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Student Teaches The Professor Lesson in Wimbledon Final
41 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
By Scoop Malinowski
It can’t be said with certainty either way that this was or wasn’t the greatest Wimbledon final ever played. But it was something very very special.
In an epic fistic slugfest and marathon of endurance,pressure and nerves, at the graduation ceremony, it was the student who gave the professor a lesson in Grand Slam final tennis, as Carlos Alcaraz survived and bested Novak Djokovic 16 76 61 36 64.
It was Djokovic who was superior early, racing to a dominant first set lead 61. But then Alcaraz found his way back into the match, ripping his shots and dictating play, producing fewer misfires. Djokovic conveyed the expression he felt in control with some enjoyable smiles after entertaining points but it may have been a bluff. It was the 20 year who came back from an 0-3 deficit in the second set tiebreaker, with perhaps some help from chair umpire Fergus Murphy’s time violation call on Djokovic serving at 4-5. Two uncustomary backhand errors by Djokovic gave the set away. It was a shocking accomplishment by Carlos to win that tiebreaker vs Djokovic, who had won 14 consecutive Grand Slam tiebreakers.
The best was yet to come though.
Alcaraz sustained the momentum and control of the match with his superior firepower and serving and also mixture of tactics – his lethal drop shot was bothersome for the 36 year old. The 3-1 Alcaraz game featured thirteen deuces which Alcaraz broke and won after a 26-minute struggle to go up 4-1. That critical point of the match almost felt like a championship game as Djokovic appeared weary and annoyed even before at that stage of the contest. Djokovic would lose the set and then left the court for seven minutes.
Gradually he raised his level back to his high standard and was able to outplay Alcaraz in the fourth set which he won 6-3.
In the fifth set, Djokovic held comfortably for 1-0 and seemed in control and on his way to his 24th Grand Slam and 8th Wimbledon title. Djokovic earned a break point for 2-0 but netted a high slow shot down the line from Carlos with an errant forehand swing volley targeted back up the line to the Alcaraz backhand. The critical miss was likely caused in part by all the laser beam backhands Carlos had hit earlier in the match.
Carlos surged from there and held serve that game and then hit another backhand winner pass to break Djokovic and take the 2-1 lead. Djokovic was enraged at his failure and busted his Head racquet on the wooden net post. It was not supposed to be the veteran legend who buckled under the pressure.
Alcaraz did not relent or show any signs of nerves down the stretch. Djokovic rallied but could not break back. He was unable to find a way to offset the impregnable Spaniard’s quest to win his first Wimbledon and avenge the loss at Roland Garros.
Alcaraz never flinched and continued his assault of pulverizing groundstrokes, net attacks, big serving, drop shots. The deathblow was at 5-4, 40-15, an Alcaraz first ball forehand cross court which the off balance defending champion bunted awkwardly at with a weak forehand slice into the net. Alcaraz fell to the grass in jubilation while Djokovic smiled for and embraced his conqueror.
The winner of US Open last year and now 2023 Wimbledon said: “I said before, it’s great to win but even if I had lost, I would be really proud of myself, making history in this beautiful tournament, playing against a legend of our sport. For me, it’s incredible. For a boy, 20 years old, I didn’t expect to reach these situations so fast. I’m really proud of myself; I’m really proud of the team that I have, the work that we do every day to be able to live this experience.”
The observations of Djokovic after the battle: “I think people have been talking in the past twelve months or so about [Alcaraz’s] game consisting of certain elements from Roger, Rafa, and myself. I would agree with that. I think he’s got basically best of all three worlds. He’s got this mental resilience and really maturity for someone who is 20 years old. It’s quite impressive. He’s got this Spanish bull mentality of competitiveness and fighting spirit and incredible defense 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. The two-handed backhands, defense, 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 have their own obvious strengths and weaknesses. Carlos is a very complete player. Amazing adapting capabilities that I think are a key for longevity and for a successful career on all surfaces.”
Alcaraz will be ranked no. 1 next week and with this monumental triumph, it’s easy to imagine the possibility he may never again lose to Djokovic in a Grand Slam tournament. But if anyone can solve the Carlos puzzle it’s Novak Djokovic.
