- Alcaraz’s remarkable transformation leads to victory over Djokovic at Wimbledon
- Mental fortitude and positive outlook contribute to Alcaraz’s success
- Djokovic sees Alcaraz as a unique and well-rounded athlete with great adaptability
Not too long ago, the pressure of facing Novak Djokovic in a significant match was too much for Carlos Alcaraz, who cramped up amid their semi-final at the French Open and lost. A week later, Alcaraz showed up at the Queen’s Club in London, still attempting to figure out his existence on grass. Arthur Rinderknech, a fortunate loser, nearly defeated him even though he struggled with his movement. “My expectations for this tournament are realistically modest,” he said.
Within a few weeks, both issues were astonishingly resolved completely. Alcaraz defeated Djokovic in the final of Wimbledon after five grueling sets in just his fourth tournament on grass, extending his winning streak on the surface to 12 matches. It is a remarkable accomplishment that reflects the aptitude he possesses in his destructive shot-making, athleticism, and overall game.
However, Alcaraz’s abilities would be significantly diminished if not for his mental fortitude and success-oriented outlook. In the past five weeks, he has demonstrated a prodigious capacity for exponential growth, learning, and adjusting at the speed of light while always moving forward. While it can take some players years to develop certain aspects of their game, Alcaraz considers himself a completely different player compared to even a month ago: “I am a completely different player than I was at the French Open.
I’ve matured considerably since that time. “That experience taught me a great deal,” he said.
The accelerated expansion is in part due to his optimistic outlook. Alcaraz emphasizes the significance of a positive attitude and a cheerful disposition, but when he has fallen short in his young career, he has been forthright and honest about his shortcomings. Last month, he expressed the same clarity regarding his nerves in Paris as he did regarding his initial distress on grass. As soon as he began to feel superficially better, he was the first to recognize that his expectations had altered.
After his success at Wimbledon, Alcaraz’s stature is indisputable. He is a generational prodigy who has developed his distinct tennis style while also learning from the Big Three’s exemplary play. Sincerely, I’ve never faced a player like him, said Djokovic. “Each of Roger and Rafa’s talents and weaknesses are unique. Carlos is a very well-rounded athlete. Amazing adaptability, which I believe is the key to longevity and career success on all surfaces.”
Still, attempting to predict the number of grand slam titles he will win throughout his tenure is futile.
The Big Three made accumulating significant titles and sustaining success appear effortless, but it is extremely difficult to maintain such a high level for so long. It requires good fortune, especially with the ever-present danger of injuries, and a difficult-to-predict level of motivation over an extended period. However, Alcaraz has no peers among athletes born in the 1990s and later. Considering how quickly he has evolved during the first few days of the tour, he will continue to develop.
This defeat positions Djokovic’s career at an intriguing juncture. This is in no way a torch-passing; the Serbian won the first two grand slams of the year with relative ease. Alcaraz is only the second player outside the Big Three to defeat Djokovic in a concluded grand slam match over the past four years, following Daniil Medvedev in the 2021 US Open final.
Even after losing in straight sets to Medvedev, it is unlikely that Djokovic left New York with the belief that he had met his match. Sunday, however, the competitors competed on an equal footing. Djokovic did not play his best tennis, as he squandered a crucial set point in the second-set tie-break and an early break point in the fifth set, but in the end, he was in striking distance. If Alcaraz had shown any sign of tension, the 23-time grand slam champion would have attacked and won.
Instead, the 20-year-old displayed extraordinary shot-making ability in the defining game of his career.
He followed a bizarre drop shot-lob combination with a backhand volley winner off a Djokovic passing shot and then closed the door with some superb serving. Djokovic stated, “I thought I had returned the ball very well in the previous match, but he was coming up with amazing, amazing shots.”
Djokovic’s career, which has been characterized by rivals pushing him to greater heights, may benefit from the emergence of yet another formidable opponent at the top table. After so long, dominating weaker opponents would have lost its appeal. While in peak physical shape, the 36-year-old wants to block a generational talent for as long as possible.
