On Sunday, Carlos Alcaraz scripted history by besting the world no.2 Novak Djokovic in a pulsating five-set encounter in the Wimbledon Championships. After the lop-sided first set, everyone thought it would be Djokovic who would cruise to the finish line, but at the end of it all, it was Alcaraz who showed sheer determination to overcome the Serbian tennis great. In the post-match press conference, the newly crowned Wimbledon champ opened up about the claims of a ‘change of guard’ in men’s tennis.
As expected, Alcaraz was visibly jubilant at the post-match press conference. He was asked an array of questions by journalists amongst which one of them was if this win was the changing of the generation or the changing of the guard. As always, Alcaraz was candid and honest in his answer and said that it was not for the change of generation.
Carlos Alcaraz rubbishes claims of a change of era while revealing a selfish reason
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One of the journalists asked Alcaraz if this win signals the advent of the next generation. Alcaraz replied, “I did it for myself, not for the change of generation”.?He downplayed every suggestion that the torch was being passed on from Djokovic to the next generation.
But at the same time, he said that the other young players in the locker room can gain inspiration from this victory.
Although his statement might come out as selfish, there seems to be a grain of truth in what he claimed, because he seems to be the only person able to trouble Novak Djokovic, even in grand slam tournaments. The rest of the current generation don’t seem to have the necessary mental fortitude to be able to beat Djokovic in grand slams.
Alcaraz says since this is the first time Djokovic is beaten on Centre Court in ten years, he is not going to forget this win for years to come.
Beating the GOAT on his own turf was special for Alcaraz
Alcaraz is obviously relishing and savoring his win against Djokovic in one of his favorite venues. He’s just 20, and he’s already done the unthinkable. After the victory, he said that Djokovic’s young rivals-the next generation can take a lot of inspiration from this win and feel that they too are capable of defeating the great man in tennis’s biggest events.
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He said, ” Being the guy that beat him after 10 years in that is amazing for me and something I would not forget for sure. It’s great for the new generation as well to see me beating him and making them think that they are capable of doing it as well”.
Alcaraz has proved that he is the next big thing in tennis by defeating the veteran and one of the most successful players in the history of this decorated sport.
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Djokovic has already made known his interest in playing another five-setter in Flushing Meadows and it will be interesting to see if Alcaraz can play consistently well until then.
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