had a tense moment with the crowd. Believing they were jeering him and showing “disrespect” by elongating Rune’s name into “Rooooooooooon,” Djokovic felt slighted, interpreting it as booing.

After clinching the match, he sarcastically told the crowd, “Have a Goooood Night!” emphasizing his frustration. Despite the host’s attempts to explain that the audience was merely cheering for his opponent, Djokovic remained unconvinced.

“They were, they were. I don’t accept it. No, no, no. They were cheering for Rune, but they were also booing me. I have been playing on this tour for 20 years and I know how it works,” Djokovic asserted.

Aiming for a record-tying eighth Wimbledon men’s trophy, Djokovic has often had a tumultuous relationship with the crowd. Throughout his career, he has faced varying reactions from the public, sometimes hostile or indifferent, especially when pitted against more popular opponents. However, Djokovic has learned not to shy away from such situations.

Novak looked more relaxed

Following his quarter-final win against Australian ninth seed Alex de Minaur, Djokovic addressed the crowd’s reaction with a light-hearted attitude. He suggested that despite the tension, he was ready to move forward with a positive mindset. To the booing crowd, he cheerfully said, “To all those people that have chosen to disrespect the player – in this case me – have a goooooooood night.”