<p>Novak Djokovic has experienced everything possible on a tennis court during his trophy-laden 23-year career but said he has never faced a player quite like Carlos Alcaraz.</p>.<p>Alcaraz de-throned the 36-year-old Serb on Centre Court on Sunday, winning a riveting Wimbledon final with a game-style Djokovic later described as like facing a blend of the big three -- himself, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.</p>.<p>Subduing it proved beyond even his powers as his quest for a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon title and fifth in a row was thwarted, as was his bid to match Margaret Court's record 24 Grand Slam titles.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/tennis/wimbledon-2023-final-alcaraz-ends-djokovics-reign-to-win-maiden-title-1237661.html">Wimbledon 2023 final: Alcaraz ends Djokovic's reign to win maiden title</a></strong></p>.<p>In winning his first Wimbledon, to go with his 2022 US Open triumph against Casper Ruud, Alcaraz erased any doubts about his world number one status and avenged his cramp-affected loss to Djokovic in the French Open semi-final.</p>.<p>Djokovic, who had suffered only two Wimbledon defeats since losing to Andy Murray in the 2013 final, said he was surprised at how quickly the 20-year-old Alcaraz had mastered playing on all the sport's surfaces.</p>.<p>"I didn't expect him to play so well this year on grass, but he's proven he's the best player in the world," Djokovic said after his 1-6 7-6(6) 6-1 3-6 6-4 defeat.</p>.<p>"I haven't played a player like him ever, to be honest. I think people have been talking in the past 12 months or so about his game consisting of certain elements from Roger, Rafa, and myself. I would agree with that.</p>.<p>"He's got basically the best of all three worlds. He's got this Spanish bull mentality, fighting spirit and incredible defence that we've seen with Rafa. I think he's got some nice sliding backhands, some similarities with my backhands.</p>.<p>"He is a complete player."</p>.<p>Djokovic, who looked irritated at times with the pro-Alcaraz crowd, was magnanimous in defeat. But he admitted there were some regrets after lacking his usual clinical ability to take chances when they came his way at crucial moments.</p>.<p>After outplaying Alcaraz in a one-sided first set, Djokovic then slugged out an 85-minute second and had a point for a two-set lead in the tiebreak but dumped a backhand into the net.</p>.<p>After battling back into the match and taking the fourth set, Djokovic then looked odds on to break serve for a 2-0 lead in the decider but made a hash of a high forehand volley.</p>.<p>Minutes later he dropped his own serve and disintegrated his racket into the net post in frustration.</p>.<p>"In the tiebreak in the second, the backhands kind of let me down," he said. "Set point, I missed the backhand. A little bit of a bad bounce, but I should not have missed that shot.</p>.<p>"Then 6-6, another backhand from middle of the court in the net. That's it. The match shifted to his side and I wasn't myself for quite some time.</p>.<p>"I managed to regroup and regain the momentum midway in the fourth. I felt that the momentum shifted to my side. That break point (in the fifth), I think I played a really good point, but it was very windy and the wind took it to an awkward place where I couldn't hit the smash."</p>.<p>Djokovic received a warning for his racket-smashing antics, having had one for taking too long to serve at the heart of the second-set tiebreak. He was fortunate that the flying chunks of his racket did not make contact with an official or a fan.</p>.<p>"There's not much to talk about that. It was frustration," said Djokovic, who left a sizeable dent in the net post. </p>
<p>Novak Djokovic has experienced everything possible on a tennis court during his trophy-laden 23-year career but said he has never faced a player quite like Carlos Alcaraz.</p>.<p>Alcaraz de-throned the 36-year-old Serb on Centre Court on Sunday, winning a riveting Wimbledon final with a game-style Djokovic later described as like facing a blend of the big three -- himself, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.</p>.<p>Subduing it proved beyond even his powers as his quest for a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon title and fifth in a row was thwarted, as was his bid to match Margaret Court's record 24 Grand Slam titles.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/tennis/wimbledon-2023-final-alcaraz-ends-djokovics-reign-to-win-maiden-title-1237661.html">Wimbledon 2023 final: Alcaraz ends Djokovic's reign to win maiden title</a></strong></p>.<p>In winning his first Wimbledon, to go with his 2022 US Open triumph against Casper Ruud, Alcaraz erased any doubts about his world number one status and avenged his cramp-affected loss to Djokovic in the French Open semi-final.</p>.<p>Djokovic, who had suffered only two Wimbledon defeats since losing to Andy Murray in the 2013 final, said he was surprised at how quickly the 20-year-old Alcaraz had mastered playing on all the sport's surfaces.</p>.<p>"I didn't expect him to play so well this year on grass, but he's proven he's the best player in the world," Djokovic said after his 1-6 7-6(6) 6-1 3-6 6-4 defeat.</p>.<p>"I haven't played a player like him ever, to be honest. I think people have been talking in the past 12 months or so about his game consisting of certain elements from Roger, Rafa, and myself. I would agree with that.</p>.<p>"He's got basically the best of all three worlds. He's got this Spanish bull mentality, fighting spirit and incredible defence that we've seen with Rafa. I think he's got some nice sliding backhands, some similarities with my backhands.</p>.<p>"He is a complete player."</p>.<p>Djokovic, who looked irritated at times with the pro-Alcaraz crowd, was magnanimous in defeat. But he admitted there were some regrets after lacking his usual clinical ability to take chances when they came his way at crucial moments.</p>.<p>After outplaying Alcaraz in a one-sided first set, Djokovic then slugged out an 85-minute second and had a point for a two-set lead in the tiebreak but dumped a backhand into the net.</p>.<p>After battling back into the match and taking the fourth set, Djokovic then looked odds on to break serve for a 2-0 lead in the decider but made a hash of a high forehand volley.</p>.<p>Minutes later he dropped his own serve and disintegrated his racket into the net post in frustration.</p>.<p>"In the tiebreak in the second, the backhands kind of let me down," he said. "Set point, I missed the backhand. A little bit of a bad bounce, but I should not have missed that shot.</p>.<p>"Then 6-6, another backhand from middle of the court in the net. That's it. The match shifted to his side and I wasn't myself for quite some time.</p>.<p>"I managed to regroup and regain the momentum midway in the fourth. I felt that the momentum shifted to my side. That break point (in the fifth), I think I played a really good point, but it was very windy and the wind took it to an awkward place where I couldn't hit the smash."</p>.<p>Djokovic received a warning for his racket-smashing antics, having had one for taking too long to serve at the heart of the second-set tiebreak. He was fortunate that the flying chunks of his racket did not make contact with an official or a fan.</p>.<p>"There's not much to talk about that. It was frustration," said Djokovic, who left a sizeable dent in the net post. </p>