Carlos Alcaraz · Novak Djokovic · Wimbledon
Sam · July 16, 2023 at 5:37 pm
Didn’t see the match, but I heard that Djokovic was oddly flat and lacking in intensity. Not much killer instinct today. What do you make of that? 🤔
Well, I wouldn’t be surprised if he comes back now and wins the U.S. Open. The hunger will be there, and he won’t have to worry about the monkey of a calendar-year Grand Slam. 😏
Scoop Malinowski · July 16, 2023 at 6:00 pm
Sam, that’s not what I saw in today’s final. Novak won the first set 61 and was in position to win the second set. He was smiling and enjoying the second set and conveyed a demeanor that he expected to win the second set while having a fun match with the youngster. But Carlos hung in there and raised his game and Novak was the one who cracked. The time violation call at 45 in the tiebreaker seemed to rattle Novak and cause those two bad BH errors. Then it became a brawl match and Carlos didn’t relent. I think the outcome was mostly due to the sensational tennis played by Carlos which caused Novak to struggle especially with his serve. Also Carlos was all over the court and Novak couldn’t hit winners or get hardly any free points. Carlos was the ever so slightly better player today. It was a tight match that could have gone either way. Another factor I think was Carlos not burning up so much energy early on fist pumping and overcelebrating. He preserved himself well for the five set marathon and was strong at the end. If anyone looked weary it was Novak, especially in set 3.
Scoop Malinowski · July 16, 2023 at 6:24 pm
Total points won today – 167 by Djokovic, 168 by Carlos.
Scoop Malinowski · July 16, 2023 at 9:18 pm
Hsieh and Strycova, two doubles professors, won womens doubles and gave a lesson to Mertens Hunter. At 37 Hsieh won her second GS of the year, her best result of her career with two different partners Strycova and Wang at Roland Garros. Henry Searle, the lefty Brit won the boys and American 16 yr old American Clervie Ngounoue won the girls title.
Sam · July 17, 2023 at 1:15 am
Thanks for your perspective, Scoop. Sounds like everyone has their own unique take on the match. 😉
Maybe Djokovic was a bit overconfident. Toward the end of the tournament, he was saying things like, “I’m the favorite,” which he doesn’t normally do. When I heard about that, I was like, “Uh-oh, he may be in for a rude awakening.” 🥸
Some folks said that the windy conditions messed with his serve and timing too, and that the outcome might’ve been different if they’d closed the roof like they did for the women’s final.
Anyway, not too shabby for a young player who wasn’t supposed to have any kind of grass prowess at all. 😊 And maybe age is finally starting to catch up with Djokovic. I don’t think he’s “done” by a long shot, though.
Incidentally, I noticed that Djokovic is still the favorite (by a hair) in the betting odds for the U.S. Open. Assuming he stays injury-free, what do you think about his chances there? If he meets Alcaraz again there, hopefully he’ll play a smarter match.
Sam · July 17, 2023 at 1:30 am
Oh, one more thing. While Alcaraz is obviously a huge talent, I think it’s plain ridiculous the predictions that certain fans are making about him already. Some are even saying that they think he may end up with 25+ Slams!! 🤪
I mean, he’s only won two Slams (one of which is asterisked), and who knows how long his body will hold up. We also don’t know how well he’ll deal with the pressure of having to stay on top. I really don’t understand why some fans can’t just live in the present but instead have to immediately trot out their crystal balls and play fortune teller. 🔮
Scoop Malinowski · July 17, 2023 at 6:07 am
Sam, I noticed that vibe from Djokovic too, he may have been overconfident indeed – or convinced himself he was. He also said he liked to think he could be playing his all time best tennis now, before the final. This instantly put added pressure on himself to beat Carlos, because if Carlos beat him it would suggest that suddenly one match could catapult Carlos to playing the greatest tennis in tennis history. The Roland Garros match was very very lucky for Djokovic that Carlos mentally and or physically crumbled after he won the second set. Djokovic was in big trouble in that match and got lucky. Then the false sense of security of the 61 first set yesterday. I’ve also heard the door of Center Court stadium were opened when Djokovic served to increase the wind, who knows. Nobody knows the future, if Novak will use this loss as motivation to avenge the kid? Or if Carlos has solved Novak and will only get better and possibly never lose to him again in a Grand Slam. There next clash will be even more epic and pressure packed than what we witnessed yesterday. What I learned from yesterday is it will be Carlos who hastens the end of Djokovic’s career, whether it’s 24, 24 or 26 or 27, remains to be seen.
