Preview: Alcaraz and Djokovic meet again on Centre Court | ATP Tour

Wimbledon

Preview: Alcaraz and Djokovic meet again on Centre Court

The Spaniard defends the crown he won in 2023

July 13, 2024

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic face one of the most eagerly awaited matches of the season in London. For the second consecutive season, with Centre Court as a point of global interest, the Spaniard and the Serbian will compete for the Wimbledon Cup and a large part of the ATP Tour summit, a summit that has been contested by two different generations. The maturity of the Balkan player and the growing experience of the Murcian player outline one of the clashes that define the current moment of the men’s circuit.

In his 10th Wimbledon final, Djokovic will be immersed in one of the matches he knows best in his career. The Belgrade native, who is aiming to lift his 25th Grand Slam and extend his status as the all-time champion in the category, will have an absolute test on grass. Against the only player who has managed to beat him in London in the last five years, Novak will seek to complete an astonishing recovery, after undergoing meniscus surgery just a few weeks ago.

If the 2023 chapter is a taste of what is to come, the tickets will be more than worth it at The Championships. A year ago, Alcaraz managed to defeat Djokovic in a spectacular final, decided in five sets in favour of the Murcian after an immense effort in London. The Spaniard managed to break a reign of four consecutive editions by the Belgrade native, ready to once again protect one of the great fiefdoms of his sporting career.

“I don’t expect anything different this time,” warned Djokovic after securing his place in the final on the grass of London. The Serbian, who leads a dizzying Lexus ATP Head2Head record 3-2, knows first-hand the intensity of their direct duels. In the last final between the two, on the hard courts of Cincinnati 2023, Novak needed to go through the longest three-set final in history to twist the hands of the young Spanish prodigy. With an even more intense format, the Wimbledon rematch will test the resilience of his 37 years.

The final will also be a date with history in the hands of Djokovic. The Balkan native hopes to equal the record of men’s singles titles held by Swiss Roger Federer, eight times champion on the grass of the All England Club. That milestone in London, one of the most prestigious in professional tennis, would adorn the legendary list of achievements of one of the most influential sportsmen of all time. Every step Novak takes at Wimbledon is a piece of history, and this Sunday will be a huge chapter in the British capital.

Nods to history will also be present in Alcaraz’s path, as he has become a figure who looks directly at the milestones of legends. The Spaniard, champion at Roland Garros just a few weeks ago, could become the 6th man of the Open Era to crown Paris and London in the same season, an example of adaptation to greatness and the demands of the surfaces. This milestone, completed by Djokovic in the 2021 season, places Alcaraz at a level that is not typical of his age.

“I think he’s the best 21-year-old player the sport has ever seen,” Djokovic dared to admit, showing absolute respect for his rival before a wonderful match. The Murcia native, the youngest player ever to win a major on three different surfaces, has established himself in the front line of the sport with indescribable precocity, assuming the stripes of a veteran with the label of a newcomer. In just his 14th Grand Slam, Alcaraz will be looking for the fourth major of his career on Sunday.

Both will come into the match with their instincts sharpened. Alcaraz has endured a tough road, coming back from three games down and reaching the climax of the fifth set, testing his coolness with the throne in his hands. Djokovic, raising his level as the tournament progressed, won the last nine sets en route to the final, fueling a spirit that will need a maximum effort to turn the tide in London.

The grass of Wimbledon awaits two giants in search of history. Djokovic, who is stretching his professional career like no one else, on the verge of becoming the oldest champion ever in London. Alcaraz, who is facing the chance of being the youngest of the century to protect the golden cup. A match worthy of the legend of the tournament.

Did you know…?
There are only four more repeated men’s singles finals at Wimbledon during the Open Era. With three championship matches, those featuring Boris Becker vs Stefan Edberg (1988-90), Novak Djokovic vs Roger Federer (2014-15, 2019), Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal (2006-08) and Roger Federer vs Andy Roddick (2004-05, 2009).