The 2023 Wimbledon final marked the first time since 2007 that a player had the chance to win a fifth title in a row.
Novak Djokovic had won four consecutive titles at the All England Club and was looking for number five in his clash with 20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz.
The match between the two was one of the best Wimbledon finals in recent history, as Djokovic and Alcaraz delivered a five-set classic spanning four hours and 42 minutes.
The Spaniard ultimately came out on top, clinching his second Grand Slam title and first of two crowns in SW19.
Alcaraz became the first from his country to hold the famous trophy aloft on Centre Court since Rafael Nadal in 2010, and was the second youngest Wimbledon champion in the Open Era.
Following the match, Djokovic spoke to the media about the young star who had just dethroned him.
What Novak Djokovic said ‘surprised everyone’ about Carlos Alcaraz
In his post-match press conference, the Serb was asked: “Are you surprised how quickly Carlos adapted to clay, the hard courts, then to grass, and he’s beating you and winning trophies?”
He responded: “To clay, no, I’m not surprised because he grew up on clay. His game is obviously suited and developed for clay, probably slower hard courts.
“But, yeah, grass, I must say he surprised me. He surprised everyone how quickly he adapted to grass this year.
“He hasn’t had too many wins on grass in the last two years that he played. Obviously him coming from clay, having the kind of style that he has.
“I think Queen’s helped him a lot. He was close to lose that first match, opening match, in Queen’s. Then he started to gain momentum, more and more wins against really good players.
“Wimbledon courts are slower than Aorangi courts or maybe Queen’s courts. It’s more suitable for, I guess, the baseliners like he is.
“I must say the slices, the kind of chipping returns, the net play, it’s very impressive. I didn’t expect him to play so well this year on grass, but he’s proven that he’s the best player in the world, no doubt.
“He’s playing some fantastic tennis on different surfaces and he deserves to be where he is.”
How Novak Djokovic compared Carlos Alcaraz with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal
Djokovic continued: “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 mental resilience and really maturity for someone who is 20 years old. It’s quite impressive.
“He’s got this Spanish bull mentality of competitiveness and fighting spirit and incredible defence that we’ve seen with Rafa over the years.
“And I think he’s got some nice sliding backhands that he’s got some similarities with my backhands.
“Yeah, two-handed backhands, defence, being able to adapt. I think that has been my personal strength for many years. He has it, too.
“I haven’t played a player like him ever, to be honest. Roger and Rafa have their own obvious 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, who went back-to-back in 2024, is now in pursuit of becoming the fifth man in the Open Era to three-peat at Wimbledon, and the first from his country to do so in tennis history.
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