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Djokovic vs Alcaraz Destiny Dream Wimbledon Final
14 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
As if the tennis gods orchestrated another Grand Slam destiny final, both Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz cruised through semifinal wins and will meet on Sunday in a super showdown.
Djokovic bested Jannik Sinner 63 64 76, improving on his five set win a year ago from two sets down vs the Italian, exhibiting further evidence that the 36 year old may still be improving.
Alcaraz, 20, also stormed past Daniil Medvedev in three symmetrical sets 63 63 63, with the Russian master once again mysteriously opting to return serves and play the Spanish dynamo from far behind the baseline, a recipe for failure.
Djokovic is gunning for this 24th Grand Slam and 8th Wimbledon, fifth consecutive. Alcaraz is now in his first Wimbledon final and aspiring for this second Grand Slam title to pair with his 2022 US Open. Next week’s ATP no. 1 ranking is also at stake.
It will be a rematch of the French Open semi won by Djokovic in four sets.
The war of words from the two combatants…
Carlos: It is going to be incredibly difficult but I will fight. I believe in myself and I will believe that I can beat him here. He hasn’t lost on this court since 2013, so it is going to be a really tough challenge for me. I dream since I started playing to play a final here and it is even more special playing against Novak. It is a final. There is no time to be afraid, be tired. I will go for it.
Q. You said you were pleased with your tactics against Daniil today. Do you already know in your head what your tactics will be against Novak?
CARLOS ALCARAZ: Not yet (smiling).
I have to get deep into that because Novak has no weakness, so it’s going to be really tough to find the way to be danger for him.
Right now is not the time to think about it. I will have time tomorrow, the day off before, to prepare the match. I talked with my team. We will find the way to win Novak.
Novak Djokovic: This is probably the most anticipated finals I guess from the beginning of the tournament, from most of the people. Alcaraz, myself… It will be his first finals in Wimbledon.
He’s so young, but he’s incredibly consistent now, also on grass. Which I don’t think many people expected him to play so well because his game is basically, yeah, built and constructed and developed for clay mostly or slower hard courts. But he’s been incredibly successful in adapting to the surfaces and demands and challenges of opponents on a given day.
I see this as a great trait, as a great virtue. I see this as one of my biggest strengths throughout my career, that I was able to constantly develop, adapt, and adjust my game depending on the challenges basically. That’s what he’s doing very early on in his career.
Kudos to him. Amazing player. Great guy also off the court. He carries himself very, very well. He respects the history of the sport, respects everyone. No bad words about him at all.
His team, his family… I’ve seen him play in Queen’s a little bit. Here he’s been very impressive. I think he already developed a very accurate game on grass.
I think, judging by the performances that we have seen from all the players, I think this is probably the best finals that we could have. We are both in good form. We’re both playing well.
I guess I want to take this title without a doubt. I look forward to it. It’s going to be a great challenge, greatest challenge that I could have at the moment from any angle really: physical, mental, emotional.
He’s one of the quickest guys on the tour. He can do pretty much anything on the court. I consider myself also very complete player.
We had a very good match until he started struggling physically in Paris. I think we really took the level of tennis very high. I think was great for the audience and great for us players to be part of that.
Obviously completely different conditions here. Grass is massively different from clay. Yes, I do have more experience playing in many more Grand Slam or Wimbledon finals than him. Still he’s in great shape. He’s very motivated. He’s young. He’s hungry.
I’m hungry, too, so let’s have a feast (smiling).
Carlos Alcaraz · Novak Djokovic · Wimbledon
Scoop Malinowski · July 14, 2023 at 8:43 pm
About the hindrance all at 63 11 15 all, Djokovic hit a BH up the line then grunted loudly after the contact and ump called hindrance as Sinner made the off balance FH return, giving Sinner the point. We never see this called and players do it fairly often. Just this week Bublik and Rublev had the same situation, Bublik hit the BH up the line grunted loudly and Rublev made the winning shot from the corner with his lunging forehand. It looked like the umpire was biased against Djokovic to make this call which is not called consistently in the ATP. Carlos is always grunting loudly after contact with the ball. Never called for it.
Sam · July 14, 2023 at 9:46 pm
From the article:
“Russian master once again mysteriously opting to return serves and play the Spanish dynamo from far behind the baseline, a recipe for failure.”
So what do you think that was about, Scoop? 🤔
Scoop Malinowski · July 15, 2023 at 7:55 am
This theory is circulating by a man called Genku on twitter: Before 2021 USO Medvedev made a pact with the establishment. With some sacrifice & compromise, his place is secure & he can fulfill most of his ambitions without obstruction. He knew what he needed to do. He also knew he would have no chance against Novak.
catherine · July 15, 2023 at 10:45 am
Well, a swerve here before back to the main business on Sunday.
