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Novak Djokovic (left) and Carlos Alcaraz (right) will face off in the men’s final on Sunday.
CNN –
Novak Djokovic versus Carlos Alcaraz. Perennial Grand Slam winner against the next generation leader and the Wimbledon men’s final that many have wished for.
Djokovic and Alcaraz clash in a thrilling final between two of the sport’s best players on Sunday, in a match where the stakes are high – the victor leaves London not only with the Wimbledon crown, but with number status 1 in the world .
After his semi-final victory over Jannik Sinner, Djokovic even admitted how exciting a meeting with Alcaraz was.
“I think judging by the performances we’ve seen from all the players, I think this is probably the best final we could have,” he told reporters. “We’re both in good shape. We both play well.
“I think I want to get that title without a doubt. I look forward to it. It’s going to be a big challenge, the biggest challenge I can have right now, in every way: physically, mentally, emotionally.”
Although Djokovic believed Alcaraz was “hungry for success”, he said he had similar feelings.
“I’m hungry too, so let’s have a feast.”
Alcaraz’s remarkable rise to the top of tennis was so rapid that he was seen by many as the favorite to win his second Grand Slam title at this year’s French Open.
These beliefs were reinforced as he smashed his opponents at breakneck speed on the clay – a surface on which, like compatriot Rafael Nadal, he has been a dominant player.
And against Djokovic in the semi-finals, he asserted himself over long stretches of the match against the 36-year-old and at times even played better tennis.
However, disaster struck early in the third set when he began to suffer from severe cramps that affected his action-oriented style of play. He lost the match, ending hopes of a first French Open title.
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Alcaraz puts a shot into the net during his semi-final match against Medvedev at Wimbledon.
After the match, Alcaraz later said that nervousness and tension led to cramps all over his body.
This time around, the 20-year-old wants to avoid something similar happening again and says he will be reaching out to his psychologist, who he says he has been working with since 2020, to help him through the process.
“I’ll discuss with her how to prepare this game, this important moment for me, it won’t be easy,” the current world No. 1 told reporters after beating Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals.
He added: “I (will) try not to come onto the pitch with as many nerves as I probably had at the French Open in the semifinals.” I (will) try to gather my nerves and enjoy this moment, because probably in the semifinals of the French Open I hadn’t enjoyed the first set at all.
“I’m going to do something other than the game. I prepare the game a little differently than the French Open. It will be different for me. I hope I don’t get cramps in the final.”
For Djokovic, he has another chance to make history on Sunday.
Having already set the Grand Slam title record in men’s singles with his 23rd at the French Open last month, Djokovic can match Margaret Court by winning Wimbledon for the most singles titles of all time.
The Serb is also capable of the most Wimbledon men’s singles titles eight times with Roger Federer and a win on Sunday would be his third Grand Slam of the year, giving him an opportunity to claim a ‘Grand Slam’ at the US Open later this year to complete. all four majors in one calendar year.
That hasn’t happened since Steffi Graf won all four Grand Slams – as well as the Olympic gold medal in women’s singles – in 1988. Rod Laver is the last man to achieve this feat in 1969.
Having won six of the last eight Grand Slams, Djokovic says he got to this point by continuing to focus on the biggest games.
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Djokovic plays a forehand against Sinner.
“Well, it’s no secret that Grand Slams are my top priority, the highest goals on my priority list,” he said. “Every time I start the season, I want to peak at those four tournaments. I try to organize my schedule, my training plan, my prep weeks and all tournaments around these priorities.
“I feel like the job isn’t done until I – hopefully – lift the trophy and play in the final of a Grand Slam. I’ve put myself in this position again. Of course I am very excited.”