Nick Kyrgios contemplates whether Carlos Alcaraz’s Wimbledon 2024 triumph over Novak Djokovic marks the 1st ‘changing of the guard’ moment in tennis

Carlos Alcaraz's triumph at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships against Novak Djokovic felt like a possible 'changing of the guard' in men's tennis for Nick Kyrgios. The Spaniard decimated the Serb 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(4) in two hours and 27 minutes to win consecutive titles at SW19.

Alcaraz came into the grass swing high on success after clinching the French Open. He kicked off the swing at the Queen's Club Championships where he was the defending champion. However, the Spaniard faced a major setback as he was eliminated in the second round by Jack Draper in straight sets.

The World No. 3 headed to Wimbledon next and kicked off his campaign with straight-set wins against Mark Lajal and Aleksandar Vukic in the opening two rounds. He had to dig deep in the third round to oust Frances Tiafoe in a thrilling five-setter. Following this, Alcaraz won three consecutive four-setters against Ugo Humbert, Tommy Paul, and Daniil Medvedev to reach the final.

The 21-year-old decimated the 37-year-old in the opening two sets and though Djokovic saved three consecutive championship points, they were to no avail as the Spaniard clinched the third set tiebreaker to go back-to-back in SW19.

Nick Kyrgios questioned on X (formerly Twitter) whether Carlos Alcaraz's dominating win could be considered a 'changing of the guard' moment in men's tennis.

"Wow. Love Djokovic, but is this maybe the first time we can say the ‘changing of the guard’ ?!?!," Kyrgios tweeted.

"I am trying to keep going, building my path, my journey" - Carlos Alcaraz on his path to becoming a champion

Carlos Alcaraz (image source: GETTY)

During the trophy presentation, Carlos Alcaraz said that he was honored to have been part of the illustrious list of players including Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic who completed the Channel Slam - winning Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year. However, he said that he didn't consider himself to be a champion of the other legends in the list but was trying to reach that level.

"Well, I've been just fighting, believing, I don't know... it's a huge honour for me to be a part of the of those players who have achieved Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year."

"Really glad to to be, you know, in the same table as [Novak Djokovic], to do it, huge champions," he continued. "I'm not considering myself a champion yet, but you know, I'm trying to. Not a champion like them, but I am trying to keep going to keep, you know, building my path, my journey, but yeah, it's a huge honor for me," Alcaraz said.

Carlos Alcaraz remains the World No. 3 despite his Wimbledon triumph, being 330 points behind Novak Djokovic and 1440 points behind World No. 1 Jannik Sinner. The 21-year-old is next scheduled to compete at the Paris Olympics, where he will partner Rafael Nadal in the men's doubles event.