Novak Djokovic was once nonetheless looking to digest the lack of his Wimbledon crown to Carlos Alcaraz when a reporter requested him whether or not Sunday’s conflict was once the beginning of a super contention.
The irony was once no longer misplaced on Djokovic who, in spite of nonetheless running at his top, is 36 years previous and in sight of the top of his record-shredding occupation.
“I would hope so, for my sake,” stated the Serb. “He’s going to be on the tour for quite some time.
“I do not know the way lengthy I’ll be round.”
Djokovic’s rivalries with Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal, not to mention Andy Murray, have captivated the sport for close to two decades, but time is against him forming another one with Alcaraz, so Sunday’s five-set duel should be savored.
He played Federer 50 times, 17 of them at majors; Nadal on 59 occasions, 18 of them at majors and Murray 36 times with 10 of them at Grand Slam level.
So far he has faced the 20-year-old Alcaraz three times.
Certainly the prospect of another showdown at the US Open in a few weeks is exciting, but whether or not 23-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic can stretch his career long enough to battle Alcaraz on a regular basis is questionable.
“I feel it is just right for the game, one and two on the planet dealing with every different in five-hour, five-set thrillers. Couldn’t be higher for our recreation generally, so why no longer?” Djokovic said.
The reality, however, is that world number one Alcaraz could be left without a serious rival, certainly amongst the current Next Gen brigade who appear a long way behind the Spanish phenomenon.
“Who’s going to compare this child for the following few years?” said 1987 Wimbledon champion Pat Cash after Alcaraz ended Djokovic’s 34-match winning run at the grasscourt slam.
Can Alcaraz start a new era in tennis?
Hopefully, Alcaraz’s meteoric rise will have a positive impact on those around the same age group, just as Federer and Nadal inspired Djokovic to become the player he is.
Italian Jannik Sinner, 21, beat Alcaraz at last year’s Wimbledon but has reached only one Grand Slam semi-final so far, losing to Djokovic in straight sets last week.
Denmark’s new world number four Holger Rune, 20, has the game and personality to form a rivalry with his former junior sparring partner Alcaraz, while Italian Lorenzo Musetti, 21, is another with the potential to step up.
But for the likes of Stefanos Tsitsipas, Daniil Medvedev, Casper Ruud and Andrey Rublev — players who were supposed to have filled the void after the ‘big three’ depart — they have watched Alcaraz zoom by them.
Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, was outclassed by Alcaraz in the Wimbledon semi-final, lasting less than two hours on Center Court.
While professional sport is full of pitfalls and those suggesting Alcaraz will be sweeping titles for another decade at least, should pause for thought.
Federer, Djokovic and Nadal often talk about the motivation each gave each other as the bar was pushed higher and higher.
Between them they won 65 Grand Slam titles and it is to be hoped that Alcaraz finds a couple of adversaries to share the load as tennis moves into a new era.
“I feel he is already taken Sinner with him and he’s going to take Holger Rune with him, despite the fact that Holger Rune perhaps hasn’t latched directly to the theory but,” seven-time Grand Slam champion Mats Wilander told Reuters.
“Roger made Novak and Rafa suppose ‘howdy this man isn’t going to offer us anything else, we need to move and take it from him’ and I feel Carlos can unquestionably be that man.”