Novak Djokovic already eyeing revenge over Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz at US Open
WIMBLEDON — Novak Djokovic says a rematch with Carlos Alcaraz is top of his agenda for next month’s US Open after five-set defeat in the Wimbledon final.
Alcaraz triumphed in the third-longest men’s final ever at four hours and 42 minutes to win his second grand slam title after claiming the US Open last year.
And when the Spaniard comes to defend that title at the end of August, Djokovic insists he is looking forward to another match to start another rivalry in his storied career.
“I would hope so, for my sake!” Djokovic said.
“He’s going to be on the tour for quite some time. I don’t know how long I’ll be around.
“It’s been only three matches that we played against each other. Three really close matches. Two already this year in later stages of grand slams.
“I hope we get to play in US Open. Why not? I think it’s good for the sport, 1 and 2 in the world facing each other in almost a five-hours, five-set thriller.
“Couldn’t be better for our sport in general, so why not?”
Of the five most-played men’s rivalries of the Open era, Djokovic is one half of three of them: against Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray.
And he says that while Alcaraz shares has the “best of all three worlds” when it comes to how he plays, it is his fellow Spaniard Nadal with whom the 20-year-old seems to have the most similarities.
“He’s got this mental resilience and really maturity for someone who is 20 years old,” Djokovic added.
“It’s quite impressive. He’s got this Spanish bull mentality of competitiveness and fighting spirit and incredible defence that we’ve seen with Rafa over the years.
“And I think he’s got some nice sliding backhands that he’s got some similarities with my backhands. Two-handed backhands, defence, being able to adapt. I think that has been my personal strength for many years. He has it, too.
“I haven’t played a player like him ever, to be honest. Roger and Rafa obviously have their own strengths and weaknesses.
“Carlos is very complete player. Amazing adapting capabilities that I think are a key for longevity and for successful career on all surfaces.”
On court afterwards, Djokovic said he was not surprised to see Alcaraz succeed on clay, given it was the surface he had grown up on, but has been shocked by the Spaniard winning two of his first four grass-court tournaments, first Queen’s and then Wimbledon.
“I think Queen’s helped him a lot. He was close to lose that first match, opening match, in Queen’s. Then he started to gain momentum, more and more wins against really good players,” Djokovic said.
“Wimbledon courts are slower than Aorangi courts or maybe Queen’s courts. It’s more suitable for the baseliners like he is.
“I must say the slices, the kind of chipping returns, the net play, it’s very impressive. I didn’t expect him to play so well this year on grass, but he’s proven that he’s the best player in the world, no doubt.
“He’s playing some fantastic tennis on different surfaces and he deserves to be where he is.”
