Carlos Alcaraz said he wanted another shot at Novak Djokovic and said it would make winning a Wimbledon championship more special. Well, Alcaraz got his chance to face Djokovic. And he beat him.Alcaraz put aside a poor start and surged down the stretch to end Djokovic's 34-match winning streak at the All England Club by edging him 1-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 in an engaging, back-and-forth final on Sunday, claiming his first championship at Wimbledon second Grand Slam trophy overall.The No. 1-ranked Alcaraz prevented Djokovic from what would have been a record-tying eighth title, and fifth in a row, at the grass-court tournament. Djokovic also was kept from claiming his 24th career major.Instead of Djokovic, a 36-year-old from Serbia, becoming the oldest male champion at Wimbledon in the Open era, Alcaraz, a 20-year-old from Spain, became the third-youngest. The age gap between the two was the widest in any men's Slam final since 1974.So Alcaraz had youth on his side, which he also did, of course, when they met at the French Open last month. That one was extraordinary for two sets before Alcaraz cramped up and faded. This time, he had the stamina and the strokes to get past Djokovic.Alcaraz is faster and capable of more power — serves topping 130 mph, forehands topping 100 mph — but Djokovic is equipped with an abundance of talents and so much muscle memory. He's been there, and done that, in ways Alcaraz, for now, can only dream of.But if this victory on a windy and cloudy day at Centre Court, where Djokovic last lost in the 2013 final, was any indication, Alcaraz is on his way to achieving quite a bit himself.Still, this is all relatively new to him: Djokovic's record 35th Grand Slam final was Alcaraz's second.Yet it was Alcaraz who won a 32-point, 25-minute mini-masterpiece of a game on the way to taking the third set. And it was Alcaraz who moved out front for good by breaking to go up 2-1 in the fifth with a backhand passing winner. Djokovic, who fell during the point but quickly popped back up, reacted by slamming his racket into the net post, letting go on impact. He destroyed his equipment and earned a code violation from chair umpire Fergus Murphy.They would play on for another 24 minutes, bringing the total to more than 4 1/2 hours, but Alcaraz never relented, never gave way. And it was Alcaraz, not Djokovic, receiving the trophy in the evening.

Rafael Nadal will have an opportunity to become the first man to win 21 grand slam singles titles.

Nadal will take on Daniil Medvedev in the finals of the Australian Open on Sunday.

Nadal earned a shot at the title after beating Mateo Berrettini in the semifinals. Medvedev, who won the U.S. Open in September, beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in the other semifinal.

Nadal and Medvedev have played four times. Nadal won three of those matches. However, Medvedev won their last meeting in 2020.

Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer all currently own 20 grand slam championships.

Djokovic and Federer did not participate in this year's Australian Open.

Djokovic, who is the No. 1 tennis player in the world, was kicked out of Australia for not being vaccinated against COVID-19.

Federer is recovering from knee surgery.

MELBOURNE, Australia —

Novak Djokovic won his first legal round against Australian authorities who want to deport him. But the world tennis No. 1 now faces a formidable challenge on Sunday in his second round as he takes on what some describe as the God-like powers of the immigration minister on questions of visas and public interest.

Djokovic won his court appeal this week against a border official's decision to cancel his visa. He won over procedural errors related to Australia's confusing COVID-19 vaccination regulations.

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke's intervention on Friday to cancel the visa a second time for what Djokovic's lawyers describe as "radically different" reasons pits Djokovic against Australian politics and the law.

What are the minister's powers?

Hawke has a "personal power" to cancel Djokovic's visa under Section 133C of the Migration Act 1958.

Hawke needed to be satisfied that Djokovic's presence in Australia "maybe, or would or might be, a risk to the health, safety or good order of the Australian community."

The minister also needed to be satisfied that ordering Djokovic's deportation would be in the "public interest," a term which has no legal definition.

Unlike the decision of a government underling, the "rules of natural justice do not apply" to a minister's decision. That means the minister did not have to tell Djokovic he was planning to deport him.

Hawke could have canceled Djokovic's visa in secret and then notified the Serbian tennis star days later that he had to go. Had the Australian Border Force come to detain Djokovic, they would legally have had to reveal only then that he had no visa.

Under Section 133F of the Act, Djokovic could have then requested the minister reverse his decision, but the only realistic option would have been to appeal it in court.

How does the minister exercise his power?

In Djokovic' s case, Australian government lawyers warned him that the minister was planning to intervene on Monday when a judge reinstated his visa. The star athlete's high profile might have encouraged the government to appear even handed.

Djokovic's lawyers provided evidence for why he was entitled to keep his visa and be allowed to defend his Australian Open title in the days before the minister acted.

While Hawke has sweeping discretion to define public interest in canceling a visa, he must also be thoughtful and detailed in his reasoning.

"These decisions aren't straightforward. There is case law which compels a minister when exercising this power personally to have active intellectual engagement with the materials and with the decision," immigration lawyer Kian Bone said.

"It's not something that he (Hawke) can have a one-liner saying: 'Dear Mr. Djokovic, your visa is canceled.' He can't have a bureaucrat or a staffer write a decision for him, look at it for two minutes and sign off on it," Bone added.

