Carlos Alcaraz is determined to quash any suggestions that his epic Wimbledon final win over Novak Djokovic represents the dawn of a new era despite all indications that tennis has witnessed a generational shift.
On Sunday, the 20-year-old became the tournament’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 becoming its oldest champion.
It also thwarted Djokovic’s dream of equalling Roger Federer’s best of eight titles at the All England Club and matching Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles.
Alcaraz though is remaining cautious. I don’t feel that I have confirmed something that we all expected,” said the world number one. 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 at the US Open last year, Alcaraz became the youngest champion of a men’s major since his storied compatriot Rafael Nadal at the 2005 French Open.
He was also the youngest man to ascend to the world number one ranking Alcaraz is now just the fifth man in the modern era to win multiple titles at the majors before turning 21 after Mats Wilander, Bjorn Borg, Becker and Rafael Nadal.
Of the 26 Grand Slams played since the start of 2017, the “Big Three” of Djokovic, Federer and Nadal have gobbled up 22. Alcaraz is now the only other player with more than one major in that time span.
The remaining titles went to Dominic Thiem in the 2020 US Open, following Djokovic’s infamous default earlier in the tournament, and Daniil Medvedev’s 2021 New York breakthrough where Djokovic was crippled by the pressure of playing for a rare calendar Grand Slam.
Source: eNCA
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