By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday July 16, 2023
For a moment, there was a reality that featured a post-Djokovic openness at Wimbledon. With Roger Federer gone and Rafael Nadal no longer a factor at Wimbledon, there was a belief that the window would be open for the Matteo Berrettinis and Nick Kyrgioses of the world to angle in for a Wimbledon title as Novak Djokovic – now 36 – ages.
Carlos Alcaraz, who just ripped through the grass court season without losing a single match as he dethroned Wimbledon king Novak Djokovic (1-6, 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4) in a Centre Court final for the ages, is changing that thin narrative.
If Alcaraz can be this good on grass with four tournaments on the surface under his belt, why can’t he become the sports’ premier player on the surface in the future?
Djokovic, for one, knows that the ante has been upped.
“I thought I’ll have trouble with you only on clay and maybe hard court – not on grass – but but now it’s a different story,” Djokovic said with a smile on Centre Court after Sunday’s final.
The 23-time major champion elaborated on his words in his post-match press conference.
“I must say he surprised me,” the 36-year-old, who was bidding to become the oldest men’s singles champion in Wimbledon history on Sunday, said. “He surprised everyone how quickly he adapted to grass this year. He hasn’t had too many wins on grass in the last two years that he played.”
Djokovic, who was bidding for his record-tying 24th major singles titles and his eighth at Wimbledon, says that Alcaraz’s title at Queen’s was a springboard.
“I think Queen’s helped him a lot,” he said. “He was close to losing that first match in Queen’s. Then he started to gain momentum, more and more wins against really good players.”
Even so, Wimbledon is a different level when it comes to grass court tennis. Alcaraz had never been beyond the round of 16 at the All England Club prior to this year. Last year he was bounced by Jannik Sinner in four sets.
Maybe the slow-playing courts at SW19 make the game even easier for Alcaraz? Djokovic thinks it might be the case.
“Wimbledon courts are slower than Aorangi courts or maybe Queen’s courts,” Djokovic said. “It’s more suitable for I guess the baseliners like he is.”
Even so, the completeness of Alcaraz’s game makes him lethal on any surface he steps on.
“I must say the slices, the kind of chipping returns, the net play, it’s very impressive,” Djokovic said. “I didn’t…
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