Wimbledon’s Annabel Croft was left red faced with a slip of the tongue following the men’s final on Sunday afternoon.
Carlos Alcaraz became just the second person in the open era to win his first four grand slam titles with a dominant victory against Novak Djokovic, taking victory in straight sets.
The result came in less than two-and-a-half hours, with the Spaniard surviving a late wobble to claim victory in what could be a passing of the torch for once and for all.
Alcaraz, 21, kept his calm once his victory was confirmed, staying on his feet and running up to his players box before heading back to the court to collect his trophy and conduct his post-match interview.
It was during Djokovic’s interview, however, that the blunder came, with Croft left having to clarify her words when the crowd saw the funny side of what she said.
Annabel Croft was left red faced with a slip of the tongue during the Wimbledon men’s singles final interviews
Carlos Alcaraz claimed victory over Novak Djokovic in a dominant showing on Centre Court
Djokovic, meanwhile, kept the gag going with his response to the question from Croft
‘Novak, I know this is not the result you wanted. But you were up against such a hot and talented player in Alcaraz,’ Croft, who is a former tennis player in her own right, said, leaving a smile on the Serb’s face and the crowd in hysterics.
‘He was on fire! Can you just share with us your thoughts on the final?’ she later clarified.
When the crowd had cooled, Djokovic continued the joke, replying: ‘That’s what I was about to say, he was definitely very hot today.
‘Not the result I wanted, of course, in the first couple of sets, the level of tennis wasn’t up to par with myself. Credit to Carlos for playing some complete tennis.’
In a repeat of last year’s five-set thriller, the Spaniard controlled the game against the seven-time winner to claim his second title in SW19 and get the day off to a great start for the country of Spain.
He won the first two sets 6-2, 6-2, before breaking in the ninth game of the third and final set to leave himself needing to serve out for the match.
Blowing three Championship points, he was brought back to deuce by Djokovic, who showed fine professionalism after a week that has seen him booed by crowds, and found himself blowing the opportunity to claim victory and broken to move the game even again in the third set.
Djokovic held, and, going to a tie break, Alcaraz found his nerve and held it to take it 7-4, finishing the game in two hours and 27 minutes and signifying what may have been a passing of the torch moment for once and for all.
Both players were speaking after the conclusion of the Championships for another year
Both players had been booed by the crowd at SW19 at different points over the last two weeks, with Djokovic playing the pantomime villain and Alcaraz suggesting Spain will win the Euro 2024 final.
It was all cheers and smiles on Sunday, however, with both players embracing at the net at the end of the game and cheering with the crowd.
It could yet be a Spanish double on Sunday, however, with Alcaraz getting things off to the perfect start for the nation.
