Today marks the clash of two tennis titans once again, as Carlos Alcaraz locks horns with Novak Djokovic in the men’s Wimbledon final.
We were treated to a true thriller yesterday, which saw Barbora Krejčíková lift the coveted trophy, but now attention has turned to a rematch of last year’s final as youth faces experience once again, with centre court their battleground.
The Spaniard has the energy and every shot in the book, but his 37-year-old opponent boasts an undying spirit and technical proficieny that has made him one of the greatest athletes in sporting history.
A win today would see him cement his legacy as the undisputed greatest of all time, equalling Roger Federer’s eight Wimbledon titles, and standing alone as the most proficient Grand Slam winner in male and female tennis history.
However, Novak Djokovic will not have it easy, and if he is to win he will have to overcome one Carlos Alcaraz shot in particular which Andy Roddick thinks is the best of all time.
Andy Roddick left stunned by one Carlos Alcaraz shot
Whilst the Serbian superstar is rightly regarded as the greatest player of all time, although that title is widely debated, there are a number of specific shots of which he is far from the best there has been.
After all, few of his size could compete with some of the big servers out there nowadays, whilst his forehand is not really on the same level as Rafael Nadal’s thunderous left-handed alternative.
But, tying all his phenomenal assets together is what makes him so special, and has also made him so unbeatable.
Alcaraz is one of few to have disrupted his reign in recent years, and his success in doing so has come from a few keen tactics.
Journalist Jon Wertheim, speaking on the Served with Andy Roddick podcast, sought to preview the final by speaking about the 21-year-old first: ‘He’s had a couple of these lulls, ultimately he’s played himself through it which, you know better than I do, that can actually fire you with more confidence if you win three, three, three.
‘I like your comment about the drop shot. He goes to that as a weapon. That is not a bail-out shot.’
This sparked Roddick into action, claiming: ‘Totally. It’s the best drop shot in the history of tennis.’
Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic set for another Wimbledon showdown
Given Roddick outlined a Djokovic tactic for how to beat Alcaraz in today’s Wimbledon final, it only felt right that the American offered a retort of sorts, detailing what the youngster in turn provides to this showdown.
If it is anything like last year’s, those on centre court and the millions around the world watching will be sufficiently entertained.
Although, it is worth remembering that there was a very real threat that the 2023 final was going to be a blowout, especially when Djokovic raced into a 5-0 lead, winning the first set 6-1.
People worried that Alcaraz was not quite built for this stage just yet, but he would swiftly assuage those fears by claiming the second set on a tiebreaker, a method of victory usually assured for the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
Then, it was anyone’s game.
Alcaraz subsequently took the third, before Djokovic hit back to snag the fourth.
In the end, it was the former who would edge out the fifth set, with the match earning plaudits as one of the greatest finals we had seen in some time.
Hopefully we see more of the same today.
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