A Thrilling Showdown at Wimbledon Final 2023 : Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic

New Delhi, 15 July, (VNI) Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have set the stage for a potentially groundbreaking Wimbledon final, following their comfortable victories in the semifinals on Friday. The upcoming championship match promises a thrilling display of tennis, with Djokovic, the Serb superstar, vowing to deliver a "feast" of remarkable shots. Alcaraz, the current world number one and US Open champion, who is participating in only his fourth grass-court tournament, secured a convincing victory over Daniil Medvedev with a score of 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. Meanwhile, Djokovic, the reigning Australian Open and French Open champion, reached his ninth final at the All England Club and an unprecedented 35th final at the Grand Slams after defeating Jannik Sinner 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4).
On Sunday, the 36-year-old Djokovic will strive to equal Roger Federer's record of eight Wimbledon titles and Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 majors.
Notably, Djokovic had already defeated Alcaraz in the French Open semifinals in June, where the young Spaniard confessed to experiencing severe muscle cramps due to the pressure of facing the renowned Serb. However, Alcaraz remains confident, expressing his belief in his ability to overcome Djokovic. Despite being just 20 years old, Alcaraz holds immense respect for Djokovic's legendary status and is determined to fight without fear or fatigue.
While Djokovic acknowledges the advantage of his experience in major finals, he remains wary of Alcaraz's remarkable shotmaking skills. Recognizing the young Spaniard's excellent form, motivation, and hunger for victory, Djokovic anticipates a thrilling encounter, stating, "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."
It is worth noting that Alcaraz suffered a straight-sets defeat to Medvedev at Wimbledon just two years ago, but at that time, Alcaraz was ranked 75th in the world while Medvedev held the second spot in the rankings
In a display of unwavering dominance, Alcaraz and Djokovic showcased their formidable skills in the semifinal matches. Alcaraz exhibited his prowess by capitalizing on a break point, propelling himself to a 5-3 lead in the opening set, further solidifying his advantage with a flawless love service game. Medvedev's fleeting opportunity to break Alcaraz's serve arose in the second game of the subsequent set, yet it was swiftly extinguished by Alcaraz, leaving him with an imposing lead. As the third set unfolded, Alcaraz swiftly seized an early break, propelling himself to a 2-0 advantage. However, an intriguing sequence of consecutive breaks disrupted the final stages of the set, injecting a sense of unpredictability into the match. Nonetheless, Alcaraz exhibited remarkable poise and composure, ultimately securing his berth in the highly coveted Wimbledon final with an awe-inspiring running forehand—an illustrious shot that marked his 27th triumphant winner of the intense encounter.
Djokovic's semifinal victory against Sinner was not without controversy. He received a penalty for hindrance and was warned for slow play during the same game in the second set. Nevertheless, Djokovic's experience and skill prevailed as he fended off three break points in the first set and broke Sinner's serve to secure the opener. The seven-time champion continued his dominance by breaking Sinner again in the second set, claiming a 2-1 lead. In a peculiar fourth game, Djokovic stretched his lead to 3-1. However, he faced a hindrance call following a loud grunt accompanying a down-the-line backhand, resulting in a point deduction. Additionally, he received a code violation for taking too long between points. Despite these setbacks, Djokovic managed to maintain his composure and clinched the set with his seventh ace of the match. Djokovic also faced challenges in the third set, with three squandered break points and saving two set points in the 10th game.
Displaying his competitive spirit, Djokovic playfully responded to the crowd's support for Sinner by pretending to shed mock tears, after extinguishing the Italian's hopes of a breakthrough. Djokovic then dominated the tie-break, preserving his undefeated record on Centre Court for the past 10 years. With this victory, Djokovic extended his winning streak at the event to 34 consecutive matches.
Reflecting on his remarkable achievements and his form at the age of 36, Djokovic expressed his satisfaction, stating, "I feel 36 is the new 26, it feels pretty good. I feel a lot of motivation."