Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, at just 20 years old, secured his first Wimbledon men's singles title by defeating defending champion Novak Djokovic in an exhilarating match.

Alcaraz, initially overwhelmed, rallied back to claim a 1-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-1 3-6 6-4 victory over the Serbian player.

Djokovic had been pursuing a fifth consecutive win, an eighth men's title, and a record-equalling 24th major.

Yet, Alcaraz, the top seed, proved resilient and emerged as the victor, solidifying his talent with a second major title.

Expressing his happiness, Alcaraz said, "It is a dream come true for me. Even if I lost, I would have been proud of myself. To be able to play on this stage at the age of 20 is truly remarkable. I'm really proud of myself." Alcaraz celebrated his achievement by falling flat on his face in celebration and kicking a ball into the crowd.

The Centre Court crowd, including prominent figures such as the Prince and Princess of Wales, Brad Pitt, and two-time winner Andy Murray, rose to their feet to applaud the newest Wimbledon champion.

Alcaraz's victory at such a young age places him in esteemed company as the third youngest man to win the Wimbledon title in the Open era.

Djokovic, though disappointed, graciously acknowledged Alcaraz's skill, remarking, "I lost to a better player, I have to congratulate him and move on - stronger, hopefully." The match lived up to its highly anticipated billing, captivating viewers with its quality, drama, and momentum shifts.

Alcaraz's win signifies the potential for an enduring rivalry between him and Djokovic, with the latter expressing hope for more future duels between the two top-ranked players.

As Djokovic put it, "I hope this will be the beginning of a rivalry for some time - for my sake. He's going to be on the tour for quite some time. I don't know how long I'll be around. I think it's good for the sport, one and two in the world facing each other in a five-hour, five-set thriller. It couldn't be better for our sport."

The Spanish sensation has done it 🇪🇸@carlosalcaraz triumphs over Novak Djokovic, 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 in an all-time classic#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/sPGLXr2k99

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 16, 2023