Oliver Tarvet’s Wimbledon dream was left crushed at Wimbledon thanks to defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. The British wildcard put up a brave performance, but found himself outclassed to lose 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 in straight sets.
Tarvet had walked onto court knowing he had nothing to lose – and a life-changing moment to gain. This was the time where a dream came true.
Strolling onto Centre Court to take on the two-time champion in front of 15,000 people. His heart must have been going ten to the dozen. But he started like a man possessed, earning three break points during Alcaraz’s opening service game – the first of the match.
But Alcaraz saved them all. Then went on to break Tarvet in the next game.
Alcaraz charged into a 3-0 lead, but Tarvet let out a huge cheer when he opened his account in the fourth game.
He got two more break points in the next, but blew them both. He’d wasted five in total, and Alvarez made him pay by taking the first set 6-1.
But not before Tarvet had made him earn it, winning two incredible rallies with a show of speed even Alcaraz was impressed with.
Tarvet was far from done though, and finally broke Alcaraz in the second game of the second set to go 2-0 up. But it was tantamount to poking a lion with a red hot poker.
Alcaraz hit straight back, winning six of the next eight games to take the second set 6-4.
If the challenge hadn’t been massive enough to begin with, it was nigh-on impossible now. And the emotional energy the 21-year-old had invested in the first two sets, appeared to have left him spent.
He continued to huff and puff, doing his best to stay in the match, and even broke Alcaraz in the sixth game of the third set. But Alcaraz broke straight back when he needed to, leaving the outcome inevitable.
The rivals embraced at the net and even shared a joke. Tarvet then headed for the locker room, but not before stopping to sign some autographs for his new legion of fans.
A sure indication of how life has now changed for someone few people had even heard of before these Championships began.
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