Spanish King Felipe gave a thumbs up from the Royal box as Carlos Alcaraz was crowned the Wimbledon men’s singles champion in a crushing defeat against rival Novak Djokovic.
The Spanish monarch, 55, looked delighted as the 20-year-old took Centre court by storm to win his maiden Wimbledon title and remain world number one.
After the match, Spaniard Alcaraz joked how King Felipe had been his lucky charm, saying: ”It’s special to play in front of royalty.
‘King Felipe, I am really proud that you are here supporting me.
‘When I played in front of you twice, twice I won, I hope you are coming more! It is really special and I have to thank you for coming and supporting.’
The Spanish monarch, 55, gave a thumbs up to the new tennis champion after he beat Novak Djokovic
King Felipe of Spain, 55, looked smart in a grey suit jacket and dark trousers as he arrived in the Royal Box on Centre Court ahead of the men’s final
Carlos Alcaraz shook hands with King Felipe of Spain after his stunning Wimbledon win
Carlos Alcaraz with the Gentlemen’s Singles Trophy following his victory over Novak Djokovic on day fourteen of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships
King Felipe watched as his fellow Spaniard won the Wimbledon men’s single title on Sunday
Prince William and Catherine Princess of Wales chatting with King Felipe VI of Spain in the Royal Box on Centre Court Wimbledon Tennis Championships
King Felipe laughed and looked delighted as Carlos Alcaraz took the Grand Slam title
King Felipe seen giving a standing ovation to Carlos Alcaraz after his Wimbledon win
Following his crushing defeat, Djokovic said: ‘Not so good for me, but good for Carlos. Praises to Carlos. You deserve it absolutely, congratulations.’
The victory means that he is the first person outside of the ‘big four’ – Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray – to win the Wimbledon men’s single title since 2002, when Alcaraz wasn’t even born.
The last time 36-year-old Djokovic lost on centre court, in 2013 to Andy Murray, Carlos was still in primary school.
The father-of-two has taken a keen interest in Alcaraz’s career since he stormed to victory in the Madrid open last year.
Following Alcaraz’s defeat of fellow Spaniard, Rafael Nadal, at the Madrid Open in 2022, the King congratulated the young tennis star.
A few months later, after winning the Miami Open, the monarch called Alcaraz to offer more congratulations.
‘It’s pretty amazing to get the call from the Spanish king. I was more nervous [for] that call than the match,’ the stunned 20-year-old told reporters.
He added: ‘It’s pretty amazing that the Spanish king congratulates you on the hard work that you put in every day and your win. It’s something that you never thought you were going to receive.’
King Felipe joined British royals including the Prince and Princess of Wales and Prince and Princess Michael in the Royal box.
He was dressed in a smart grey jacket with a blue tie and dark trousers as he arrived at SW19, ready to watch the gripping final between two of the world’s greatest male tennis players.
Princess Kate and Prince William brought their children, Prince George, nine, and Princess Charlotte, eight, to the All England Club to get in on the action
Felipe, 55, cheered on Alcaraz, whom he has met several times before, as he took the third set from Novak Djokovic
Princess Charlotte smiles as she chats to the Spanish Monarch during the Wimbledon 2023 men’s final
The Spanish monarch attended the men’s final at the All England Club to support 20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz
Spaniard Alcaraz (pictured) is taking on seven-time singles champion Novak Djokovic
Princess Kate and Prince William brought their children, Prince George, nine, and Princess Charlotte, eight, to the All England Club to get in on the action – and Charlotte had a whale of a time at her first ever Wimbledon final.
The young royal, eight, looked adorable in a blue floral dress costing from Spanish designer Friki as she arrived at the All England Club with her parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and her nine-year-old brother, Prince George.
But Louis, the youngest member of the family, was unhappy that he couldn’t join them despite practising being a ballboy this year.
Arriving at SW19 with her husband and two children, the Princess of Wales told Ella Ottaway, who runs the All England Club’s young people programme: ‘It’s Charlotte’s first time, George came last year. They’ve been eagerly watching.
‘Charlotte, you’ve been getting to grips with the scoring. Louis was very upset he wasn’t coming today.’
The world number one said it was a ‘dream come true’ to win Wimbledon and ‘make history in this beautiful tournament’.
Earlier in the day, during her first ever visit to the Wimbledon Championships Charlotte also chatted to Mu’awwiz Anwar, who is performing the coin toss ahead of the match.
The eight-year-old presented Mu’awwiz with the coin he will use to decide which finalist serves first in the final.
As the family arrived in the Royal Box on Centre Court, they were greeted by a round of applause ahead of the match.
Alcaraz managed to knock Djokovic off his post in the fifth set, falling to his knees as he sent his winning shot across the net – after claiming a 3-2 victory in a match that had seemed impossible.
The final scores for the five-set game were 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 as Alcaraz toppled the long-standing champion.
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