Carlos Alcaraz heralded the changing of the guard in men's tennis as he ended Novak Djokovic's long reign at Wimbledon with a rip-roaring 1-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-1 3-6 6-4 victory to win the All England Club title for the first time.
Alcaraz, 20, beat the seven-time champion to become the youngest man to lift the Challenge Cup since 18-year-old Boris Becker won the second of his three Wimbledon titles in 1986.
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 on to his back in his moment of triumph.
Alcaraz, who has added Wimbledon to his US Open title, said: "Well it's a dream come true for me. It's great to win but even if I had lost I would have been really proud of myself, playing a final against a legend of our sport.
"After the first set I thought 'hmmm... Carlos increase the level'. I have to congratulate Novak. I started playing tennis watching you. When I was born you were already winning tournaments. But 36 is the new 26. It's amazing."
Spain's King Felipe was in the royal box supporting his country's new star.
"It's special to play here in front of royalty. I am really proud you are here supporting me. You've come to watch me twice and I won, so I hope you come some more."
Djokovic, beaten on Centre Court for the first time in 10 years, paid tribute to his young opponent.
"I have to praise to Carlos and his team," he said. "Quality at the end of the match, you served it out and you deserved it. I thought I'd only have trouble with you on clay or hard court, not on grass. Amazing, what you did in Queen's and here.
"As for me you never like to lose matches like this but when all the emotions have settled I still have to be very grateful. I've won many close matches here down the years, maybe I should have lost a couple of finals that I won so it's 'Even Stevens'.
"It's a tough one to swallow when you are so close. I lost to the better player and I have to congratulate him and move on."