How do you overturn a minister's decision?

Because the minister's power is so broad and discretionary, grounds for appeal are potentially fewer than they are for a decision of a public servant acting on a minister's authority. But courts have overturned ministers' decisions in the past.

The immigration minister's powers are among the broadest provided under Australian law, said Greg Barns, a lawyer experienced in visa cases.

"One of the criticisms of this particular power is that it is so broad and it's effectively allowing the minister to play God with someone's life," Barns said.

"It's inevitable that political considerations would form part of the decision because that concept of public interest is so broad that it allows a minister to effectively take into account political considerations, even though theoretically that ought not be done," Barnes added.

Political considerations are heightened for Prime Minister Scott Morrison's conservative coalition with an election due by May at the latest.

Although Australia has one of the highest rates of COVID-19 vaccination in the world, the government is concerned by Djokovic's popularity among those who are opposed to vaccine mandates or skeptical of the vaccines' efficacy.

Djokovic's lawyers don't accept that those sentiments are a legitimate reason to deny the sporting star an attempt at a record 21 Grand Slam titles.

"The minister only considers the potential for exciting anti-vax sentiment in the event that he's present" at the Australian Open, Djokovic's lawyer Nick Wood told a court on Friday.

Hawke's reasons do not take into account the potential impact on those attitudes if Djokovic is forcibly removed, Wood said.

"The minister gives no consideration whatsoever to what effect that may have on anti-vax sentiment and indeed on public order," Wood said. "That seems patently irrational."

Novak Djokovic thanked his fans on social media Friday.

"Thank you to the people around the world for your continuous support," Djokovic said. "I can feel it and it's greatly appreciated."

Djokovic has been confined to an immigration detention hotel for days in Australia following a dispute over his visa.

He flew to the country after he said he received a medical exemption to play in the Australian Open. The tennis tournament requires players to be vaccinated for be approved for a medical exemption to enter the country and compete.

However, the Australian Border Force stopped Djokovic upon landing in the country. His visa was eventually canceled.

Djokovic has appealed the decision. A hearing over his visa is scheduled for Monday, a week before the grand slam tournament is scheduled to begin.

MELBOURNE, Australia —

Novak Djokovic's chance to play for a 10th Australian Open title was thrown into limbo early Thursday when the country denied him entry and canceled his visa because he failed to meet the requirements for an exemption to COVID-19 vaccination rules.

Related video above: Novak Djokovic shows off trophy after 2021 Australian Open win

The top-ranked Djokovic landed in Australia late Wednesday after receiving a medical exemption from the Victoria state government that would shield him from the strict vaccination rules in place for this year's first major tennis tournament, which begins Jan. 17.

But border authorities did not accept the exemption. The Australian Border Force issued a statement saying Djokovic failed to meet entry requirements.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the visa cancellation followed a review of Djokovic's medical exemption by border officials who looked "at the integrity and the evidence behind it."

The president of Djokovic's native Serbia blasted the "harassment" of the star, who was detained overnight at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport. The 20-time major winner had to wait more than eight hours at the airport to find out if he would be allowed into the country.

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison said nobody was above the rules.

"Mr. Djokovic's visa has been canceled. Rules are rules, especially when it comes to our borders," Morrison posted on Twitter. "No one is above these rules. Our strong border policies have been critical to Australia having one of the lowest death rates in the world from COVID, we are continuing to be vigilant."

Hunt said Djokovic was free to appeal the decision. "But if a visa is canceled, somebody will have to leave the country."

Australian media reported that Djokovic's team applied for the wrong type of visa.

The medical exemption had been designed to allow Djokovic to play in the Australian Open, regardless of his vaccination status for COVID-19. He has spoken out against vaccines in the past and has steadfastly refused to acknowledge whether he received any shots against the coronavirus.

Djokovic's father, Srdjan Djokovic, told the B92 internet portal that his son was held at the airport "in a room which no one can enter" and guarded by two police officers.

Djokovic's participation in the Australian Open has been a hot political topic, with many Australians furious that he was granted an exemption to enter the country.

Meanwhile, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Instagram that he spoke to Djokovic while he was being held at the airport. He said Serbian authorities were taking measures "so the harassment of the best tennis player in the world be stopped in the shortest possible time."

Speculation of a possible issue with the visa emerged while Djokovic was in transit and escalated with mixed messages from federal and state lawmakers.

Djokovic's revelation on social media that he was heading to Australia seeking a record 21st major title sparked debate, with critics questioning what grounds he could have for the exemption and backers arguing that he has a right to privacy and freedom of choice.

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley defended the "completely legitimate application and process" and insisted there was no special treatment for Djokovic.

The Victoria state government mandated that only fully vaccinated players, staff, fans and officials could enter Melbourne Park when the tournament begins.

Only 26 people connected with the tournament applied for a medical exemption and, Tiley said, only a "handful" were granted.

Among the acceptable reasons for an exemption are acute major medical conditions, serious adverse reaction to a previous dose of COVID-19 vaccine or evidence of a COVID-19 infection within the previous six months.

