Alcaraz wants a seat at adult table, Djokovic pledges to get better after loss
None of the members of the so-called Big Three was able to triumph at both the French Open and Wimbledon in a single season before turning 22, the way Alcaraz just did, capped by a 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4) win against Djokovic in the final
Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic did not manage to collect four Grand Slam titles before turning 22, the way Carlos Alcaraz has.
None of the members of the so-called Big Three was able to triumph at both the French Open and Wimbledon in a single season before turning 22, the way Alcaraz just did, capped by a 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4) win against Djokovic on Sunday in the final at the All England Club for a second consecutive trophy there.
“I’ve seen and I’ve heard all the statistics that I am the youngest to win at Roland Garros and Wimbledon the same year,” the 21-year-old told reporters ater the match.
“I honestly try not to think about it too much. Obviously it’s a really great start of my career but I have to keep going. I have to keep building my path.
“At the end of my career, I want to sit at the same table as the big guys. That’s my main goal. That’s my dream. It doesn’t mater if I already won four Grand Slams at the age of 21.”
Alcaraz is indeed the youngest player to complete the French Open-wimbledon double in the same year during the professional era and emulated Roger Federer in winning his first four Grand Slam finals, although the Swiss triumphed in his first seven.
On Sunday he also matched Bjorn Borg, Boris Becker and Mats Wilander in claiming four Grand Slam titles before turning 22 and is trending well ahead of Djokovic, Federer and compatriot Rafa Nadal in his rate of accumulation of majors.
Djokovic had won only one before celebrating his 22nd birthday, Nadal three and Federer one. That trio won 24, 22 and 20 majors respectively in an unprecedented golden era for men’s tennis.
Alcaraz’s four Grand Slam titles, the 2022 US Open, last year’s Wimbledon when he also beat Djokovic, and this year’s French Open-wimbledon double, required just 69 matches at the slams.
Federer needed 79 matches, Nadal 81 and Djokovic 134 before notching their fourth Grand Slam titles.
With Italy’s world number one Jannik Sinner, winner of this year’s Australian Open, vying with Alcaraz for top-dog status, the figureheads of a new generation are now established.
Whether or not either can go on to challenge the numbers of the “Big Three” is another question entirely.
“I think being there with Jannik, in the top of the ranking, winning the Grand Slams, I think it is good for tennis to have new faces winning the big things and fighting for the big tournaments,” Alcaraz said.
Meanwhile, Djokovic insists he will return to Wimbledon next year and atempt to clinch an eighth All England Club title despite a shattering straight-sets defeat.
Even though the clock is ticking on Djokovic’s career, he said he will keep playing into 2025, when he will turn 38.
“As far as coming back here, I would love to. I don’t have anything else in my thoughts right now that this is my last Wimbledon,” he said ater his 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4) loss.
“I don’t have any limitations in my mind. I still want to keep going and play as long as I feel like I can play on this high level.”