Quote of the Day: Novak Djokovic says Carlos Alcaraz "was better than me in every aspect of the game"

After being nearly routed by Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final, former champion Novak Djokovic had one main takeaway from the match: “Overall, he really outplayed me.”

The seven-time winner was not looking for excuses after suffering a lopsided defeat in his 37th Grand Slam final. Djokovic had seemed to be finding his footing on Sunday after dropping the first two sets and had rallied the crowd on his side as he saved match points in the third. But he couldn’t hold back Alcaraz as the No. 3 seed charged to a 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4) victory on Centre Court.

Read More: Carlos Alcaraz improves to 4-0 in Grand Slam finals with victory over Djokovic at Wimbledon

When asked to break down what could have made a difference in his rematch against the defending champion, Djokovic offered a rare tip of the cap for 21-year-old Alcaraz, who captured his fourth major title with the victory.

“I don't think I could have done something much more,” Djokovic admitted. “Try to pump myself up, maybe? Get the crowd involved? That's what was happening in the third (set)…

“I really think he just was better than me in every aspect of the game: in movement, in the way he was just striking the ball beautifully, serving great, everything.”

WATCH: Novak Djokovic felt "inferior on the court" to Carlos Alcaraz in Wimbledon final | PRESS CONFERENCE

Q: Is there anything you could have done differently tactically today against Carlos to affect the outcome of the match?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I don't think so, honestly. You can always analyze the match, of course, after and say, I could have done this or that.

Just overall the way I felt on the court today against him, I was inferior on the court. That's it. He was a better player. He played every single shot better than I did…

I've never seen him serve that way, to be honest. 136. Maybe I was missing something this tournament, but I've never seen him serve that fast. He must have had a really good serving practice day yesterday (smiling).

Yes, overall he really outplayed me.

He was a better player. He played every single shot better than I did… Novak Djokovic's hat tip to Carlos Alcaraz after Wimbledon final

That’s just about the ultimate compliment any player can receive from the 24-time Grand Slam winner—and Alcaraz himself paid back the respect in kind, referring to his opponent as a superhero for his post-knee surgery heroics.

“The work that Novak has done… (giving) himself the chance to be able to play the tournament and making the final, it's something out of this world for me,” Alcaraz told press after the match.

“I beat him today, but for me Novak is still like Superman.”

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The focus for Djokovic turns back to clay as he gears up to represent Serbia at the Olympic Games in Paris. Later in the season, he will once again prepare for a shot at his 25th major title at the US Open.

But at the moment, the 37-year-old is still searching for his first ATP title of any kind in 2025. Wimbledon marked the first time all season he has moved past the semifinals, falling at that stage at the Australian Open, Rolex Monte Carlo Masters and Geneva. His Roland Garros campaign was derailed after the fourth round due to injury, and he later needed surgery to repair the meniscus on his right knee.

Djokovic described his Wimbledon preparations as a “hybrid program of training” that involved “rehab, specific exercises for the knee, and the actual pre-Grand Slam fitness training and tennis training.” Now with a clean bill of health, the Serbian is ready to hit the practice courts even harder to check off the last few boxes left on his already sterling career resume.

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“In order to really have a chance to beat these guys in Grand Slam latter stages or Olympics, I'm going to have to play much better than I did today and feel much better than I did today,” Djokovic reflected.

“I'm going to work on it. It's not something I haven't experienced before ever in my life. I've had so many different experiences throughout my career.

“In the face of adversity, normally I rise and I learn and get stronger. That's what I'm going to do.”