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He is only 20 years old, and he has already got two major championships to his name. In September last year Carlos Alcaraz won the US Open and became the world No.1. On a blustery day on the Centre Court of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, better known to everyone as Wimbledon, Carlos Alcaraz became champion for the first time and retained the world No.1 ranking.
In an outstanding final Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic in four hours 42 minutes 1-6, 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 and in doing so also denied Djokovic a number of records he was chasing.
"Well, feels great. It's a dream come true for me, being a Wimbledon champion, something that I really wanted," Alcaraz said. "Honestly, I didn't expect to get it really soon. Yeah, it's time to enjoy and share everything, all my feelings. Yeah, as I said, it's a dream.
"Right now, yeah, is the happiest moment of my life, that's for sure. Probably in five years will change. Right now, I'm 20, I didn't live too many situations like this, so I'm going to enjoy this moment.
"Making history that I did today, it's, yeah, the happiest moment of my life. I think it's not going to change for a long time. Yeah, like beating Novak, winning Wimbledon championship is something that I dream about since I start to playing tennis. That's why is the biggest moment of my life."
The tennis produced by both men was of the highest calibre. The turns and twists were phenomenal. The returns played by Alcaraz and Djokovic sizzled and Alcaraz was able to combine deft drop shots that almost always out played Djokovic to some of the most incredible passing shots that at times could have left skid marks on the grass court.
Djokovic said that the second was the crucial part of the match and it was a point that Alcaraz agreed with. The Spaniard said that if he had lost the second set in which he saved a set point in the tiebreak, he would not have been holding the trophy. The mental side was very impressive from the 20-year-old; such maturity.
"I think 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. I think he's got basically best of all three worlds," Djokovic said.
"He's got this mental resilience and really maturity for someone who is 20 years old. It's quite impressive. He's got this Spanish bull mentality of competitiveness and fighting spirit and incredible defence that we've seen with Rafa over the years. And I think he's got some nice sliding backhands that he's got some similarities with my backhands. Yeah, two-handed backhands, defence, being able to adapt. I think that has been my personal strength for many years. He has it, too.
"I haven't played a player like him ever, to be honest. Roger and Rafa have their own obviously strengths and weaknesses. Carlos is very complete player. Amazing adapting capabilities that I think are a key for longevity and for successful career on all surfaces.
"I must say the slices, the kind of chipping returns, the net play, it's very impressive. I didn't expect him to play so well this year on grass, but he's proven that he's the best player in the world, no doubt. "He's playing some fantastic tennis on different surfaces and he deserves to be where he is."
Alcaraz is the third youngest man to win the title in the open ear joining Bjorn Borg and Boris Becker and he is the third Spanish man to win Wimbledon joining the late Manuel Santana and Rafa Nadal who last won in 2010.
"It's big moment not just for me, but for my family, for all the people around me. It's really, really special moment," Alcaraz said. "I start playing tennis thanks my dad. Really huge fan of tennis. I mean, he was watching tennis before I was born. It's crazy. His whole life, it's about tennis.
"I think for them, watching his kid making history, lifting the trophy, winning Wimbledon, is something incredible for them. For me to have them there, giving them a big hug, it's something that I will never forget. I hope to have a photo from that moment 'cause I'm going to keep forever."
As for Djokovic, Alcaraz denied him from equalling Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 majors, from equalling Roger Federer's record of eight Wimbledons and stopped him from joining Borg and Federer as the only ones in the open era to win five consecutive Wimbledons.
The doubles title was won by Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski, they defeated Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos 6-4, 6-4.
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