Was the Wimbledon last the passing of the torch from Novak Djokovic to Carlos Alcaraz? The Western & Southern Open championship match will likely be a possibility for Djokovic to show it was not.
All week, followers have waited for the potential of a blockbuster showdown between Alcaraz and Djokovic, the clear prime two gamers within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. That’s precisely what they are going to get Sunday in Cincinnati.
“It’s nice. It’s wonderful for the game, No. 1 and No. 2 on the planet dealing with one another once more within the last of an enormous occasion,” Djokovic mentioned after defeating two-time Nitto ATP Finals champion Alexander Zverev within the semi-finals. “That is I suppose what all people needed and anticipated to start with of the event, so right here we’re.”
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Regardless of who wins, Alcaraz will depart the Lindner Household Tennis Centre as World No. 1, having secured his standing by reaching the ultimate. However one other overcome the 38-time ATP Masters 1000 champion will ship a transparent message — he’s the standalone favorite heading into the US Open.
The final time the 2 tennis titans stood throughout the online from each other, simply greater than a month in the past, Djokovic was as assured as ever. The 36-year-old was eight wins from turning into the primary man to finish the Grand Slam — profitable all 4 majors in the identical season — since Rod Laver in 1969. Up a set and with a set level within the second-set tie-break, the Serbian appeared nicely on his method.
Djokovic is a person who thrives on chasing historical past. However that day, Alcaraz refused to function a stepping stone to the report books. As a substitute of capturing a twenty fourth main trophy and additional cementing his legacy, Djokovic suffered a setback that has been uncommon for him over the previous decade. On 16 July, he met his match.
Simply weeks earlier, Alcaraz was so tense throughout his Roland Garros semi-final in opposition to the Serbian, he suffered from cramp and stood no reasonable likelihood of posing a menace as a result of he was bodily compromised.
However Djokovic, who by no means blinks, blinked. Having received 15 consecutive tie-breaks at majors, he misplaced one within the second set. That proved the one opening Alcaraz wanted. Already a serious champion on the 2022 US Open, the Spaniard knew what it took to win on the highest stage. However defeating Djokovic in a Slam last is a fair larger problem, and he rose to the event, profitable a charming five-setter.
Alcaraz’s sport is not any reproduction of Djokovic’s. However that day, the World No. 1 confirmed he’s growing related traits. The 23-time main winner has spoken in regards to the psychological edge he owns over most opponents due to what he has achieved.
However the identical method Djokovic had no concern of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal when he was on the rise, Alcaraz didn’t draw back from the problem of going blow for blow with the seven-time Wimbledon champion. It didn’t matter that it was simply the fourth grass-court event of his profession.
So usually, the 94-time tour-level titlist has escaped inescapable positions in matches by discovering a technique to win the largest factors, giving himself a shot to search out his finest tennis later within the match. Alcaraz basically Djokovic’d Djokovic that day on Centre Court docket and in doing so, pierced the Serbian’s aura of invincibility with a large smile on his face.
“It is not the primary [nor] the final match that I misplaced, so I used to be over it in a day,” Djokovic mentioned earlier than starting his run this week in Cincinnati.
However Djokovic certainly has not forgotten and is keen to make an announcement of his personal in Ohio, the place in 2018 he accomplished the Profession Golden Masters. No different participant has received all 9 Masters 1000 tournaments, and the Serbian has already executed so twice. By profitable Sunday, he’ll personal not less than three titles in any respect occasions at that stage besides Monte-Carlo. That is solely Alcaraz’s third look in Cincinnati.
The World No. 1 enters their showdown with a 2-1 lead of their Lexus ATP Head2Head sequence, however this will likely be their first conflict on a tough courtroom. And though Djokovic is enjoying his first event since Wimbledon this week, he has been in higher kind than his youthful opponent.
The 2-time Western & Southern Open champion has not misplaced a set en path to the ultimate. Djokovic has had his sport face on since his first follow on the Lindner Household Tennis Centre. His depth has been clear. Outdoors of 1 humorous second with a fan throughout his second-round match in opposition to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, he has been a person on a mission.
On the opposite facet of the draw, Alcaraz has wanted to win a deciding set in every of his 4 matches. After pulling his newest Houdini act Saturday in opposition to Hubert Hurkacz, in opposition to whom he saved a match level, the 20-year-old checked out his group, led by former World No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero, and held his arms out as if to say, “Are you shocked?”
“I really feel good. In all probability the folks can assume that I’m going to be drained within the last. However I really feel good,” Alcaraz mentioned. “It would not matter if I play in third units, lengthy matches. I am recovering actually, very well with my physio, with my group. I really feel like I will play the primary match of the event. I really feel nice.”
Gamers have spoken in regards to the relative velocity of the courtroom in Cincinnati, so will probably be fascinating to see if both celebrity will have the ability to earn a bonus with an enormous serving day. At Wimbledon, neither participant dominated with their supply, with Alcaraz main the way in which by profitable 70 per cent of his first-serve factors.
That day, Alcaraz hit 66 winners to Djokovic’s 32, so the Serbian will probably attempt to discover a technique to neutralise the Spaniard’s offence and maybe take the initiative himself.
There is just one participant who owns not less than three victories over Djokovic and a profitable report in opposition to him: former World No. 1 Andy Roddick (5-4), who retired when the Serbian was only a five-time main champion. Alcaraz can be a part of Roddick on the unique listing Sunday.
However Djokovic has received greater than double the variety of Masters 1000 tournaments (38) as Alcaraz has performed (18). As a lot momentum because the 20-year-old earned by profitable Wimbledon, that is Novak’s likelihood to strike again.