Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz will continue their riveting inter-generational rivalry in Sunday’s Wimbledon final, exactly one year after their epic championship match at The All England Club, which the Spaniard won after four hours and 42 minutes of thrilling play.
Djokovic, 37, and Alcaraz, 21, will compete for the sixth time in the Lexus ATP Head2Head series. The stakes are typically high. Alcaraz hopes to complete the unique Roland Garros-Wimbledon double and maintain his pristine 3-0 record in major finals. Djokovic aspires to equal Roger Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon wins, become the oldest grass-court major champion, and break Margaret Court’s record of the most majors won by a man or woman.
Let’s have a look at the past clashes of Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz
Madrid 2022 Semifinal: Carlos Alcaraz Defeats Novak Djokovic 6-7(5), 7-5, 7-6(5)
Alcaraz proved himself to be more than simply a talented up-and-coming player during the 2022 Mutua Madrid Open. After a dramatic quarter-final victory against countryman Rafael Nadal, he faced top seed Djokovic.
In the pair’s first Lexus ATP Head2Head match, Djokovic got a taste of what Alcaraz is capable of. The home favourite brought a combination of power and finesse to the Caja Magica.
Carlos Alcaraz hit 51 wins to Djokovic’s 24 and sent him scurrying with numerous drop shots. When it came time to close up the match, the kid did so in style with a booming forehand winner, defeating the World No. 1 after three hours and 36 minutes and becoming the first player to defeat both Nadal and Djokovic at the same clay court tournament.
“I know I played a very good game,” Alcaraz stated. “For the rest of the season I think I am able to play against the best players in the world and beat them as well, so it gives me a lot of confidence.”
Roland Garros 2023 Semifinal: Novak Djokovic Defeats Carlos Alcaraz 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1
When the 2023 Roland Garros draw was revealed, all eyes were on the possibility of a semi-final showdown between Djokovic and Alcaraz. Will Alcaraz be able to match his level against the World No. 1 over five sets after their electrifying match in Madrid?
Djokovic appeared in command early on, but Alcaraz pushed hard to win the second set, and when he did, it appeared that a classic was on the way. Instead, the Spaniard developed cramps early in the third set and was unable to physically recover.
Novak Djokovic was allowed to polish off an ailing Alcaraz, which he did with ease, ending their first major meeting without tension.
“I told him on the internet. He understands how young he is. He has lots tennis time ahead of him, so I’m confident he’ll win this tournament many times,” Djokovic added. “He’s an unbelievable player, an incredible competitor and a very nice guy, so he deserves all the applause and all the support.”
Alcaraz was honest about his thoughts after losing to the eventual champion. He stated: “I’m disappointed in myself, and in a match like this, coming in with tremendous feelings, feeling great physically, then cramping at the conclusion of the second set, beginning of the third set, it was extremely frustrating. But these things happen, and I have to cope with them.
Wimbledon 2023 Final: Carlos Alcaraz Triumphs Over Novak Djokovic 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4
Carlos Alcaraz did not have to wait long to exact revenge on Novak Djokovic. But as the Wimbledon final approached, all eyes were on the Serbian’s bid for history. Only two years after coming within one match of claiming the Grand Slam (winning all four majors in the same season), Djokovic was again in contention, having won the Australian Open, Roland Garros, and returned to the Wimbledon final.
Following the pair’s semi-final in Paris, Djokovic was the clear favourite for SW19. He had not only shown that he was equal to the task of his younger adversary, but he was also a seven-time Wimbledon champion, whilst Alcaraz had only played two grass-court tournaments in his career prior to 2023.
When the 23-time major winner surged through the first set, he appeared to be on his way to extending his tournament winning run to 35. Djokovic had a set point at 6/5 in the second-set tie-break but missed a neutral backhand into the net, altering the outcome of the match and history.
Alcaraz erupted, finally winning a four-hour, 42-minute struggle to claim his second major championship.
“It’s a dream come true for me,” Alcaraz explained. “As I already stated, winning is fantastic, but even if I lost, I would be extremely proud of myself for such an incredible run. Making history in this great tournament by reaching the final against a giant of our sport.”
Nitto ATP Finals 2023 Semifinal: Novak Djokovic Overcomes Carlos Alcaraz 6-3, 6-2
After four matches with razor-thin margins — with the exception of the final two sets at Roland Garros in 2023 — Djokovic delivered the most emphatic victory of this emerging rivalry in Turin. With the victory, the Serbian now leads the Lexus ATP Head2Head series 3-2.
Djokovic’s consistent and deep hitting limited Alcaraz’s ability to attack from the baseline. While the 20-year-old was not at his best for much of the match, he made a late push with strong hitting after going behind by a break in the second set. However, in the match’s outstanding game, Djokovic recovered from losing numerous dramatic rallies to reach 15/40 and hold for 4-2. He would not lose another game during the triumph.
“I approached the match with the right attitude, the right mentality, and I knew from the very first point it was going to be greatly intense,” Djokovic told the media. “He had break points right immediately, going 15 for 40 in the opening game. That’s Carlos. He always gives it his all in these types of matchups, beginning with a lot of high-quality tennis and effort. You have to match that, attempt to weather the storm, like I did.”
Djokovic followed up his victory with another masterpiece against Jannik Sinner in the final, claiming his record-breaking seventh Nitto ATP Finals title.
Also Read: Novak Djokovic Took A Cheeky Dig At Carlos Alcaraz Ahead Of The Wimbledon 2024 Final
