Novak Djokovic says the sporting world will be watching his “ultimate showdown” against Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday’s Wimbledon final where history and a generational shift are at stake.
Djokovic is attempting to equal Roger Federer’s record of eight titles at the All England Club and match Margaret Court’s all-time mark of 24 Grand Slam crowns.
After already pocketing the Australian Open and French Open in 2023, the 36-year-old will be just one major away from completing the first men’s calendar Grand Slam since 1969 if he wins on Sunday.
“It’s the ultimate showdown,” said Djokovic, who will be playing in a record 35th Grand Slam final.
Novak Djokovic says the sporting world will be watching his “ultimate showdown” against Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday’s Wimbledon final where history and a generational shift are at stake.
Djokovic is attempting to equal Roger Federer’s record of eight titles at the All England Club and match Margaret Court’s all-time mark of 24 Grand Slam crowns.
Having already pocketed the Australian Open and French Open in 2023, victory on Sunday will put the 36-year-old just one major away from completing the first men’s calendar Grand Slam since 1969.
“It’s the ultimate showdown,” said Djokovic, who will be playing in a record 35th Grand Slam final.
Djokovic can become Wimbledon’s oldest champion while Alcaraz is bidding to be its third youngest after Boris Becker and Bjorn Borg.
“I obviously have more experience. It can help a little bit in some important moments, beginning the match, managing the nerves, managing the occasion, circumstances,” said Djokovic.
“But it’s not going to be the deciding factor really. Whoever, on a given day, is in a better state, mentally and physically, will be the winner.”
Djokovic won the mind games when the pair clashed in the French Open semi-finals in June.
Alcaraz suffered body cramping, a physical collapse brought on, he freely admitted, just by the sight of Djokovic on the other side of the net.
“Italy’s Jannik Sinner, who was blown off court by Djokovic in Friday’s semi-final, said, ‘If you think how big he is, you struggle.’
The pain of his Paris nightmare is still raw for Alcaraz who plans a series of mental exercises to counter the tension on Sunday in his first meeting with Djokovic on grass.
“I’ll try to forget that I’m going to play a final against Novak,” he said.
Despite the enormity of the occasion, the Spanish star will be buoyed by knowing that he defeated Djokovic in their first meeting in Madrid last year.
Sunday will be Alcaraz’s first Wimbledon final in just his fourth grass-court event.
Djokovic is in his ninth championship match at the All England Club.
The Serb has won 34 successive matches at the tournament and has not suffered a defeat on Centre Court since Andy Murray defeated him in the 2013 final.
“He’s in great shape,” Djokovic said of Alcaraz. “He’s very motivated. He’s young. He’s hungry. I’m hungry, too, so let’s have a feast.”
Their progress to the final has been similar.
Both have only lost two sets. They have spent virtually the same amount of time on court.
Alcaraz said, “This is going to be the best moment of my life,” as he aims to become the third Spanish men’s champion after Manuel Santana in 1966 and Rafael Nadal, who won the title in 2008 and 2010.
“Playing a final here in Wimbledon is something that I dream about when I start playing tennis.
“It’s even better playing against Novak. It’s going to be a really emotional moment for me. For Novak is one more day, one more moment,” added Alcaraz who described Djokovic as a “legend” of tennis.
Alcaraz will likely enjoy most of the crowd support as All England Club fans, in common with most around the world, remain stoically ambivalent towards Djokovic despite his status.
– Alcaraz ‘best I’ve seen’ –
There were wild cheers when Alcaraz told a courtside TV interviewer after his semi-final demolition of Daniil Medvedev that he believed he could beat Djokovic and that it was “no time to be afraid”.