The final time Carlos Alcaraz confronted Novak Djokovic he was so frightened he changed into a nervous wreck and ended up struggling debilitating cramps that cruelly crushed his French Open desires in entrance of a world viewers.
What a distinction 5 weeks could make.
Up in opposition to the identical opponent, who had not misplaced at Wimbledon since 2016, Alcaraz was staring into an abyss as Djokovic roared to a 5-0 opening-set lead in Sunday’s All England Club ultimate.
But not like at Roland Garros, Alcaraz had come into the Wimbledon showpiece armed with a psychological perception that he belongs among the many elite.
That confidence carried him by a close to five-hour roller-coaster on Sunday as he lastly ended Djokovic’s reign to usher in a brand new period at Wimbledon.
“I did it for myself, not for tennis generation. It was great,” the 20-year-old stated after subjecting 23-time main champion Djokovic to his first Centre Court defeat in a decade with a 1-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-1 3-6 6-4 victory.
“Beating Novak at his best, in this stage, making history, being the guy to beat him after 10 years unbeaten on that court, is amazing for me.
“It’s nice for the brand new technology, as nicely, to see me beating him and making them assume that they’re succesful to do it as nicely.”
For more than a decade, a number of talented ‘next gen’ players had been hyped to break the Djokovic-Rafael Nadal-Roger Federer hold on men’s tennis.
All that talk amounted to little as the big three maintained their vice-like grip on the slams, having won 65 majors between them dating back to Federer’s first Wimbledon triumph in 2003.
Against that backdrop, Alcaraz managed to prove he was the real deal when he won his first major at last year’s US Open and then ascended to the top of the ATP rankings.
But as he did not have to face either Djokovic or Nadal during that run, question marks remained about how he would go up against the all-time greats in a best-of-five-sets showdown.
If the French Open clash with Djokovic raised some doubts about his mental fortitude, the world No.1 proved on Sunday he is a very quick learner.
“I’m a completely totally different participant than on the French Open,” said Alcaraz, who became the youngest Wimbledon champion since 18-year-old Boris Becker won the title in 1986.
“I grew up so much since that second. I discovered so much from that second.
“I didn’t get down, I didn’t give up. I fought until the last ball.”
While Alcaraz celebrated turning into the primary man apart from Federer, Djokovic, Nadal and Andy Murray to win Wimbledon since 2002, the triumph took on further significance as he did it by beating the participant who has gained a document variety of males’s slams.
“Beating Novak, winning the Wimbledon championship is something that I dreamed about since I started playing tennis,” he stated.
“It’s the happiest moment of my life.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
