Wimbledon Open: Nadal, Djokovic salute King Carlos Alcaraz

Tennis superstar Rafael Nadal was among the first ones to congratulate compatriot Carlos Alcaraz after he made history by defeating Novak Djokovic and claiming his first Wimbledon crown on Sunday.

“Congratulations @carlosalcaraz. You have given us immense joy today and I am sure that our pioneer in Spanish tennis, Manolo Santana, has also been cheering wherever he is. A very strong hug and enjoy the moment, Champion!!!,” Nadal posted on Twitter.

Alcaraz heralded the changing of the guard in men’s tennis as he ended Djokovic’s long reign at Wimbledon with a rip-roaring 1-6 7-6(6) 6-1 3-6 6-4 victory.

The 36-year-old Serbian had been indestructible on Wimbledon’s Centre Court for a decade but on Sunday he finally met his match as he ran out of ideas to stop young gun Alcaraz from hurtling towards the title.

After the 20-year-old had broken for a 2-1 lead in the fifth set with a stupendous passing shot winner, Djokovic’s racket felt the full force of his anger as he smashed it against the wooden net post to leave it in a mangled mess.

That earned Djokovic a second warning in the match, with the Serb also being cautioned earlier for taking too much time to launch into his serves.

But all that distraction failed to throw an inspired Alcaraz off course as he became the youngest man in 37 years to win the gilded Challenge Cup after Djokovic scooped a forehand into the net, leaving the Spaniard to collapse onto his back in his moment of triumph.'You deserve it', Djokovic tells Wimbledon champion, Alcaraz,

Also, the defeated champion Djokovic told Alcaraz "You deserve it" after the Spanish star succeeded him as Wimbledon champion on Sunday.

"What a quality at the end of the match when you had to serve it out. You can up with some big plays in the big situation and you absolutely deserve it," Djokovic told his 20-year-old rival.

"It's a tough one to swallow when you are so close."

-- Djokovic insisted he still has the desire to keep on winning Slams.

"I've been blessed with so many incredible matches throughout my career. I'm really grateful. I lost to a better player and I have to move on stronger," he said after seeing his 34-match win streak at the tournament ended.

He hailed Alcaraz, who now has two Grand Slam titles following his US Open breakthrough last year, and two titles on the grass in just four tournaments on the surface.

"I thought I would have trouble with you only on clay and hard court, but not on grass but now it's a different story from this year obviously," said the Serb.

"I guess when all the emotions are settled I'll have to be very grateful. I won many tight and close matches in the past here, to name a few -- 2019 against Roger.

"Maybe I should have lost a few finals that I won so maybe this is even stevens."