Djokovic tested positive for the coronavirus in June 2020 after he played in a series of exhibition matches that he organized in Serbia and Croatia without social distancing amid the pandemic.

Concerns about Djokovic's visa status took a while to circulate.

Morrison initially said the medical exemption decision was a matter for the government of Victoria, where Melbourne is the state capital.

"They have provided (Djokovic) with an exemption to come to Australia, and so we then act in accordance with that," Morrison said. "States provide exemptions for people to enter on those basis, and that's been happening for the last two years."

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews then clarified the border process.

"While the Victorian government and Tennis Australia may permit a non-vaccinated player to compete in the Australian Open, it is the Commonwealth government that will enforce our requirements at the Australian border," Andrews said. "If an arriving individual is not vaccinated, they must provide acceptable proof that they cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons to be able to access the same travel arrangement as fully vaccinated travelers."

When asked again about Djokovic's case later Wednesday, Morrison added: "If that evidence is insufficient, then he won't be treated any different to anyone else and he'll be on the next plane home."

___

Associated Press Writer Dusan Stojanovic in Belgrade, Serbia, contributed to this report.

Related video above: Five iconic Wimbledon moments of the last decade

There will be no Golden Slam for Novak Djokovic.

The top-ranked Serb lost to Alexander Zverev of Germany 1-6, 3-6, 6-1 Friday in the semifinals of the tennis tournament at the Tokyo Olympics.

Djokovic was attempting to become the first man to win all four Grand Slam tournaments and Olympic gold in the same year. He won the Australian Open, the French Open and Wimbledon this year and needed the Olympic and U.S. Open titles to complete the collection.

Steffi Graf in 1988 remains the only tennis player to achieve the Golden Slam.

"He won 20 Grand Slams," Zverev said. "So you can’t have everything."

Zverev’s opponent in the gold-medal match will be Karen Khachanov. The Russian beat Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain 6-3, 6-3.

Djokovic, who hadn’t lost since getting beaten by Rafael Nadal at the Italian Open final 2½ months ago, will play Carreno Busta for bronze.

On a humid and muggy evening at the Ariake Tennis Park, Djokovic committed a series of uncharacteristic errors after a strong start as the 6-foot-6 Zverev started to win free points with his big serve.

When Zverev hit a backhand winner down the line that Djokovic didn’t move for to close it out, Djokovic walked to the net where he was embraced by Zverev. Djokovic responded by resting his head on Zverev’s shoulder as the pair exchanged some words.

"I told him that he’s the greatest of all time," Zverev said. "I know that he was chasing history, he was chasing (the) Golden Slam. ... We’re very close. ... So of course I’m happy that I’ve won, but in the end of the day I also know (how) he feels."

Djokovic’s only Olympic medal was bronze in singles at the 2008 Beijing Games — his first. He could still win a gold at the Tokyo Games in mixed doubles.

Djokovic was due back on the court almost immediately to play with Serbian partner Nina Stojanovic in the mixed doubles semifinals against the Russian duo of Elena Vesnina and Aslan Karatsev.

It's the third consecutive day that Djokovic was playing two matches.

Viktor Troicki, Serbia's Olympic team coach, told The Associated Press on Thursday that the entire team was against Djokovic playing mixed doubles because they didn't want the event to tire him out with so much on the line in singles.

Without Djokovic, the gold-medal match will be lacking star power.

Zverev's best career result was reaching the final of last year's U.S. Open, while the 25th-ranked Khachanov is coming off a quarterfinal appearance at Wimbledon and is now in the biggest final of his career.

Later, there’s an all-Croatian gold-medal match in men’s doubles featuring the top-seeded pair of Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic against Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig.

The first medal of the tennis competition went to the New Zealand team of Marcus Daniell and Michael Venus, who took bronze in men’s doubles by beating Austin Krajicek and Tennys Sandgren of the United States 7-6 (3), 6-2.

Daniell and Venus became the first New Zealand players to win a medal in tennis since 1912, when Anthony Wilding took bronze in singles while representing Australasia. Wilding, New Zealand’s only Grand Slam singles champion with six titles, was killed during World War I in 1915 at the age of 31.

TOKYO —

Related video above: Novak Djokovic shows off trophy after Australian Open win

Novak Djokovic’s bid for a "Golden Slam" is alive and well following a routine 6-2, 6-2 win over 139th-ranked Hugo Dellien of Bolivia in the opening round of the Tokyo tennis tournament.

The Tokyo Games mark Djokovic’s fourth consecutive Olympic appearance. He lost in an upset during the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio to Juan Martin Del Potro in the first round of the tournament.

The top-ranked Serb is attempting to become the first man to win all four major tennis tournaments and an Olympic singles gold medal in the same year. He's already won the French Open, Australian Open and Wimbledon this year. He still needs to take gold in the Olympics and win in the U.S. Open later this summer to complete the Golden Slam.

Steffi Graf was the only tennis player to accomplish the Golden Slam in 1988.

Djokovic’s next opponent will be 48th-ranked Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany.

Struff eliminated Thiago Monteiro of Brazil 6-3, 6-4.