The Ultimate "Me, Federer, Nadal" Praise From Novak Djokovic For Wimbledon Winner Carlos Alcaraz
After four hours and 42 minutes on Centre Court, world number one Alcaraz triumphed 1-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 after losing the first set and saving a set point in the second.
On Sunday, Carlos Alcaraz overcame seven-time champion Novak Djokovic to win his first Wimbledon championship, ending the Serbian's hopes of capturing a Grand Slam record-tying 24th victory. After spending four hours and forty-two minutes on Centre Court, world number one Alcaraz overcame losing the first set and saving a set point in the second to triumph 1-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4. The 20-year-old Spaniard won his second major after winning the US Open last year, becoming the third-youngest male winner at Wimbledon.
The outcome will also lead to hysterical conjecture about the beginning of a generational change, with 36-year-old Djokovic taking up the 'Big Three' mantle now that Roger Federer is gone and Rafael Nadal is perhaps out of commission for good.
Djokovic, who won the Australian Open and the French Open, was aiming to surpass Margaret Court's record of 24 Slams, tie Roger Federer's record of eight Wimbledon victories, and become the All England Club's oldest male champion.
Alcaraz was still three months away from becoming five years old when he captured his first major title at the Australian Open in 2008.
Alcaraz said Djokovic, "You inspire me a lot," after becoming the third Spanish champion to win the tournament, following Manuel Santana in 1966 and Rafael Nadal in 2008 and 2010.
"I began playing tennis after seeing you. You've been winning competitions ever since I was born. It is unbelievable," he said, grinning, after dispatching the Serb with 66 victories to cancel off his 45 unforced mistakes.
"Grass is making me swoon right now. It's incredible.
Nadal congratulated Alcaraz on Twitter, encouraging him to "enjoy the moment" and thanking him for bringing "immense joy" to Spanish tennis.
Djokovic was competing in his ninth Wimbledon final and 35th major final, while Alcaraz was competing in just his second Slam final after winning the US Open.
"What a quality at the end of the match when you had to serve it out," said Djokovic, who was vying for his sixth straight Wimbledon victory.
"You deserve it," someone said, "since you came up with some huge plays in the big circumstance. Amazing.
As for me, you never like to lose matches like this, but I suppose I'll have to be extremely appreciative when all the emotions have passed.
The Serb entered the Wimbledon final with a 34-match winning run and has not dropped a set on Centre Court since losing the 2013 championship match to Andy Murray.
Alcaraz struggled to relax in the first set and allowed a break point to slip away in the seven-minute opening game. Alcaraz had been plagued by abdominal cramps during his loss to Djokovic in the French Open semi-final in June.
Golden opportunity: Djokovic pounced on it and quickly raced into a 5-0 lead on the strength of a double break before the Spaniard registered.
It was too late; Djokovic had already won the first set with a smash.
But in the second set, Alcaraz broke to take a 2-1 lead and ultimately broke free.
In the next game, Djokovic immediately answered. Then, in the fourth game, he saved a break point and won after a 29-shot rally.
Before a set point was saved in the tie-break, the Serb received a time violation.
When Alcaraz created and won a set point to tie the match with a backhand winner, he didn't require a second invitation.
As Djokovic's streak of 15 straight major championship tie-break victories came to an end, the marathon set had gone 85 minutes.
Alcaraz broke in the third set's first game and again after a grueling 26-minute fifth game that stretched to 13 deuces and saw Djokovic repel six break points before finally giving up on the seventh.
Alcaraz followed it up with a lightning-quick service game that, by contrast, took only two minutes, broke again against the defeated reigning champion, and extended his lead to two sets to one.
As a result of Alcaraz's ninth double fault of the championship match, Djokovic broke twice in the fourth set to tie the match.
However, Djokovic blew a crucial opportunity to break for 2-0 in the decisive set with a careless smash, and Alcaraz made up for it by breaking for 2-1.
Before he fell behind 3-1, a disgruntled Djokovic received another penalty violation for smashing his racket into the net post.
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Alcaraz was unstoppable and won the match famously when Djokovic's forehand sailed into the net.