Scoop Malinowski · July 17, 2023 at 6:09 am
Right Sam, a lot of scenarios can happen. The kid may win two more Grand Slams. He may win ten more. But a lot of players are studying him very very very closely now. Every player in the ATP and even ITF juniors is hunting for him now.
Matt Segel · July 17, 2023 at 11:09 am
Of course predictions about total numbers are ridiculous. However, Carlos has characteristics that would indicate that he will have a very successful career. Injuries will always play the role of potential spoiler, and yes someone will chime along to present a challenge, but what he has can’t be replicated. It’s a unique make up of traits both physical and mental that enable him to be a champion, and yes he has that champion mindset. It’s easy to overhype but why not be excited. He is an amazing athlete, honest, humble and arrogant and exciting to watch. I think he’s a great player to be the face of tennis once Novak retires and Carlos will make the transition interesting. Novak was very close to winning, but Carlos won it, Novak didn’t lose it. Great achievement.
Sam · July 17, 2023 at 8:08 pm
Scoop, didn’t Carlos say that he cramped in Paris because of the stress of facing Djokovic? I’m not sure you can simply call that “lucky” for Djokovic.
And certainly Alcaraz was at least as “lucky” to have Djokovic uncharacteristically blow a tiebreak and also have to face windy conditions, his nemesis. If Djokovic had won the tiebreak, he might well have won the match in four.
Of course, Djokovic was pretty lucky to beat Federer back in 2019. 😏 And he was certainly fortunate to get past the formidable Hurkacz in four sets.
Oh, well, these things tend to even out. It’s entirely possible that Djokovic will come back and win 2024 Wimbledon. And I do think his odds of winning this year’s U.S. Open are better now than if he’d won Wimbledon. He’s definitely going to have a fire in his belly to figure out the Alcaraz puzzle. 🤠
Scoop Malinowski · July 17, 2023 at 9:52 pm
Yes Matt, Carlos did the impossible, he beat the best at his best on his best court. He did it in style and no ody will ever forget it.
Scoop Malinowski · July 17, 2023 at 9:55 pm
Sam yes he said something like that, it was a little lucky but luck is the residue of design.
catherine · July 18, 2023 at 7:24 am
I saw this interview and it made me laugh. A MALE player taking advice from a WOMAN. And winning 🙂
Carlos Alcaraz says Martina Navratilova’s advice helped him win Wimbledon:
“The advice helped me a lot. I saw her after & told her ‘It was your advice! The key.’ I sliced. I tried to do everything she told me… 9 time champion. You have to do whatever she tells you.”
He should share the prize money but of course Martina doesn’t need it.
Cyndy · July 18, 2023 at 8:58 am
Scoop Maliknowski- if only Djokovic had to win that tiebreaker set., it would have been a whole different outcome. I’m sure Djokovic too (and others who were cheering him on) thought that he would definitely win that tiebreak second set, since we have watched how he always manages to get through in those crucial moments., and we also took it has a given, for granted thinking ‘yes it will be done’. After that second set loss, it seemed like he was there but not there kind of feeling. I’m hoping that that match will have indirectly helped to prep Djokovic for the upcoming USOpen should there be a showdown between the both of them. In a way the video that was taken by the CA team would’ve helped to prep CA ‘prolly’ (to be read as probably) word that was said by CA at one of his interviews. Did you think the crowd too played a part (also umpires Haigh and Murphy). I was kinda hoping for Mohd Lahyani as he’s always there for the finals at GS. Am hoping that Djokovic will get the USOpen though after all that transpired.
Sam · July 18, 2023 at 5:20 pm
Matt wrote:
He is an amazing athlete, honest, humble and arrogant
Isn’t that a bit of a contradiction, Matt? 😏
I suppose I’d be more excited about Alcaraz if I didn’t realize how corrupt the world of pro tennis is—a world that blackballed Djokovic from two Slams and coerced its players into taking a very dangerous shot. ☠️
Because of all that corruption, I try to avoid following tennis more than just casually now. But when Djokovic is off the scene, I suspect I’ll be done for good. 👋🏻
Sam · July 18, 2023 at 5:26 pm
Scoop, someone wrote this interesting theory about the final on another board: 🍿
This match reminded me of the 2021 US open final. Seems like Djokovic had a visit from the tennis mafia. He was instructed to lose this match. If you watch carefully in the 2nd and 3rd set he hits the ball straight back to Alcaraz alot of the time. Medium length balls with not much pace, allowing Alcaraz to hit winners. He could have easily beaten Alcaraz in straight sets. But unlike the US he decided to let this one go 5 sets (looks better in the history books). When Djokovic smashed his racket, it was actually out of frustration that he was forced to lose this match, when he knew he could easily have won it.
