[News Figures] 20-Year-Old Alcaraz Defeats Djokovic to Become 'Tennis Emperor'

Wimbledon Men's Singles Champion Spanish Player
Djokovic "Possesses All My Strengths... Perfect"
Started Tennis at Age 4... World No.1 at 19 Years Old

Carlos Alcaraz (No. 1, Spain), who turned 20 this year, won his first-ever Wimbledon Tennis Championships (total prize money ?44.7 million, approximately 74.3 billion KRW) men’s singles title by defeating Novak Djokovic (No. 2, Serbia).

Carlos Alcaraz is roaring after securing victory by defeating Novak Djokovic in the men's singles final at the Wimbledon tennis major tournament. [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

On the 16th (local time) at the All England Club in London, UK, Alcaraz defeated Djokovic in the men’s singles final in 4 hours and 42 minutes with a score of 3-2 (1-6 7-6<8-6> 6-1 3-6 6-4) to lift the championship trophy.

With this victory, some say the era of the men’s tennis 'Big Four' has come to an end. Roger Federer (Switzerland), who won 20 men’s singles major titles for the first time, retired last year. Rafael Nadal (Spain), who has won 22 major titles, has also announced his retirement next year.

Alcaraz smiling after securing the victory [Photo by EPA]

Additionally, Andy Murray (UK), who was also considered part of the 'Big Four' along with Djokovic, has overcome injuries but is feared to be unlikely to regain his peak form. Ultimately, with Djokovic, who had maintained top form, losing to Alcaraz on the Wimbledon stage, there is talk that a generational shift among the tennis emperors has taken place.

Andrew Castle, a BBC commentator, could not hide his excitement immediately after Alcaraz’s victory, saying, "A new Wimbledon emperor has emerged to replace Djokovic. Spain’s Alcaraz defeated one of the greatest players in history."

Alcaraz was born in 2003 in Murcia, Spain. He is 183 cm tall and weighs 74 kg. He started playing tennis at the age of four at an academy where his father served as director. His hobbies include listening to reggae music, and he is a fan of the football club Real Madrid.

Since 2018, he has been coached by former world No. 1 J.C. Ferrero. Alcaraz made his ATP Tour main draw debut in 2020 and won his first ATP Tour title in July the following year at Umag, Croatia. He became the youngest-ever champion at the Madrid Open at the age of 19.

Last year, Alcaraz won his first major title at the US Open and set the record as the youngest world No. 1 at 19 years and 4 months old in September of the same year. Alcaraz has now solidified his reign as the 'tennis emperor' by winning the 2023 Wimbledon singles title.

After the match, Djokovic highly praised Alcaraz, saying, "Alcaraz has all the strengths that Federer, Nadal, and I possess. He is perfect." It is the first time in 21 years since Lleyton Hewitt (retired, Australia) in 2002 that a player outside the 'Big Four' has won Wimbledon.