Carlos Alcaraz Reflects On Wimbledon Win | ATP Tour | Tennis

The morning after profitable Wimbledon, Carlos Alcaraz’s phone continues to be ringing off the hook. Messages proceed to flood in on WhatsApp, Instagram and Twitter; everybody from Serena Williams to Will Smith, Fernando Alonso, Michael Phelps, Naomi Osaka, Ben Stiller and Sebastián Yatra, have despatched their congratulations to the brand new champ.

Nevertheless, there’s one message that stands out from the remainder; that of 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadalone of many 20-year-old’s heroes.

“Congratulations on the win!”, the Mallorcan wrote to the brand new Wimbledon champion. “Get pleasure from it as a result of these moments are magical and distinctive,” added the Spanish star, who additionally despatched Alcaraz a message earlier than the ultimate to want him luck for his conflict with Djokovic.

Congratulations @carlosalcaraz . You might have given us immense pleasure at present and I’m positive that our pioneer in Spanish tennis, Manolo Santana, has additionally been cheering wherever he’s, as of Wimbledon which you might have joined at present.
A really robust hug and benefit from the second, Champion!!!… pic.twitter.com/y0j2GowX3O

— Rafael Nadal (@RafaelNadal) July 16, 2023

That is the brand new actuality of the World No. 1, and it’s one that may proceed to develop with each new conquest. On Sunday, in the course of the last towards Djokovic, Brad Pitt, Emma Watson, Rachel Weiss, Daniel Craig, James Norton and King Felipe VI of Spain have been among the many spectators on Centre Courtroom, having fun with the title match.

“I’m not used to it!” explains Alcaraz on Monday morning, his Wimbledon trophy sitting on the windowsill. “Once you’re enjoying within the match you don’t realise so many individuals have gone to see it. In fact, I noticed the King of Spain, however not many others. As soon as the whole lot was over, I used to be my cellphone and I couldn’t consider so many artists have been on the last supporting and watching tennis.”

In the home Alcaraz and his family members have stayed in in the course of the two weeks of Wimbledonjust some metres from the All England Membership, the Spaniard’s household are packing their luggage whereas most of his workforce climb in to an official automobile to the airport. It’s the day after the historic last, and lots of are eager to return dwelling as quickly as attainable after an extended night time of celebrations and nearly a whole month in London.

“We completed very late, so I haven’t had a lot time to relaxation,” defined Alcaraz, who regardless of the whole lot is displaying no seen indicators of tiredness. “This morning I’ve had issues to do from early, however I’m positive, I’m nonetheless on cloud 9. I believe I’ll be there for a lot of days. Profitable Wimbledon is a dream come true, it’ll be arduous to return down from the clouds.”

Alcaraz began his ascent to these clouds in September final yr, when he gained his first Grand Slam on the US Openturning into the youngest No. 1 in Pepperstone ATP Rankings historical past within the course of. It appears unattainable, however at simply 20 years of age, he has already gained 12 titles, together with Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid (twice), the US Open and Wimbledon.

“Every thing’s going very quick,” agreed the Spaniard. “I’m reaching my desires at breakneck velocity. Loads of issues are occurring to me in a brief area of time, however I’m working very arduous for it. I’ve sacrificed sure issues to be in my present place. That is how issues have turned out and it’s great. Reaching the desires I’ve had since I used to be little, at 20 years of age.”

Regardless that issues are going lightning quick, Alcaraz is doing nothing to cease it. Fairly the alternative. He’s working more durable than ever to make sure issues don’t change, and the outcomes are there for everybody to see. After dropping his Roland Garros semi-final to Djokovic, the place he was unable to compete as he would love within the third and fourth units as a result of cramps that have been brought on by his nerves, the Spaniard promised to do exactly what he all the time has: to be taught for subsequent time. And he proved he had completed simply that at Wimbledon.

“I’m a man who learns from his errors,” mentioned Alcaraz. “Once I do one thing unsuitable, I attempt to be taught from it in order that subsequent time it doesn’t occur once more. Earlier than the match, I dealt with it otherwise, I ready otherwise,” he added. “I additionally approached the match from a special angle. I believe that was how I used to be in a position to maintain on and beat Djokovic. It actually helped me, that sort of resistance is only psychological.”

That psychological energy was by no means extra evident than within the fifth set, when the Spaniard sat on his bench earlier than serving for the championship.

“I used to be attempting to be calm and serene,” admits Alcaraz. “Preserving my thoughts clean. Once I bought up, I felt butterflies in my abdomen and my legs. It’s troublesome to deal with. I thought of getting the primary serve in and… I used to be pondering in my head that it was regular to really feel nervous closing out the match,” he added, earlier than revealing one thing else that crossed his thoughts; the 2 match factors Roger Federer had in 2019 to win Wimbledonwhich Djokovic saved heroically earlier than taking down the Swiss.

“I’ve watched lots of tennis,” defined the Spaniard. “For somebody like Federer to lose that last… I believe that’s so robust. I instructed myself: ‘Please, don’t let that occur to you. Do no matter it takes.’ However I did give it some thought at that second.”

Then, in fact, got here the candy second of triumph; match level, victory, pleasure.

“In all probability the very best second was after profitable,” mentioned Alcaraz. “When it was over, I wasn’t pondering, my thoughts was clean, I merely went by means of the motions: I threw myself to the bottom and simply needed to hug my workforce, rejoice it with my folks. My thoughts didn’t say ‘Wow, I’ve gained WimbledonI’ve achieved my dream.’ It was merely a query of going by means of the motions.”

Regardless of having overwhelmed Djokovic within the fifth set of the Wimbledon last, the Murcia native is in little doubt that this doesn’t mark the start of a brand new period.

“No, no,” he replied assuredly. “So long as Rafa and Djokovic are nonetheless enjoying there can’t be a change of period. After they retire, then possibly we will discuss it once more, however now isn’t the time. As I all the time say, I don’t play for anybody, only for myself, for my household and my workforce. I don’t do it so {that a} new period begins. I attempt to keep away from folks’s expectations, as a result of that’s extra stress. If I take note of all of that… After the match my feeling is that I’m able to deal with these sorts of conditions, to play epic matches with nice legends on the massive levels.”