Scoop Malinowski · July 18, 2023 at 6:41 pm
Sam I don’t buy this theory, tight close match,looked and felt totally real.
Scoop Malinowski · July 18, 2023 at 6:45 pm
Catherine, really good story for image and PR value, true or not who cares.
Scoop Malinowski · July 18, 2023 at 6:48 pm
Cyndy even if Djokovic won the second and Murphy never issued the time violation at 45 in the TB, not sure if Carlos wouldn’t have still won. Carlos won this match by producing the high high level performance needed. Their next showdown will be even more intriguing.
Matt Segel · July 18, 2023 at 10:00 pm
Sam, yes but it seems like the greats have this weird quality of being humble in some ways, but arrogant enough to think that they can, should, and will be in deep stages of tournaments, win big tournaments, be number one etc. It’s an odd mix to be at the very top. The humility seems like it has to be there, the gratitude part. It can’t just be arrogance.
catherine · July 19, 2023 at 2:52 am
Scoop, it’s true. Don’t know the TV interviewer’s name but he asked Carlos if he had any questions for Martina, 9 time winner and experienced grass player (+ old enough to be his g’mother) and he said yes. Martina said, ‘slice more, you’ve got a very good slice. A lot of players don’t like the ball coming low at them.’
So he did and thanked her later with a kiss on the cheek. He seems a nice boy.
Scoop Malinowski · July 19, 2023 at 7:47 am
Matt, you remind me to think of an old quote the great boxing trainer and manager Emanuel steward said, “the great champions in boxing are freaks, they’re not normal.” I think it can apply for tennis too.
Scoop Malinowski · July 19, 2023 at 7:49 am
Catherine, I don’t recall seeing the slice being a distinguishable factor of the final. Or do I see it ever happening that Carlos and Ferrero consider adding Martina to the coaching team.
catherine · July 20, 2023 at 6:01 am
Scoop- I wasn’t going to answer this but then I recalled some of Martina’s matches and not only were the points somewhat shorter but her go-to shot on grass was the slice and that’s probably why she mentioned it to Carlos. He plays so seldom on grass maybe she wanted to remind him that it’s not a shot that is at the top of many players’ lists today and therefore often very effective. Barty eg.
Carlos of course can hit anything.
BTW – apart from that failed outing with Radwanska Martina’s never shown any interest in coaching. I think she knows she hasn’t the temperament for it. Like BJK, who was no good at all.
Scoop Malinowski · July 20, 2023 at 6:42 am
Catherine, your turning this into Martina’s advice to slice was the key tactic of Carlos conquering Djokovic. Should we give half the Wimbledon title to Navratilova? )
catherine · July 20, 2023 at 9:29 am
Of course not. I got the impression Carlos was surprised because he probably didn’t know much about Navratilova and maybe a little flattered. I don’t think Martina really thought he needed advice from her.
BTW – Raducanu is making her comeback in an IMG sponsored exho in China in early December. Did see that somewhere before. It’s a mixed event.
Scoop Malinowski · July 20, 2023 at 9:56 am
The pressure on raducanu in her first tournaments is going to eat her alive. Hope she’s ready for it.
Cyndy · July 20, 2023 at 10:16 am
Scoop Malinowski – I too don’t think that the CA team will get Navratilova to join their team just because she spoke to him before the match… he was probably just being courteous to her after as that is very important now that he has won Wimbledon and has to thus maintain his image for the masses. Only time will tell if he will amass a whole lot of slams in the future as some make him out to be…I mean this kind of talk was never present during Federer/Nadal/Djokovic years so all this hype seems so far fetched. Although if at all CA wins the USOpen then surely that hype may ring true that he has indeed arrived and is the best of the lot to take over the reins. I’m perplexed as to why there has been no further mention on that video recording taken by CA’s father just before the finals. What could have been slashed in three sets by Djokovic still went competitively to five sets which CA thought he could take in four. On a separate note, I’m eager to hear your thoughts/views on the fine that Djokovic received for smashing his racket against the post. Personally I feel they were too harsh on him being a seven time W-champion over the years + a member there as
well. What’s done is done and there will always be a dent it seems.
catherine · July 20, 2023 at 2:08 pm
I think that’s why this ‘event’ was chosen for Emma. So she can test her wrists away from the madding crowd. I hope she got some confidence from watching Vondrousova’s run at W’don.
