Wimbledon champion Alcaraz not convinced tennis has entered new era

Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz does not believe his convincing final victory over Novak Djokovic marks the start of a new era for tennis.

Alcaraz clinched his second Wimbledon title – and his fourth at grand slams overall – in mesmerising fashion on Sunday, thrashing seven-time champion Djokovic in straight sets.

The Spaniard needed just 73 minutes to take the first two sets before being pushed closer in the third, ultimately winning 6-2 6-2 7-6 (7-4).

Djokovic – who turned 37 in May – could now go a full calendar year without a major title for just the second time since 2010, and the first since 2017.

Alcaraz, meanwhile, is the third-youngest man to win back-to-back Wimbledon titles in the Open Era (21 years, 70 days), older only than Boris Becker (18 years, 227 days, 1985-86) and Bjorn Borg (21 years, 26 days, 1976-77).

However, asked by Spanish publication AS whether he was the figurehead of a new era for the sport, Alcaraz said: “I don’t really feel that way.

“I’ve seen a lot of people who have said it’s a generational change, a new era, a changing of the guard after Sunday’s match, but in the end I don’t see it that way.

“We try to work as hard as possible to put Djokovic in trouble, to try to be there as many times as we can, but I don’t feel that there is a change of era, a generational change or a changing of the guard, not at the moment.”

18 – Only Rod Laver (19) has registered more wins from his first 20 matches in Men’s Singles at Wimbledon than Carlos Alcaraz (18/20) during the Open Era. Epic. #Wimbledon | @Wimbledon @atptour @ATPMediaInfo pic.twitter.com/BYvPJIVE2F

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) July 14, 2024

Sunday was a great day for Spanish sport as Luis de la Fuente’s football team beat England 2-1 in the Euro 2024 final, with substitute Mikel Oyarzabal netting the winner.

Alcaraz believes the performances of 17-year-old Lamine Yamal and 22-year-old Nico Williams point to a bright future for football, and sport in general, in Spain.

“When I finished my game I had a message from [Alvaro] Morata, who is the one I talk to the most, the one I get along with the best,” he revealed.

“One of the first people I called in the dressing room was him, who was walking to the stadium before playing the final. I wished him all the luck in the world.

“Lamine, Nico are 17, 22-year-old boys, who have made the difference in this European Championship. It was the first time they played with the national team.

“They have done it in an incredible way. It’s great to see new players in Spain who fight like them, who give their all for the flag, for the country.

“I think it’s wonderful to have a national team and young athletes who are pointing the way, who are going up. Hopefully we will have many years of enjoyment.”