“I still can’t believe it,” shares the world No. 1 more than a week after edging Novak Djokovic for the coveted title
The title of Wimbledon champion has yet to sink in with Carlos Alcaraz more than a week after his captivating triumph at the All England Club - and the 20-year-old doesn’t anticipate that changing any time soon.
Coming off an extraordinary five-set win over Novak Djokovic, the world No. 1 honored his commitment to represent Spain at last weekend’s revamped Hopman Cup in Nice, France. Alcaraz - sporting a fresh cut - seamlessly made the switch back to clay to win both of his singles matches over David Goffin and Borna Coric in decisive 10-point tie-breaks, all while trying to process what he recently pulled off on Centre Court.
“I have to wait and think about it for a while, because it’s going to be difficult to realize that I won Wimbledon. Such a great tournament,” he tells Tennis Channel International. “It was my dream. So right now, I still can’t believe it.”
In between the pair of events, Alcaraz made the most of a quick trip home to celebrate his grand accomplishment with family. While conversations didn’t involve much about his fortnight in London, Carlos Sr. paid homage to his son’s feat by putting on a replay of the championship match over a relaxing lunch.
“You have to be surrounded by great people. I’m a lucky guy to have such a great team. I’m going to say the best team in the tour right now,” Alcaraz says. “But also my family, my friends are nice persons. For me, it’s really, really important. As I said, doing great in tennis because of the people that I have around.”
In June, Alcaraz’s body broke down when he met Djokovic in the Roland Garros semifinals. Five weeks later, it more than held up under intense pressure against the Serbian, who had won 34 successive matches at SW19 going into their first grass-court battle.
Handing Djokovic his first defeat on Centre Court in more than 10 years is a fact that’s “tough” for Alcaraz to comprehend, as was the insightful commentary the 23-time major champion had to say about the Spaniard afterwards.
“I haven’t played a player like him ever, to be honest,” asserted Djokovic to press. “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.”
“Crazy” was the first word Alcaraz used when reacting to Djokovic’s declaration. He adds, “Novak has played epic matches, epic finals against Rafa, Roger and the legends from our sport. He told us that he has not played against a player like me, something that is difficult to realize.”
Djokovic had also weighed in on the description of Alcaraz’s game, stating that the El Palmar native has “basically best of all three worlds”-a reference to his younger peer retaining elements of each Big 3 member.
Alcaraz has often spoken about creating his own identity and simply being Carlitos, though acknowledges the influences of Djokovic, Federer and Nadal on his tennis development are undeniable.
“When you’re a kid, you want to be these guys, taking the best from everyone. But once you’re grown up, you just focus on yourself, on your path,” he says. “It’s great to step into the court and show a little bit of everything. That’s my style that probably suits very well from the big guys.
“I just tried to be myself. But probably, I’m a little bit of everyone.” Keep doing you, Wimbledon champ. For it’s proven to make your dreams come to life. –Tennis.com