Carlos Alcaraz dethrones seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic in a thrilling five-set final on Centre Court

The 20-year-old Spaniard may have been world number one but he was the marginal outsider against the seven-time Wimbledon king, who was on a 34-match winning streak at SW19 and hadn't lost on Centre Court for 45 games since the 2013 final against Andy Murray.

Djokovic looked well on course for winning his fifth Wimbledon title in a row - and also his third Grand Slam of the year - after racing through the first set 6-1 as he looked to maintain an astonishing record of never losing at SW19 in all 78 previous occasions he'd taken the opener.

But US Open champion Alcarez showed just why he's such a special talent and destined to make more history in the next couple of decades by bouncing back to triumph 1-6 7-6(6) 6-1 3-6 6-4 in an all-time classic that lasted four hours and 42 minutes.

Alcaraz slumped to the court after Djokovic’s final forehand dropped into the net before sharing a long embrace with the vanquished Serbian.

The defeat prevented Djokovic tying Roger Federer with an eighth Wimbledon title, while it also ended his chances of winning the calendar Grand Slam this year, although he will surely have more opportunities to equal Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 slam crowns.

Alcaraz was not even born when Lleyton Hewitt in 2002 became the last man apart from Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray or Djokovic to win the title here, and he is the youngest men’s champion since Boris Becker in 1986.

He said: "Well it’s a dream come true for me. It’s great to win but even if I had lost I would have been really proud of myself, playing a final against a legend of our sport.

“After the first set I thought ‘hmmm… Carlos increase the level’. I have to congratulate Novak. I started playing tennis watching you. When I was born you were already winning tournaments. But 36 is the new 26. It’s amazing.”

Spain’s King Felipe was in the royal box supporting his country’s new star.

“It’s special to play here in front of royalty. I am really proud you are here supporting me. You’ve come to watch me twice and I won, so I hope you come some more.”

In the press conference, Alcaraz added: “I did it for myself, not for the tennis generation. (But) beating Novak at his best, in this stage, making history, being the guy to beat him after 10 years unbeaten on that court, is amazing for me.

“It’s something that I will never forget. It’s great for the new generation, as well, I think, to see me beating him and making them think that they are capable to do it as well.

“It’s the happiest moment of my life. I think it’s not going to change for a long time. Beating Novak, winning the Wimbledon championship, is something that I dream about since I started playing tennis.”

“Probably before this match I thought that I wasn’t ready to beat Djokovic in five sets, an epic match like this. I stayed good physically and good mentally about five hours against a legend.”

On learning from what happened against Djokovic in the French Open, he added: “I am a totally different player than French Open. I grew up a lot since that moment. I learned a lot from that moment.”

Djokovic handled the defeat with impressive grace but broke down in tears when he saw his eight-year-old son Stefan applauding from the stands.

He admitted Alcaraz’s remarkably quick progression on grass had taken him by surprise and thought back to the close finals where he has come out on the other side.

“I’ve won some epic finals that I was very close to losing,” he said. “Maybe this is kind of a fair-and-square deal, I guess, to lose a match like this for me here. Even though it hurts.

“Credit to Carlos. Amazing poise in the important moments. For someone of his age to handle the nerves like this, be playing attacking tennis, and to close out the match the way he did. I thought I returned very well that last game, but he was just coming up with some amazing, amazing shots.

“Some regrets. I had my chances. I think I could have closed out that second-set tie-breaker better. But credit to him for fighting and showing some incredible defensive skills, passing shots that got him the break in the fifth. He was a deserved winner today.”

Alcaraz has a long way to go if he is to have anything like the careers that Djokovic and his long-time rivals Federer and Nadal have put together.

But the Serbian could not be more impressed with the 20-year-old as an all-round package, saying: “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 the best of all three worlds. He’s got this Spanish bull mentality of competitiveness and fighting spirit and incredible defence.

“I haven’t played a player like him ever, to be honest. Roger and Rafa have their own strengths and weaknesses. Carlos is a very complete player. Amazing adapting capabilities that I think are a key for longevity and for a successful career on all surfaces.”

Alcaraz, still wearing his lucky bucket hat, burst into a wide grin when told what Djokovic had said.

“It’s crazy that Novak said that, honestly,” he said. “I don’t know. Probably he’s right. But I don’t want to think about it. I’m going to think that I’m full Carlos Alcaraz.”

Full match report

This was the hottest ticket in town. Along with the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince George and Princess Charlotte and King Felipe VI of Spain, Hollywood stars Brad Pitt, Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig were attendance while, among the tennis ranks, sat in the stands with new men’s doubles champion Neal Skupski, was Murray.

The Scot was the last man to beat Djokovic on this court, 10 years and 46 matches ago, in that unforgettable final.

No one had got close this fortnight but there was a feeling right from the start of the Championships that it would come down to a meeting between the two players who sit head and shoulders above the rest.

Not that a contest looked on the cards for half an hour as Alcaraz snatched at shots and Djokovic carved him apart, winning the first five games and then the opening set.

But the Spaniard settled at the start of the second and, although an early break of serve was cancelled out straight away by Djokovic, Alcaraz had largely cut out the unforced errors and was asking real questions.

Most of the time Djokovic had the answers, Alcaraz standing with hands on hips after another break point at 1-2 was snatched away in a 29-shot rally.

Unlike for the women’s final, the roof was open, but conditions were still blustery and the crowd, which was predictably largely behind Alcaraz, was becoming irritated by the number of times Djokovic was bouncing the ball before serving.

“Get on with it,” came a shout from the stands, but it was an indication that Djokovic was feeling tension as Alcaraz pushed for a break.

It did not come in a close game at 4-5 and, when Djokovic moved into a 3-0 lead in the tie-break, it appeared a two-set lead, and probably the match, was close.

But two big serves from Alcaraz were followed by a netted drop shot from Djokovic and the Spaniard was back on terms.

Umpire Fergus Murphy’s patience ran out at 4-5 in the tie-break and he gave Djokovic a time violation, to much cheering from the crowd.

He still won the next two points but unusually Djokovic netted a backhand on his set point and then did the same the following point before seeing a return fly past him.

As Alcaraz turned to the fans in celebration, Djokovic returned disconsolately to his chair, where he sat shaking his head in the direction of his box, his run of 15 straight slam tie-breaks won ending at the worst moment.

It felt like a huge moment, and even more so when Alcaraz broke serve to start the third set, taking the lead in the match for the first time.

Djokovic complained to Murphy that he was not being given enough time to get to his towel at the back of the court between serves during a remarkable 26-minute fifth game featuring 13 deuces and seven break points – at 32 points, the longest in a Wimbledon men’s singles final.

On the last of those, Djokovic’s resistance gave way, and the 36-year-old was beginning to look distinctly less sprightly than his opponent, virtually giving away two games before he headed off court for a long bathroom break.

There were boos on his return, with Alcaraz standing ready to serve for several minutes. Both men knew how important the start of the fourth set was and Djokovic, who had tape on his left thigh, dug in to save two break points.

The Serbian has shown many times in his career, though, that when he looks down and out is when he is at his most dangerous, and so it proved again.

Alcaraz paid for a simple volley placed into the tramlines as Djokovic broke to lead 3-2, and the defending champion looked mentally and physically sharp again as he set up a decider.

Had Djokovic put away an apparently simple overhead to break for 2-0, he may well have walked away with the trophy again, but he netted it and instead it was Alcaraz who broke for a 2-1 lead.

Djokovic hurled his racket against the net post in frustration, shattering the frame and earning more boos, with another hole now to dig himself out of.

But this time he could not and Alcaraz, with the touch and courage of a true champion, seized his moment.