If Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic produce anything near what they did in last year’s Wimbledon decider, we’re in for a treat in 2024.
Twelve months ago, Alcaraz completed a stunning five-set victory, handing Djokovic his first loss on Centre Court in 10 years.
ARCHIVE: Alcaraz becoming a great, by dethroning a great, in epic Wimbledon final
In Friday’s semifinals at Wimbledon, Djokovic beat Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets to ensure a highly-anticipated rematch against Alcaraz, who’d earlier stopped Medvedev in four.
Alcaraz is aiming to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon back-to-back, something only Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver have done in the Open era. He will also attempt to defend a major title for the first time.
For Djokovic, it’s even bigger. Victory would see him win a 25th Grand Slam singles title – the most of any player, man or woman, in tennis history.
So much to play for, and so many possibilities. Even the players themselves are excited.
“I'm going to enjoy the final for sure,” smiled Alcaraz, after beating Medvedev for the second straight year in a Wimbledon semifinal.
Added Djokovic: “I think Wimbledon finals is probably the most watched tennis match in the entire year in the world. It adds more, I guess, to the importance of the match.”
"I never faced a Nole like this"
Wimbledon holds a particularly special place in Djokovic’s heart, a tournament he watched and dreamed of winning as a child.
This year’s campaign marks his sixth consecutive Wimbledon final, and he has won the championship in four of his past five visits, among seven Wimbledon titles overall.
Few tournaments would inspire Djokovic to attempt a comeback so quickly after knee surgery, as he did here. He had a meniscus tear repaired following his quarterfinal withdrawal at Roland Garros, and within a month made his competitive return at the All England Club.
Cautious on the lawns in the early rounds, Djokovic has grown in comfort and confidence to arrive at this point yet again.
“I was not thinking about, particularly in the first couple of matches, of the eventual title match,” Djokovic admitted.
“I was just thinking about moving well, not injuring myself, to be honest, and feeling more free so to say in my movement.
“That's what happened I think in the third and particularly fourth round. I felt like: ‘OK, I'm actually playing close to my best, and I can have a shot at the title’.”
Musetti would be inclined to agree, expressing his awe at Djokovic’s level of performance in the semifinals.
“I never faced a Nole like this, I think,” Musetti said following his 6-4 7-6(2) 6-4 loss.
“Today I was really impressed. I never face him on grass. I think his tennis really fit very well on this surface. Especially how he returns, it's something like kind of a joke.”
Avenging defeat
Defeat to Alcaraz in last year’s decider was an unfamiliar feeling for Djokovic. He had won his previous six Wimbledon finals, his previous runner-up finish coming in 2013, to Andy Murray.
And he has not lost to Alcaraz since, winning both their subsequent meetings in 2023.
Djokovic is acutely aware of the enormous threat his young rival poses, describing Alcaraz on court as “deservedly one of the greatest 21-year-olds we’ve ever seen in this sport”.
He is steeling himself for another battle in Sunday’s final showdown.
“I think probably all of us share the same opinion, that he's going to win many slams in his career. Hope he's going to give me this one in two days,” smiled Djokovic, after reaching his first final of the season.
“Every time I step out on the court now, even though I'm 37 and competing with the 21-year-olds, I still expect myself to win most of the matches I always have to come out on the court and perform my best in order to still be at the level with Carlos or Jannik (Sinner) or Sascha (Zverev) or any of those guys, Daniil.
“This year hasn't been that successful for me. It's probably the weakest results the first six months I've had in many years.
“Wimbledon just extracts the best of me and motivates me to really always show up and perform the best I can.”
A happy hunting ground
The tournament also seems to extract a similarly brilliant level from Alcaraz, who is undefeated in his past 13 matches at the All England Club.
He’s also on a 13-match winning streak at Slams, after his triumph at Roland Garros last month.
“I'm coming into a final feeling great with really high level of tennis, really high level of confidence, moving well,” Alcaraz declared.
“I have confident enough to do a really good results on Sunday.
“I just go into every match thinking that obviously I have chances to lose. Every match, it's a war. The opponent, they are going to put his best tennis to beat you.
“Honestly, since the tournament began, I didn't think I'm the defending champion. I try to be better every day… to play a better tennis every match that I'm playing.
“It was kind of similar feelings comparing to last year.”
Those feelings bode well for him in his quest for a repeat triumph in 2024. But Alcaraz, just like Djokovic, is keenly aware of the momentous challenge his opponent represents on Sunday.
“I know how it's going to feel playing against Djokovic. I've played few times in Grand Slams, final of Masters 1000, multiple times against him,” said Alcaraz, who trails 2-3 in the head-to-head series.
“I know what I have to do. I'm sure he knows what he has to do to beat me.
“But I'm ready to take that challenge and I'm ready to do it well.”