(Provided by Tennis World USA)
Novak Djokovic has lost a tie break at Majors! Novak dropped the second set of the Wimbledon final against Carlos Alcaraz 8-6 in the tie break, ending his record-breaking streak after winning the previous 15 since the Australian Open.
Djokovic lost the second set tie break versus Enzo Couacaud in Melbourne before embracing an incredible run, becoming the first player with 15 consecutive tie breaks won at Majors in a single season. The Serb was a player to beat in the breakers until the Wimbledon final, squandering a 3-0 advantage and allowing Alcaraz to fend off a set point and clinch it 8-6.
Novak won a tie break against Grigor Dimitrov in the Australian Open third round before adding two more in the title clash versus Stefanos Tsitsipas, playing his best tennis when it mattered the most. Djokovic claimed his third Roland Garros crown in June, overcoming difficult moments and clinching all six tie breaks!
Novak Djokovic claimed 15 consecutive tie breaks at Majors this year.
Djokovic won the first against Aleksandar Kovacevic 7-1 and needed one in the next match versus Marton Fucsovics. The set lasted almost an hour and a half, and the Serb claimed it 7-2 to gain a boost and storm over his opponent in sets two and three.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina pushed Djokovic to the limits in the third round, with the opening two sets lasting two hours and 47 minutes. Novak claimed them in tie break 7-4 and 7-5, building the advantage and sealing the deal in the third.
Djokovic failed to break Karen Khachanov in the opening two sets in the quarter-final, losing the opener and feeling pressure in the second. However, it went into a tie break and Novak won it 7-0 with picture-perfect tennis that gave him a boost.
Djokovic played a tie break in the final versus Casper Ruud, winning it 7-1 to kick off the match strongly.After winning six tie breaks at Roland Garros, Novak did the same at Wimbledon to advance into the final. Pedro Cachin, Jordan Thompson and Stan Wawrinka could not overpower Novak in the crucial moments, and Hubert Hurkacz fell in two tie breaks 8-6 after a massive battle.
Novak won another against Jannik Sinner in the semi-final, adding 15 consecutive tie breaks to his tally before Alcaraz ended the streak in the final. Djokovic led 3-0 before losing five of the next six points. Novak leveled the score at 5-5 after Carlos’ volley error and earned a set point with a backhand winner.
Djokovic squandered it with a loose backhand and netted another to fall 7-6 behind. Alcaraz seized a set point with a backhand return winner to level the overall score at 1-1 after an hour and 59 minutes.
