Carlos Alcaraz is set to quash any options that his epic Wimbledon final win over Novak Djokovic represents the daybreak of a brand new period regardless of all indications that tennis has witnessed a generational shift.
On Sunday, the 20-year-old grew to become the match’s youngest champion since Boris Becker in 1986.
His rollercoaster 1-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 victory prevented 36-year-old Djokovic from turning into its oldest champion.
It additionally thwarted Djokovic’s dream of equalling Roger Federer’s better of eight titles on the All England Club and matching Margaret Court’s document of 24 Grand Slam titles.
Alcaraz although is remaining cautious.
“I don’t feel that I have confirmed something that we all expected,” mentioned the world primary.
“I try to avoid what people say, what people expect because in the end it’s a pressure that I put on myself.”
When he claimed a maiden Slam on the U.S. Open final 12 months, Alcaraz grew to become the youngest champion of a males’s main since his storied compatriot Rafael Nadal on the 2005 French Open.
He was additionally the youngest man to ascend to the world primary rating.
Alcaraz is now simply the fifth man within the trendy period to win a number of titles on the majors earlier than turning 21 after Mats Wilander, Bjorn Borg, Becker and Rafael Nadal.
Of the 26 Grand Slams performed because the begin of 2017, the “Big Three” of Djokovic, Federer and Nadal have wolfed up 22.
Alcaraz is now the one different participant with a couple of main in that point span.
The remaining titles went to Dominic Thiem within the 2020 U.S. Open, following Djokovic’s notorious default earlier within the match, and Daniil Medvedev’s 2021 New York breakthrough the place Djokovic was crippled by the strain of taking part in for a uncommon calendar Grand Slam.
Alcaraz can even boast a optimistic document towards all of his high 10 rivals.
Against each Djokovic and Medvedev, he’s now 2-1, has a convincing 5-0 stranglehold on Stefanos Tsitsipas and is 3-0 towards Casper Ruud.
He additionally has crushed fellow 20-year-old Holger Rune over three matches, together with a straight-sets blitz within the Wimbledon quarter-finals.
Alcaraz is 3-3 with 21-year-old Jannik Sinner however has received two of the pair’s final three, considered one of which was a five-set victory within the U.S. Open quarter-finals in 2022.
Djokovic believes the younger Spaniard has efficiently harnessed parts from his sport in addition to these of Federer and Nadal.
“I think he’s got basically the best of all three worlds,” mentioned Djokovic who hadn’t misplaced on Centre Court since 2013 till Sunday.
“People have been talking in the past 12 months or so about his game consisting of certain elements from Roger, Rafa, and myself. I would agree with that.”
When Djokovic received his first main on the Australian Open in 2008, Alcaraz was nonetheless three months shy of his fifth birthday.
“I haven’t played a player like him ever, to be honest. Roger and Rafa have their own obviously strengths and weaknesses. Carlos is a very complete player,” added Djokovic.
Sunday’s victory got here simply weeks after Alcaraz suffered physique cramping introduced on by the strain of taking part in Djokovic within the French Open semi-finals.
Alcaraz mentioned he had “grown up” since that horror present in Paris final month.
“It’s great for the new generation to see me beating him and make them think they are capable of doing it as well,” mentioned Alcaraz.
With Federer already retired and 37-year-old Nadal sitting out the remainder of the 12 months, possibly by no means to return, all eyes will likely be on Alcaraz whose coach Juan Carlos Ferrero as soon as predicted may win 30 Grand Slams.
“Who’s going to match this kid for the next few years?” 1987 Wimbledon champion Pat Cash instructed the BBC.
“It’s hard to see anybody.”