• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz accidentally calls Novak Djokovic old after shock win

Home> News> Sport

Published 07:30 17 Jul 2023 GMT+1

20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz accidentally calls Novak Djokovic old after shock win

The 20-year-old beat Djokovic to become the new Wimbledon champion

Joe Harker

Joe Harker

There's a new Wimbledon champion in town and his name is Carlos Alcaraz, who clinched the title after a dramatic five-set match against the legendary Novak Djokovic.

The 36-year-old Serbian has seven Wimbledon titles under his belt and this is only the second time he's reached the final of the grand slam and not won it, the previous time being in 2013 when Andy Murray won it.

While Djokovic took the first set 6-1, Alcaraz clinched the second set in a tie-break and then won the third set 6-1 himself.

The fourth set went to Djokovic but Alcaraz took the final set and collapsed with joy onto the Centre Court turf upon winning the championship point.

Advert

However, during his victory speech, he got a little bit embarrassed as he accidentally implied that his opponent was old, though thankfully everyone took it in good humour.

20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz looks like he could be the next big star of men's tennis.
Rob Newell/CameraSport/Getty Images

Alcaraz, seeded first for Wimbledon but still a player many would have tipped Djokovic to beat because the Serbian is just the kind of player you don't bet against, paid tribute to his opponent after the match.

"You inspire me a lot, I started playing tennis watching you. I mean, since I was born..." he said, before stumbling over his words as the Centre Court crowd laughed along and Djokovic gave a grin.

"You already were winning tournaments. It's amazing. You said that 36 is the new 26, you make that happen, it's amazing."


Advert

In fairness, you've got to go back to 2002 to find a Wimbledon Men's Singles champion not called Federer, Nadal, Djokovic or Murray.

In 2002 when Australian tennis player Lleyton Hewitt was lifting the trophy the now 20-year-old Alcaraz was not even born, nor even conceived, so he's probably earned the right to see some of the titans of tennis as old timers since they've been around his whole life.

That face you make when you're beaten by someone who was born the same year you turned pro.
Rob Newell/CameraSport/Getty Images

That being said, Alcaraz has a point that Djokovic at 36 can still play like he's in what most would see as the prime years of his career.

Before this year's Wimbledon final he hadn't lost on Centre Court for a whole decade, with his 2013 final defeat against Murray being the last time he'd tasted defeat on the turf.

Advert

Of the 'big three' of tennis comprising of Federer, Nadal and himself (sorry Andy) he's the one still going strongest in the sport, though even he has acknowledged that he doesn't know how long he's got left in the game.

Federer has retired from the sport, while Nadal has said he'll hang up his racquet next year and Djokovic told the Wimbledon crowd after his defeat to Alcaraz that he doesn't 'know how long I'll be around'.

When he does retire it'll be the end of an era for men's singles tennis, but with players like Alcaraz around the sport is in good hands.

Featured Image Credit: Rob Newell/CameraSport/Getty Images

Topics: Sport, Wimbledon

Joe Harker
Joe Harker

Joe graduated from the University of Salford with a degree in Journalism and worked for Reach before joining the LADbible Group. When not writing he enjoys the nerdier things in life like painting wargaming miniatures and chatting with other nerds on the internet. He's also spent a few years coaching fencing. Contact him via [email protected]

X

@MrJoeHarker

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

3 hours ago
4 hours ago
  • 3 hours ago

    Man horrified to discover his new home is actually someone else's Airbnb

    Ben Echianu, from Manchester, branded the woman whom he believes posed as a landlord as 'heartless'

    News
  • 4 hours ago

    Christian Horner releases statement after being sacked by Red Bull after 20 years

    Horner shared a lengthy statement on social media

    News
  • 4 hours ago

    Donald Trump shuts down reporter who asked Jeffrey Epstein question following release of CCTV footage

    It seems the US President deems the topic to be no longer up for discussion

    News
  • 4 hours ago

    Cardiologist who had heart attack warns people to not 'make same mistake' over little-known warning sign

    The irony isn't lost on Dr William Wilson

    News
  • Brit ranked no.733 in world won't receive £99k prize money despite shock first round win at Wimbledon
  • People shocked after seeing price for a bottle of beer at Wimbledon this year
  • Red Bull sacks Christian Horner after 20 years, one year on from sex texts scandal
  • Novak Djokovic smashes racket as Carlos Alcaraz wins Wimbledon final