You’re right – it’s frightening to think how much the WTA’s fortunes seem to depend on this one young woman.
Sam · July 20, 2023 at 2:49 pm
Scoop, yes, that theory may not be true, but the same person who wrote it backed it up with this one, which certainly has a ring of truth to it:
But the tennis mafia do actually have an interest in keeping the paying fans interested in tennis. If Djokovic is winning everything, tennis gets boring. Thats why i think they intervened at Wimbledon this year. Much more interesting to tennis fans everywhere that Alcaraz got his 1st wimbledon than Djokovic got his eighth.
Also I think team Federer and Nadal do still hold some clout behind the scenes, and one thing they don’t want is Djokovic getting the calendar slam.
Sam · July 20, 2023 at 2:52 pm
Matt wrote:
It’s an odd mix to be at the very top.
Indeed. 😚
Scoop Malinowski · July 20, 2023 at 8:17 pm
Sam, time violation at 45 in the TB may have been only the first strike by the deep state. It may have been the turning point.
Scoop Malinowski · July 20, 2023 at 8:18 pm
Catherine I bet her wrist is fine and she’s hitting now.
Scoop Malinowski · July 20, 2023 at 8:20 pm
Cyndy great point about the father’s video spying story getting flushed down the memory hole fast. They’d fine Novak for any misbehavior, so as to further villainize his image and rep.
Cyndy · July 20, 2023 at 8:55 pm
Yes., it does seem like the tennis mafia tried to not let Djokovic get the calendar slam as the door was actually wide open for him to take. It was a a single kill shot that guaranteed 1) Djokovic if he loses = calendar slam gone, 2) to ensure that Federers eight wins remains intact and secure, 3)CA could’ve gotten pointers from both Nadal and Federer on match play against Djokovic as they undoubtedly want to stop him from winning more slams.(just saying). After all CA did seem very eager and sure of playing him in the finals as can be seen from his on court interviews after his matches.
Scoop Malinowski · July 20, 2023 at 9:25 pm
Cyndy but Carlos got steamrolled in the first set, to his credit he settled down and found his groove. Thought his drop shot and constant barrages of consistent pulverizing groundstrokes and serves disconcerted Djokovic, as did the time violation call at the MOST critical point in the second set. Carlos and the establishment won this time, barely.
Cyndy · July 20, 2023 at 9:26 pm
Scoop Malinowski – also most likely that they didn’t want Djokovic to win GS#24., as that would be a lot for Nadal to catch up on for when he comes back after recuperating.
Scoop Malinowski · July 20, 2023 at 10:17 pm
Cyndy, Nadal is done, he’s 1-9 in his last ten matches and he’s looked ordinary. No way they can revive him for one last hurrah, no matter what they feed him.
catherine · July 21, 2023 at 2:42 am
Scoop – I imagine Emma is practising as much as she can at the LTA Centre here otherwise there’d be no way to measure her progress. I know you think it’s possible she’s made it all up and even possibly faked her hospital photos, to blame injury for her poor results.
Actually I was impressed, bearing in mind the media here, how invisible she was at Wimbledon, apart from one promotion early on. I’m not sure I saw her name mentioned once, apart from old stuff. Her choice I’m sure.
A friend who went to the Champion’s Dinner this year tells me it wasn’t held in the Savoy/Mansion House or other posh sites but in a tent in the car park. Sic transit…
Scoop Malinowski · July 21, 2023 at 7:26 am
Catherine, the microscopic scrutiny on Raducanu when she plays again is going to either bring out her best play or drive her bananas.
Sam · July 21, 2023 at 7:28 pm
Sam, time violation at 45 in the TB may have been only the first strike by the deep state. It may have been the turning point.
Good point, Scoop. 😬