Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Singles Preview: Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic II
How fitting it would be that the Wimbledon final would see two of the finest players of different eras clashing for the ultimate crown. The path to make the championship match always has its level of intrigue, but none perhaps more so than the case of Djokovic, who had knee surgery done on June 5, and five weeks later clinched a spot in another Wimbledon final. Carlos Alcaraz came into Wimbledon off a French Open championship, and hopes to be the first player to complete the French Open/Wimbledon sweep since Djokovic accomplished the feat in 2021.
Djokovic holds a grand slam final record of 24-12, a win would add to his record setting mark for grand slam titles. For Alcaraz, the Spaniard boasts a major final record of 3-0, with hopes of keeping his perfect record in tact.
The two have met five previous occasions, all of which in at least a semifinal. Djokovic had already well established himself in tennis history in 2022 with 20 grand slam titles when he played Alcaraz for the first time in Madrid. Alcaraz in the quarterfinals accomplished one of the toughest tasks in tennis; beating Rafael Nadal on clay. It was in the semifinals, where Carlitos won a hard fought third set tiebreaker to knock off Djokovic and eventually win the tournament. Alcaraz would win his first major in the US Open to close out 2022. After winning the Australian Open in 2023, Djokovic was poised to win the French Open for the third time in his career. In the semifinals, he faced Alcaraz in another highly anticipated match. Alcaraz played well through the first two sets, before cramps affected Carlitos, and Novak made him pay, winning twelve of the last 14 games of the match. Little did we know, we were weeks away from the most monumental match for the two in recent memory, the 2023 Wimbledon Final.
Djokovic boasted a 34 match win streak, and was the four time defending champion of Wimbledon, whereas Alcaraz was searching for his first Wimbledon title. The turning point of the match came in the second set. After Djokovic claimed the first set 6-1, Alcaraz was endanger of falling down two sets. In the second set tiebreaker, Djokovic inadvertently hit a shot that was on its way to being out, and Carlitos would capitalize, winning the set tiebreaker 8-6. The third set was all Alcaraz in a 6-1 rout, before Djokovic answered with a 6-3 win in the fourth set to force a fifth and deciding set. Alcaraz would break Djokovic early, and would serve his way to the title. The 6-4 win in the fifth set, extinguished Djokovic’s reign in Wimbledon, and perhaps dawn the sign of the new generation.
The two would meet two other occasions last year, with the Cincinnati Open final that included drama that may have been the best match of the year, with Djokovic saving a championship point and winning the second and third set in tiebreakers. To this day, the lone Alcaraz championship loss came in the final of the Cincy Open. The two would meet again in the ATP Finals with Djokovic routing Alcaraz only dropping five games. Regardless of the result on Sunday, a new chapter in the rivalry between Alcaraz and Djokovic will be written.
Alcaraz’s trek to the final saw its first turbulence against American Francis Tiafoe in the third round. At one point being a game away from defeat, Alcaraz took himself to a high gear, winning the fourth set tiebreaker, before cruising to a fifth set win. Back to back four set wins against Ugo Humbert and the difficult to play Tommy Paul put Alcaraz in the semifinals of Wimbledon for the second straight year, only to face the same opponent, Daniil Medvedev. It was tougher sledding for Alcaraz in the early going, but the Spaniard calmed his nerves, and came away with a four set win (6(1)-7) (6-3) (6-4) (6-4).
Djokovic’s path to the final saw very little difficulty, only dropping two sets all tournament. Although aided by a walkover in the quarterfinals, Novak looked like his typical self with straight set wins against Holger Rune in the round of 16 and Lorenzo Musetti in the semifinals.
The anticipation for this match permeates a level of excitement for many for good reason, but the 21 year old Alcaraz says he will be ready, “I feel like I’m not new anymore. I feel like I know how I’m going to feel before the final. I’ve been in this position before, I will try to do the things that I did well last year and try to be better.” Djokovic said of Alcaraz that it would take Novak at his absolute best if he looks to beat him. Alcaraz saying of the matchup, “I know what I have to do, I’m sure he knows what he has to do to beat me.” The aggressive and entertaining style of Alcaraz faces one of the best returners in tennis history again in what promises to have the makings of another classic.
Pick: Alcaraz (6-4) (5-7) (6-3) (6-4)
Look for the youthfulness of Alcaraz to be on full display in the latter portions of the match. For Djokovic to win, he has to play at his absolute best, against a player that has refined his game to be one of the best young talents in recent memory.
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