After setting up what he described as the “ultimate showdown” with Carlos Alcaraz, he now aims to secure his 24th Grand Slam title.
With a playful tone, Djokovic remarked, “He’s highly motivated. He’s young. He’s hungry. I’m hungry too, so let’s enjoy a feast.” The Serbian tennis star has a unique tradition of bending down to consume a handful of grass from the renowned tennis arena after each of his seven Wimbledon triumphs.
Djokovic has openly expressed his insatiable appetite for breaking records, especially in the context of the ongoing debate about the greatest tennis player of all time (GOAT). He strives to surpass every competitor, including those who frequently feature in the GOAT discussions.
Considering that Djokovic honed his skills in a drained swimming pool transformed into a makeshift tennis court during the 1999 NATO bombing of Belgrade, it’s evident why winning the most prestigious prizes in tennis holds such immense significance for him.
“I believe the job is not complete until I raise the trophy,” he added emphatically.
MEN’S RECORD
Djokovic now stands on the cusp of matching Roger Federer’s men’s record of eight Wimbledon titles. If he claims the coveted pineapple-topped gilded Challenge Cup on Sunday, he will equal Margaret Court’s remarkable record of 24 majors, a record that has stood for 50 years.
Even at the age of 36, there are no signs of Djokovic’s invincibility fading away. He has triumphed in six of the last ten Grand Slam events. Despite Carlos Alcaraz recently dethroning Djokovic from the top of the world rankings, the Serbian athlete remains the formidable player to beat, possessing the power to dismantle opponents, as demonstrated during his clash with the 20-year-old Spaniard in the Roland Garros semi-final.
Alcaraz candidly admitted that the stress and pressure of facing Djokovic caused debilitating cramps, severely hindering his chances of victory in their recent encounter just five weeks ago. Undoubtedly, Alcaraz would have gleaned valuable life lessons from that distressing episode. Given Alcaraz’s exceptional performance at Wimbledon, tennis legend John McEnroe even describes him as “better than Federer, Djokovic, and Nadal were at 20. This guy is amazing.”
“If I win, it would be an incredible moment for me—not only to claim a Wimbledon title but also to achieve it against Novak. It would be truly special,” said U.S. Open champion Alcaraz.
“I always believe that if you aspire to be the best, you have to defeat the best. Novak is undeniably one of them. It would be a remarkable achievement if I can accomplish that.”
STAYING CALM
Despite his youth, the Spanish top seed has already secured 12 titles and seems to have quickly adapted to grass courts, as evidenced by his dominant three-set victory over third seed Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals.
While Alcaraz appears physically impeccable, he recognizes the importance of matching Djokovic’s mental fortitude in order to reverse the outcome of their previous encounter in Paris.
“I’ll try to step onto the court with fewer nerves than I experienced during the French Open… Hopefully, I can avoid cramps during the final,” Alcaraz expressed, determined to end Djokovic’s ten-year unbeaten streak on Centre Court.
Djokovic, currently tied at 1-1 in head-to-head matches with Alcaraz, eagerly anticipates the challenge.
We are both in excellent form, and we’re playing exceptionally well,” added Djokovic, aspiring to become the oldest man in the Open Era to claim victory at the grasscourt major.
“I absolutely want to win this title. I eagerly await the match. It will be an extraordinary challenge, one of the greatest challenges I could face at this moment, encompassing every aspect—physical, mental, and emotional.”
Reporting by Pritha Sarkar, edited by Ken Ferris
