2024 Wimbledon Men’s Final: Novak Djokovic v Carlos Alcaraz
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The dream rematch final is set at Wimbledon between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz. Djokovic will seek revenge on the Spaniard for derailing his bid for a first Calendar Slam. Now he’ll try for a first time to win a record breaking 25th Grand Slam title and tie Roger Federer with eight on the grass. It’s his 10th Wimbledon final and 6th straight.
“Obviously I’m aware that Roger holds eight Wimbledons. I hold seven. History is on the line. Also, the 25th potential Grand Slam,” Djokovic said.
“Of course, it serves as a great motivation, but at the same time it’s also a lot of pressure and expectations. Every time I step out on the court now, even though I’m 37 and competing with the 21-year-olds, I still expect myself to win most of the matches, and people expect me to win, whatever, 99% of the matches that I play.”
Djokovic has been far from his best this year but just over a month after right knee surgery on June 5, the Serb is into his first final of 2024. Djokovic was the dominant force at Wimbledon until he ran into the Alcaraz buzzsaw last year. Alcaraz put an end to Djokovic’s 45-match win streak on Centre Court in a stunning 5-set win. But he insists the knee is now fine.
“Surreal in a way because it has always been a childhood favorite tournament, so I keep on repeating that,” Djokovic said. “I also remind myself not to take anything for granted, particularly when you are playing finals in the most important tennis tournament in the history of this sport.
“Coming into Wimbledon really before the tournament, I wasn’t sure until three, four days before the tournament whether I’m going to take part in it. Made an extra effort to recover as quickly as possible just because it was Wimbledon.
“So I’m really, really happy to make the finals because I was not thinking about, particularly in the first couple of matches, of the eventual title match. I was just thinking about moving well, not injuring myself, to be honest, and feeling more free so to say in my movement.”
Since the loss a year ago, Djokovic beat Alcaraz in an epic Cincinnati final and then again at the end of the year at the ATP Finals.
Alcaraz will try to stay perfect in Grand Slam finals and go to 2-0, and defend his first Slam. Just 21, he’ll try to win his fourth and complete the French-Wimbledon double.
“Obviously everybody knows Djokovic. He has played multiple Grand Slam final, have won a lot of them. Last year it was a really difficult match. He put me in a really trouble, I’m going to say.
“I know how it’s going to feel playing against Djokovic,” Alcaraz said. “I’ve played few times in Grand Slams, final of Master 1000, multiple times against him. I know what I have to do. I’m sure he knows what he has to do to beat me. It’s going to be a really interesting one if I’m going to play against Djokovic for sure. But I’m ready to take that challenge and I’m ready to do it well.”
It’s arguable that neither are at the level they were at last year. Djokovic hasn’t been as sharp and Alcaraz has played in patches. But the two return to the biggest stage with history on the line yet again.
SUNDAY MEN’S FINAL WIMBLEDON SCHEDULE
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