US Open odds: Carlos Alcaraz 13/8 to retain title

“I did it for myself, not for the tennis generation,” said Alcaraz. “(But) beating Novak at his best, in this stage, making history, being the guy to beat him after 10 years unbeaten on that court, is amazing for me.

“It’s something I will never forget. It’s great for the new generation, as well, I think, to see me beating him and making them think they are capable to do it as well.

“It’s the happiest moment of my life. I think it’s not going to change for a long time. Beating Novak, winning the Wimbledon championship, is something I dream about since I started playing tennis.”

Djokovic handled the defeat with impressive grace but admitted Alcaraz’s remarkably quick progression on grass had taken him by surprise and thought back to the close finals where he has come out on the other side.

“I’ve won some epic finals that I was very close to losing,” he said. “Maybe this is kind of a fair-and-square deal, I guess, to lose a match like this for me here. Even though it hurts.

“Credit to Carlos. Amazing poise in the important moments. For someone of his age to handle the nerves like this, be playing attacking tennis, and to close out the match the way he did. I thought I returned very well that last game but he was just coming up with some amazing, amazing shots.

“Some regrets. I had my chances. I think I could have closed out that second-set tie-breaker better. But credit to him for fighting and showing some incredible defensive skills, passing shots that got him the break in the fifth. He was a deserved winner.”

US Open odds

Evens – Novak Djokovic

13/8 – Carlos Alcaraz

7/2 Daniil Medvedev

8/1 Nick Kyrgios

10/1 Jannik Sinner, Stefanos Tsitsipas

14/1 Holger Rume, Alexander Zverev

16/1 Bar

View the latest tennis odds

All odds and markets correct as of date of publication