LONDON – With Jannik Sinner’s forgiveness, what will happen on Sunday, July 14 at Wimbledon is the perfect final. Novak Djokovic versus Carlos Alcaraz, chapter two.
It’s that special flavour only rematches have. Revenge is so tasty and unique in sport.
A “battle”, a “war”. Concepts used by both players about what will happen on the grass of the Central Court, stage where both will play for a lot, although for Djokovic there will be much more.
“He will win many Grand Slams, although I hope he will not win this Sunday… yes in the future, when I retire in 15 years,” he said with humor after beating Lorenzo Musetti in the semifinals. At 37 years old, it is the Serb who has the most over the table. It is him who will win or lose much more than his opponent.
First, history. More and more records. A triumph to equal Roger Federer with eight titles at the All England Club. A victory to surpass Margaret Court as the most Grand Slam title winner. Although the Australian has won the most in the amateur era, Djokovic has a chance to lead without the fine print appearing to put them on equal footing.
“I’m aware of Roger’s number, that history is at stake, that it can be the 25th as well. On one hand it generates motivation for me, on the other, it adds pressure,” he admitted.
Secondly, the context: who would have bet that he would play at Wimbledon after he appeared in Paris on crutches after having just undergone meniscus surgery? For bookmakers, it was already business as usual whether he was going to play or not.
Djokovic arrived in London eight days before the start of the tournament. He was not going to play if he did not feel well. And what he surely discovered is that he has a bionic knee, and that he is indeed a “super human”, as Alcaraz defined.
He also wanted to push his body to the limit to find out what he was capable of. Was there a desire for self-knowledge. Did he want to prove something to someone? No. Did he border on recklessness? He said he didn’t either.
“I was never against doctors. I did everything in my power without crossing any limits,” he assured the media.
Given the injury history, the potential ninety-ninth tour title would be one of the most epic and unexpected. Comparable to Australia in 2023 after being deported the year before. In Melbourne he became the champion having a three-centimeter tear according to what was revealed at the time by the tournament director, Craig Tiley.
And it is Djokovic who has the most to lose, because at 37 years old and with Alcaraz and Sinner very strong, the chances of winning more Grand Slams are running out for him.
The 2024 season has already been one of his poorest (in Wimbledon he will play his first final of the year) and at some point he will have to stop winning. Has the time come?
The “super human” against the “best 21-year-old tennis player in history”. Cross praise for the two most successful tennis players of the post-pandemic era.
The duel of 12 months ago is very fresh. The only blemish in 28 Grand Slam matches in their phenomenal 2023. Alcaraz is one of those responsible for Djokovic’s failure to own all four major tournaments in a single year, something he will most likely never have again the chance to achieve.
