Wimbledon final today: Novak Djokovic faces Carlos Alcaraz as Alfie Hewett goes for title

*Tokito Oda 5-4 Alfie Hewett

Danger! A double fault from Hewett, who may be feeling the pressure of this Oda onslaught, gives his opponent two break points but Hewett lands a perfect second serve in the next rally to take the point.

Deuce! Oda goes after a forehand down the line but finds the tape and his chances to break go begging. Can Hewett hold serve now?

Hewett has the opportunity to close out the game but two fabulous backhands down the line from Oda completely turn the game around again.

At break point, Hewett double faults leaving Oda with the chance to serve out for the set.

Tokito Oda 4-4 Alfie Hewett*

Hewett knows he’s in a contest now. He’s trying to get the crowd going as he gets on the board against Oda’s serve. The Japanese manage to move ahead in the game but a wonderful return of serve from Hewett sends the ball out wide and forces Oda into the net. 30-30.

Oda doesn’t let Hewett back in and takes his third in a row to bring the first set back on serve!

Novak Djokovic might be as well-known for his off-court controversies as his tennis brilliance. The case of his detention and deportation from Australia drew worldwide attention and sparked anger in his homeland, Serbia. His father, Srdjan, remained adamant that Djokovic was “the Spartacus of the new world” and that “he is like water, and water paves its path”.

His father’s reaction may be indicative, but Djokovic’s unorthodox worldview and skepticism of societal norms have been advertised, and self-promoted, for several years. After all, it was in his book, Serve to Win, that he detailed the moment his transformative gluten-free diet began in 2010 when he self-diagnosed a celiac allergy by pressing a slice of bread against his abdomen.

The true depth of Djokovic’s belief in alternative treatments was epitomized by his vehement opposition to undergoing surgery in 2017. Despite struggling with a near-intolerable pain in his elbow, which led to Djokovic failing to reach a grand slam semi-final in a calendar year for the first time in over a decade, he was insistent that a cure could be found through holistic medicine. When he eventually succumbed in February 2018, Djokovic claimed he cried for three days after waking up from the operation. “Every time I thought about what I did, I felt like I had failed myself,” he said. He has won eight of the 14 grand slams that have been played since.

*Tokito Oda 3-4 Alfie Hewett

Oda halts Hewett’s momentum with a controlled and competent hold of serve to get himself back in the set.

The next game is a big one for Alfie Hewett. He needs to hold to maintain his break but he’s being bullied around the court by the 17-year-old. Oda sweeps to a 0-40 lead and sets up three break points.

Hewett saves the first one but then smokes a forehand over the back and Oda has his break back. That could be a massive moment in this first set.

*Tokito Oda 1-4 Alfie Hewett

Despite going 0-15 down, Hewett holds his nerve and lands some brilliant serves to give himself control of the game. A forehand winner lands just inside the baseline before flying wide of Oda and Hewett completes the break.

He leads by three games now in the first set.

Tokito Oda 1-3 Alfie Hewett*

Is the door ajar for Hewett?

The Brit moves to 0-30 against Oda’s serve and puts a bit of pressure on the 17-year-old. In response, Oda shifts to the left side of the court and nails a forehand down the line to take the next point.

Hewett returns the next serve beautifully. He drives a backhand down the track to leave Oda no chance of reaching the ball and sets up two break points.

Oda saves the first with a superb serve. The Japanese player then double faults and Hewett has the first break!

The final features the widest age gap between two men’s grand slam finalists in 48 years, and the young Spaniard is faced with the toughest challenge in tennis; Djokovic has won 34 consecutive matches at Wimbledon, he has not lost at the tournament since 2017, and not on Centre Court since 2013.

Having won the US Open final last year to claim his first major title at the age of just 19, Alcaraz now stands on the precipice of a victory that would truly announce the Spaniard as the next great player in the sport.

*Tokito Oda 1-2 Alfie Hewett

Great hold from Alfie Hewett. He was in a slight bit of trouble at 15-30 down but some wonderful serves, pacey and accurate, help him retake the lead in the first set.

He rattles off three points in a row to hold serve.

Tokito Oda 1-1 Alfie Hewett*

Alfie Hewett gets lucky after clipping the tape and getting the ball onto Oda’s side of the court. The Japanese youngster manages to flick it back but then volleys Hewett’s return out of play to leave the Brit with a breakpoint.

Oda responds well and works Hewett over to the right side of the court before switching the play and beating the outstretched arm of the British No. 1.

This game goes to deuce too and, just like the first game, Oda manages to hold. This match looks to be developing into a fine contest.

*Tokito Oda 0-1 Alfie Hewett

Over on Court 1, the men’s wheelchair singles final is underway with Britain’s Alfie Hewett serving first against Tokito Oda. The two men trade blows over the first two rallies and each wins a point.

Hewett is then forced deep behind the baseline and whips a forehand return over the back. Oda does the same from the next serve and the game is all square once again.

A cross-court backhand from Hewett sets Oda up with an earlier break point but Hewett saves it thanks to a lovely sliced backhand to the far corner.

From deuce, both players have their chances to take the opening game but Hewett is the one to get over the line. The Brit moves ahead in the first set.