'An all-round perfect performance' - so what next for Alcaraz?

Did anyone expect that?

Carlos Alcaraz's triumph complete Novak Djokovic successful nan Wimbledon last whitethorn not person been a immense surprise, but nan measurement it played retired surely was.

In nan build-up, location was talk of a repetition of last year's final - an almighty tussle that went nan afloat 5 sets. And erstwhile nan first crippled of nan lucifer lasted 14 minutes, pinch Djokovic yet surrendering his serve, galore felt it would beryllium much of nan same.

But Alcaraz flipped nan script, racing done nan first 2 sets, taking advantage of an off-colour Djokovic and ne'er allowing nan 24-time awesome champion to raise his level arsenic he won 6-2 6-2 7-6 (7-4).

"It was an annihilation. Alcaraz was phenomenal," erstwhile British number 1 Tim Henman said connected BBC TV.

"The reside was group successful nan first game. Alcaraz was relentless and gave Djokovic thing to get his teeth stuck into.

"Alcaraz ever had nan answers. The first group wasn't moreover close. When he needed it astir successful nan tie-break, it was for illustration Djokovic blinked."

Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash said it was "a cleanable performance", describing it arsenic a "breathtaking type of tennis connected nan biggest shape location is".

At 21, Alcaraz is simply a four-time awesome champion, and has won nan French Open and Wimbledon successful nan abstraction of 5 weeks.

"Alcaraz will transportation our athletics a agelong way," said Nick Kyrgios - runner-up astatine Wimbledon successful 2022.

"The biggest force he'll person is his body. How patient tin he stay?

"I deliberation he'll person upwards of 15 Slams, for sure."

The only motion of nerves Alcaraz showed was erstwhile he dropped 3 title points astatine 5-4 successful nan 3rd set.

But an different flawless capacity underscored why nan Spaniard became only nan eighth subordinate to triumph nan first 4 Grand Slam men's singles finals of his career.

He is conscionable nan 2nd successful nan Open Era to execute nan feat aft Roger Federer, who won nan first 7 Slam finals he contested.

Alcaraz is nan ninth man successful nan Open Era to clasp his Wimbledon title and nan sixth to triumph astatine nan French Open and All England Club successful nan aforesaid year.

At 21 years and 70 days, he is nan youngest subordinate successful nan Open Era to do nan Roland Garros-Wimbledon double successful nan aforesaid almanac year.

The Spaniard is besides nan third-youngest subordinate successful nan Open Era to clasp his Wimbledon title, pursuing Boris Becker (18 years, 227 days) and Bjorn Borg (21 years, 26 days).

Djokovic, arguably nan top ever erstwhile it comes to performing nether pressure, was speedy to praise nan Spaniard's performance.

"Overall nan measurement I felt connected nan tribunal coming against him, I was inferior," said Djokovic.

"That's it. He was a amended player. He played each azygous changeable amended than I did. I don't deliberation I could person done overmuch more. He was playing pinch a batch of variety. He really outplayed me."

Alcaraz, for his part, remains focused connected nan future.

"At nan extremity of my career, I want to beryllium astatine nan aforesaid array arsenic nan large guys. That's my main goal," he said.

"That's my dream correct now. It doesn't matter if I already won 4 Grand Slams astatine nan property of 21.

"If I'm not keeping going, each these tournaments for me, it doesn't matter."

Djokovic has only mislaid 3 of his 10 Wimbledon finals - and 2 of those person been to Alcaraz.

He has won a awesome connected each 3 surfaces and, possibly astir ominously for his rivals, nan Slams look to bring retired his astir tenacious qualities.

He has an astonishing 12-1 grounds successful 5th sets, having not mislaid 1 since nan 2022 Australian Open erstwhile he was conscionable starting to break through, and he came backmost from 2 sets to 1 down astatine some Wimbledon and Roland Garros.

His big-hitting is suited to difficult courts, he has nan activity for nan clay and nan touch for grass-court success.

However, he has struggled pinch wounded successful caller years. The Spaniard missed nan end-of-season 2022 ATP Finals because of an abdominal problem and nan Australian Open a fewer months later pinch a hamstring issue.

"The 1 force successful Alcaraz's profession truthful acold has been injuries," said Kyrgios.

"This is only his eighth arena this year, truthful if he's capable to get connected apical of that and find what useful for his body, thing is going to beryllium capable to extremity him successful my eyes."

With attraction now turning to nan Olympics, connected nan Paris clay wherever Alcaraz won his 3rd Slam, galore will beryllium wondering who will situation him for nan title.

With Djokovic successful nan second portion of his career, eyes displacement to younger players, pinch Henman citing Italy's Jannik Sinner, Denmark's Holger Rune and American Ben Shelton arsenic having nan imaginable to situation Alcaraz.

"There's plentifulness who are going to want to guidelines up - Jannik Sinner is nan world number 1 correct now and they person a awesome rivalry up of them," Henman said.

"But for maine Alcaraz's variety, nan strings to his front that he's capable to utilise connected each surface, is simply a pleasance to watch."

Alcaraz said: "I deliberation it is bully for tennis to person caller faces winning nan large things and fighting for nan large tournaments.

"I deliberation it's awesome for nan athletics and I deliberation for nan players arsenic well.