TENNIS prodigy Carlos Alcaraz told King Felipe VI to 'keep coming to Wimbledon' after the monarch once again proved to be his lucky charm.
Murcia-born Carlos, 20, had millions of spectators and TV viewers holding their breath during his epic final at the All England Club against Serbian legend Novak Djoković.
The former world number one, 36 – who is currently world number two, with 94 ATP titles including 23 Grand Slams plus an Olympic bronze medal under his belt – has won Wimbledon seven times in the past, but was no match for the Spanish rising star.
Alcaraz was just 15 when he turned professional, and has already leapfrogged Djoković to the ATP world number one slot, as well as winning the US Open last year – a feat which Switzerland's Roger Federer managed five times on the trot between 2004 and 2008.
The Balkan superstar is finding his habitual turf under threat in general now Alcaraz has burst onto the scene, although he still holds the record for the highest number of Australian Open titles, at 10.
Carlos Alcaraz (left) had to fight through five gruelling sets for four-and-a-half hours to knock legend Novak Djoković (right) into the reserve champion spot. This is Carlos' first Wimbledon final (all photos by EFE)
A gruelling five-set final ended in 1-6 7-6 6-1 3-6 6-4 to Alcaraz, and with Djoković smashing his racquet in fury and frustration following a four-and-a-half-hour battle.
This was made worse for him by the fact Alcaraz was considered a complete outsider, having never reached a Wimbledon final before, and his most recent success was getting through to the semi-finals at Roland Garros just over a month ago.
Hailing the new reign of Gen Z as Kings and Queens of the courts, Alcaraz had his own encounter with royalty after clinching the much-coveted title.
HRH Felipe VI's first words to the youngster from El Palmar were: “Do you realise what you've done?”
Alcaraz replied that 'both times' the King had come to a match he was playing, he had won it, to which he added, “I hope you keep coming.”
The international media has already temporarily dethroned Felipe VI and given Alcaraz his job – Italy's Corriere dello Sport called him 'AlcaRey', a word-play on Rey, for King, whilst Spain's sports newspaper Marca titled its front page Dios salve al nuevo rey, or 'God save the new king'.
HRH Felipe VI (right, in grey jacket) was delighted to cede his title of King to fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz for a day. Along with Spain's minister for sports, Miquel Iceta (left of King Felipe, in navy jacket and glasses), the monarch can barely hide his excitement as he speaks to Princess Catherine (centre, in green dress). She and husband William, Prince of Wales (behind her, in grey jacket) watched the final with their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte (both pictured, between their parents) and Prince Louis (not shown).
France's sports paper L'Equipe referred to the young champion as Le Roi Carlos, and in the UK, where the tournament takes place, The Daily Telegraph dedicated a top-of-the-page strip to the victor reading: “Wimbledon hails new king of tennis.”
This continues with the sub-heading: “Boy wonder Alcaraz comes of age with stunning win over Djoković,” and the front-page photo shows Princess Charlotte, daughter of heir to the throne Prince William, mid-scream as she is rapt by the tension of the final match.
Despite his dramatic release of pent-up emotion as the last match ended with victory for his rival, Djoković has been quoted in international newspapers as being full of astonished admiration for 'King Carlos'.
“I've never seen a talent like this,” he told the Corriere dello Sport.
“He has the best of me, of Federer and of Nadal,” the Serbian whizz concluded, referring to the trio of redoubtable male players frequently dubbed 'The Big Three'.
