Wimbledon final: Alcaraz faces unique challenge against Djokovic

The Serbian tennis player will have passed through the magnificent room where the list of winners of all tournament champions hangs and his name is engraved seven times in a row, for the last four times. 36 years old, already add 94 titles He is 12 years old than his younger rival, who was born when he was only 16 years old on the track.

His experience at the All England Tennis Club in London is overwhelming. He has 45 matches won at the centre. He hasn’t lost at Wimbledon since 2013 and since retiring in 2017, injured. A total of 102 matches and only 10 losses out of the dozens that Alcaraz has played so far.

“If we make the giant bigger, it will be impossible to defeat him.. Forget the past and numbers. You can’t hit the track with that backpack. “Djokovic is the best player in history, but he has two arms and two legs just like us.” Juan Carlos Ferrero this Sunday before the final (15:00, Movistar).

This is the grand finale. A generation war. The game that has been awaited since day one. The world No. 1 in question will be the first Wimbledon for Alcaraz, the eighth for Djokovic and his 24 Grand Slams. And the best theater in the world tennis as a stage. “Play against Djokovic It will be the best moment of my life,” he guarantees. alcaraz After reaching the semi-finals on Friday.

“Play and enjoy”

For Djokovic Breaking all possible records will be a new challenge in his career. “It will be a great challenge, the biggest right nowphysically, mentally and emotionally. Carlos is one of the fastest guys on the track. He can do anything on the field,” said Serb, emphasizing that the 20-year-old young tennis player is ready to sweeten his day.

alcaraz He has a plan to achieve this. On Saturday, after a walk in Wimbledon Park and a day dedicated to rest, physical recovery, and seeking the necessary calm to get through the final, Ferrero prepared for Saturday. Coach asked him to isolate himself from his cell phone and everything else that was said about the finale. “My favorite is Djokovic, so it has to be Carlos Carlos. Play and enjoy. This is what you have to do well and fight to the death.”, stressed Ferrero.

Paris experience and lesson

The experience of the semi-final lost at Roland Garros 37 days ago is constantly circulating in the minds of the tennis player and those around him. “Even if it’s the Grand Slam, Wimbledon and Wimbledon finals, you have to learn that day, manage your time better and avoid any more tension or anger. No one can stay calm on the track. We must overcome what lies before us tomorrow.”, valued Valencia coach.

Ferrero against whom he played three times Djokovic. He won the first in Umag 2005, when the Serbian player was just starting (6-4, 6-2) and lost the last one in the first round at Wimbledon in 2012 (6-3, 6-1, 6-) 1). “Those games are far away and his job with Alcaraz is different,” he says. “I talk to him about situations on the field, how to play him, and above all helping him when he might feel a little bit more pressured. I think I helped him with that. In everything else, Carlos is a very well-trained player and he’s going through experiences that develop him a lot very quickly and tomorrow. It will be another step in its development.”

Keys to the end

Ferrero He highlighted the challenges that await his student. “Djokovic is a very complete player, he has shown it many times: forehand, backhand and serve; And in games like this, you improve a lot on a mental level, but if you want to beat Carlos, you’re going to have to play really well,” he said with conviction.

“If Carlos plays bravely, he seizes opportunities. In sensitive moments, you have to dare and play your game.. This does fine, but sometimes we say it crashes when it fails, and yesterday, before Medvedev, when he took the backhand shot to win the first set and we say how great! You have to be brave, don’t lose your style, most of the time it turns out if you do, things are going well for you”.