On Sunday, two forces representing two generations will meet again on the legendary grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis Club as 24-time Slam winner Novak Djokovic and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz battle for the Championships crown for the second straight year, a final that promises to write a memorable chapter in the sports history books.
On one side of the net will be one of the greatest athletes of all time, Novak Djokovic, back to the Wimbledon final for the second year in a row, bidding to achieve a record-breaking 25th major title.
Addressing the upcoming contest, he said: “He already beat me here in a thrilling five-setter. I don’t expect anything less than that. A huge battle on the court.”
“He is as complete a player as they come, so it is going to take the best of my abilities on the court overall to beat him on Sunday.”
On the other side on Center Court, three-time Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz, fresh from conquering Roland-Garros last month, awaits him.
Yet to display his finest tennis on the iconic grass courts, the Spanish star has been building upon momentum within each match and will need to improve his serve performance against Djokovic.
During his latest press conference, Alcaraz commented: “I’m not going to lie, it’s difficult to switch from clay to grass. Everybody could see at Queens that I didn’t play well and had a lot of work to do.”
“I needed hours of practice on grass just to be better. There is no secret to it. You have to put in the work and trust that it is going to be better.”
Nothing Is Impossible
At a time in his career when age, lack of match fitness - competed in just six tournaments ahead of Wimbledon, and a recent injury could have been enough to stop him from contesting the event, Djokovic flipped the script.
Less than a month after sustaining a meniscus tear while competing at the French Open, which required surgery on his right knee, he defied the odds, entering the event with one goal only to win the tournament.
On Sunday, he will play his 10th Wimbledon final, the 37th of his career in Grand Slams, a remarkable feat, but he is hungry for more.
His body and mind aligned to take on the ultimate challenge, embodying a rebel with a cause, one worth fighting for, a record-breaking 25 Grand Slam singles title, his eighth at the Championships.
The Serbian, 37, has found in experience an extra strength against his opponents within each match but particularly under circumstances when he is not 100 percent physically.
En route to Sunday’s encounter, the second seed edged in-form Lorenzo Musetti with a straightforward win.
In the quarterfinals, Alex de Minaur gave him a walkover due to injury; previously, he beat Dane Holger Rune, also in straight sets.
He dropped a set in his opening rounds against Briton Jacob Fearnley and then against unseeded Alexei Popyrin.
In a rematch of last year’s final, Djokovic, yet to win a title this season, will face off against world No. 3 Alcaraz, who lifted his maiden Wimbledon trophy, overcoming the Belgrade-born in a five-set thriller.
Neither player is the same as a year ago; how could they be?
On their own terms, each has continued to master the game throughout a tricky season for both players.
The Murcia native has seen his 2024 season off to a bumpy start disrupted by injuries, forcing him to retire at the Rio Open and withdraw at the Monte-Carlo Masters.
The former world number one achieved his best results at Indian Wells and the French Open, emerging victorious.
Aiming to retain a title for the first time, Alcaraz battled past fifth seed Daniil Medvedev 6-7(1), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 on Friday to progress to the final in London.
In his post-match press conference, he outlined: “I go into every match thinking that I have the chance to lose. Every match is a war. Your opponent is going to play his best tennis to beat you.”
“I’m working on controlling my nerves. Having them is normal and good. But when you are not controlling it, it’s difficult to deal with situations and play your best tennis - that’s what happened to me in the first set here,” he added.
“I was struggling to play calmly on my service games. It was in a rush. After I lost that set, I calmed myself and started to play better.”
The road to the final has seen the 14-time ATP titlist finding his way not just against Medvedev but also top adversaries such as the likes of Americans Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe and 16th seed Ugo Humbert.
He recorded his only straight-set victory over Australian Aleksandar Vukic in his first-rounder.
“Honestly, since the tournament began, I have not thought I’m the defending champion. I try to be better every day, to play better tennis every match.”
Adding: “I am coming into a final feeling great, with a high level of tennis, moving well, with a really high level of confidence for good results on Sunday.
“It’s great to be back in a Wimbledon final, and I am going to enjoy it, for sure.”