Not the final the WTA were expecting or wanting but Marketa
shows how you do it when you’re defintely not the favourite.
SS and unseeded. Wow. A comeback from her wrist operation last year too.
Hope Emma was watching.
catherine · July 15, 2023 at 11:12 am
Seriously – the WTA can maybe address the falling off in quality from women players by having a critical look at the frequency of maternity leave and ‘mental health’ breaks. Pro tennis is a job. If it looks like you’re not trying you just let everybody down.
That said, the uncharitable comments from twitter, commentaters etc are uncalled for. Sometimes these things just happen.
Scoop Malinowski · July 15, 2023 at 12:42 pm
Nice final, nice performance by Vondrousova, looked like Jabeur may have choked on the big occasion, her expression of sorrow after looked like she knew she let herself down and blew an opportunity but she didn’t produce the tennis caliber needed. Easy close out for Vondrousova, 40-love and then a DF and then a volley winner for the title. Jan Hernych is her coach, a fine grass court player with good hands/feel, he almost beat Hewitt in Newport, I interviewed him for Facing Hewitt book. I’m told he’s put in a lot of work with Vondrousova but he won’t be paid well for this. She uses two part time coaches back home. Word is she’s cheap. But most players are regarding coaches. So many coaches will do it for peanuts or even free for the exposure. Some even pay the player! Two ATP no. 1s actually dropped their coaches just before they reached no. 1 to avoid paying the coach the $1m bonus.
Sam · July 15, 2023 at 3:25 pm
Scoop, while I think Genku’s theory is certainly plausible, why didn’t they choreograph the scoreline to be a bit tighter? You know—make it look like a real contest? 🤔
Scoop Malinowski · July 15, 2023 at 7:07 pm
Sam, if theory is possible, perhaps to keep Carlos as fresh as possible for the final, so he will have a full tank to fight Novak. And to add to Carlos legend as being the GOAT, significantly superior to Rune, Medvedev, Ruud, Stefanos, etc
catherine · July 16, 2023 at 1:55 am
Scoop – yes, I thought that final volley from Marketa was textbook. Should be framed and hung on a wall.
I’m also thinking Jabeur, nice person though she is, hasn’t the true ability to make a GS winner. Could be wrong, but I’d be surprised to see her there. Her rivals know this.
I’m expecting a 5 hour epic this afternoon. I could never sit through those so some other lucky person got the ticket.
Scoop Malinowski · July 16, 2023 at 7:53 am
Catherine, Jabeur can beat Grand Slam champions so she can win one too. I see Djokovic winning the final, another masterpiece performance.
Cory · July 16, 2023 at 8:43 am
What? No mention of Donald Young or Peter Polansky matches today at Newport Q round? 🙂 i will keep an eye on those at 11am & 12:30pm.
Scoop Malinowski · July 16, 2023 at 3:43 pm
How on earth did DY get into qualies ranked outside 600? Also Pecotic got in too. There’s several subjourneymen playing, also Gage Brymer got in again. My source sent a photo of Anderson and Cressy, two former Newport champs, hitting next to each other while the second set of the Wimbledon final was being played today.
catherine · July 17, 2023 at 2:33 am
Scoop – some points
Yes, I really hope Jabeur can get over her tears and win a big title, although possibly not Wimbledon, too many shadows, before she retires.
Raducanu can take heart from Marketa’s story – recovered from serious wrist problems and got her little badge.
I wasn’t deeply invested in the men’s final but if I was a betting person I’d have gone for Carlos. You just get that feeling. Time’s on the turn.
Women’s tennis is less stable than men’s but a No 1 is a No 1. Whatever problems Swiatek’s having she ought to solve them soon. She has a unique talent. I’m still thinking of that slapshot in Bad Homburg.
Can’t spell the junior girl’s name but she could overtake Coco. And learn some lessons. In fact everyone could learn
a lesson: There will never be another Serena.
Scoop Malinowski · July 17, 2023 at 6:13 am
Catherine, her name is Clervie Ngounoue and I saw her four years ago when she was 12 she played against a girl I was coaching at Eddie Herr, a Chinese girl who was actually beating Clervie 53 in the third and then Clervie won four games in a row to win, QF of Eddie Herr 14s. Clervie already had a complete all court game back then, very good athlete, volleys, attacker, more dimensions and obviously a great fighter too. The Chinese girl was less athletically gifted but also a great competitor and now plays Ivy League at Cornell and doing very well there. Clervie will be better than Coco IMO and that’s saying an awful lot.