Djokovic vs Alcaraz: A Historic Wimbledon Final

MELBOURNE – Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic will meet in Sunday’s final at the Australian Open not only for the title, but also to make history.

The number one player in the world, Spaniard Alcaraz, can become the youngest tennis player at 22 years old to complete the so-called career Grand Slam. The 38-year-old Serb is chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title. The match will start at 9:30 CET.

Both tennis players will face each other for the tenth time, the meeting in Melbourne attracts special attention, similar to the final of the Paris Olympics two years ago. Djokovic, who knocked out Alcaraz in the quarterfinals last year at the Australian Open, has a better 5:4 record in the intergenerational clash. But the Spaniard won the last duel between them in the semi-finals of last year’s US Open 6:4, 7:6, 6:2.

The stakes are high

They already showed in the semifinals how much both tennis players want to make history. In it, despite problems with his right leg, Alcaraz managed to win a duel with the German Alexander Zverev after a record five hours and 27 minutes (6:4, 7:6, 6:7, 6:7, 7:5). Djokovic, in turn, defeated the world number two and the winner of the last two years, the Italian Jannik Sinner, 3:6, 6:3, 4:6, 6:4, 6:4.

“Every time we play together, there’s something historic about the game. There’s a lot at stake in a Grand Slam final, but it’s no different than any other big match I play.” said on the ATP website Djokovic, who can become independent from the Australian Margaret Court with his 25th Grand Slam title and become the only leader. At the same time, he could come full circle in the place where he won his first Grand Slam in 2008.

He is already the most successful tennis player at the Australian Open with 10 triumphs, and his 100 percent record in the finals also commands respect. After he went through the round of 16 after the withdrawal of Jakub Menšík and in the quarter-finals he also advanced through the first two lost sets against Italian Lorenzo Musetti, who was injured, he performed against Sinner in his words one of the best performances in the last ten years or so.

At 38 years and 241 days, he became the oldest Australian Open finalist when he surpassed Ken Rosewall’s feat from 1972. According to bookmakers, he is not the favorite before his 38th Grand Slam final, but at the same time, he should no longer be such an outsider as he was before the semifinal against Sinner.

“From a biological point of view, I think it will be easier for him (Alcaraza) to recover from that semi-final. But my preparation will be as it should be, and I beat him here last year too after a difficult match. We’ll see how fresh we both will be.” said Djokovic.

Novak looks physically 25

Alcaraz is in the final of the Australian Open for the first time, he has a record of 6:1 in the final duels at the Grand Slams. If he succeeds, he would become the first tennis player to win seven Grand Slam titles by completing under the age of 23 (22 years and 272 days). Djokovic reached this milestone at the age of 27.

Although the two players are separated by 16 years before their third Grand Slam final between them, Alcaraz refused to let age play a role. “Novak looks physically fit for 25. The fact that he has been able to maintain that level even at the age of thirty-eight is impressive.”

The winner of the match will receive A$4.15 million. The losing finalist will receive A$2.1 million.

• Author: © List/
• Source: CTK