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4 months ago
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Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz has revealed he FaceTimed close friend and striker Alvaro Morata just moments before Spain took on England in the Euro 2024 final.
Alcaraz demolished Novak Djokovic 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 to go back-to-back as Wimbledon champion and then turned attention to Luis de la Fuente's footballers to make it an even greater day for Spain.
'I know a few of them,' Alcaraz said of Spain's national team.
'I spoke to them before I started the match. When I finished [my match], one of the first FaceTimes I did was with Alvaro Morata just to wish them the best of luck.
'I tried to give them all my strength to try to do a good match.'
Carlos Alcaraz was all smiles on Sunday afternoon after winning a second Wimbledon title
He then FaceTimed Alvaro Morata before Spain defeated England in Berlin to win Euro 2024
Following the men's final it is tradition at Wimbledon for a champions' dinner where the male victor and female winner share a dance.
But for Alcaraz his immediate worry was making sure he was able to watch Spain take on England in the final through any means necessary.
'It started on the phone,' he explained, 'then it switched to the TV at home and then coming here on the iPad so it was kind of mixed.
When Alcaraz arrived at The Lawn, a hospitality venue on the grounds of The Wimbledon Club, for the black tie event, he needed prising from the car with the game in the balance at 1-1 after Cole Palmer's equaliser.
He was so nervous about the result he did not leave the car until Mikel Oyarzabal's 86th-minute goal, which was at risk of being offside, was cleared and given.
'That's right,' he said when asked about staying in the car.
'Just before getting out of the car, I saw the goal so I thought it was offside.
Alcaraz had a lot to do after beating Novak Djokovic but he made sure to watch the football
Morata and Co were inspired by Alcaraz as they defeated England 2-1 late in the game in Berlin
'I couldn't get out of the car until I made sure it was a goal. So it was a few minutes where the nerves were so high!'
It was hoped - at least from the footballers' side, including Morata - that Alcaraz would be in Madrid on Monday to celebrate alongside the Euro 2024 heroes.
But attention is already being turned to the upcoming Olympic Games for the French Open and Wimbledon champion, with doubles alongside Rafael Nadal the pick of the tennis event.
'I'm excited,' Alcaraz said. 'I mean, playing my first Olympic games, it's a dream for me.
'I'm going to try my best to get the medals for my country, both golds.'
English (US)