Saturday, July 15, 2023 – 6:43 p.m
LONDON, July 15 / WAM / The clash between veteran Serbian tennis stars Novak Djokovic and young Spaniard Carlos Algaraz will be renewed tomorrow when the two players meet in the finals of the professional world rankings. English Open Championship (Wimbledon), the third of the four major “Grand Slam” tournaments of the season. Currently.
From the beginning of the tournament, the players were expecting to reach the final, where the title would be between world number one Alcaraz and second seed Djokovic.
And with the players reaching the final together, the goal for each of them is no longer just to top the podium with a Wimbledon title, but rather, both players competing tomorrow for the top spot in the world rankings, where Djokovic can regain. A title win would give him the lead, while winning the title is the only way for Alcaraz to maintain his current lead.
Each player enters the tournament with a different grand ambition from the other; Djokovic will win this final and create more than one record.
And if the 36-year-old Djokovic beats Algaraz tomorrow, the Serbian will equal two records held by former Swiss Roger Federer. They have won the champion title 5 times in a row and Wimbledon title 8 times.
Djokovic will also tie the record for the most titles won by any player in history by competing in four major “Grand Slam” tournaments.
Djokovic is unique in this feat by winning the French Open title (Roland Karos) a few weeks ago, the second of four major “Grand Slam” tournaments in the current season; He took his tally to 23 in these tournaments, compared to 22 titles won by Spain’s Rafael Nadal.
On the other hand, despite being at the top of the world rankings of the sport’s professionals, Algaraz’s 20-year record is still limited to one title in four major tournaments, giving the player an extra boost ahead of tomorrow’s tournament.
Alcazar’s previous title came last season at the US Open (Flushing Meadows).
Algaraz lost to Djokovic in the semi-finals of Roland Garros a few weeks ago to tie the players in head-to-head matches, where they have only beaten each other once, while tomorrow’s match will be the third meeting between them.
Both players performed well in the semi-finals, with Djokovic beating Italian Janic Ciner and Alcaraz beating Russian Daniil Medvedev to reach his second Grand Slam final.
Algaraz said of tomorrow’s clash with Djokovic: “It gives you extra motivation. I think it’s very special to play in the final against a legend.”
“If I win the tournament, it will be amazing for me, not only to win Wimbledon, but to beat Novak would be very special,” he added in a statement released by the World Professionals Association.
Djokovic said of his opponent Algaraz: “I don’t think many people expected Algaraz to play in this good condition on grass courts because his career has been built mainly on clay courts and then on hard courts. But he has had great success in adapting to the type of courts and the needs and challenges of each type. “
Reda Abdel Noor / Ahmed Zahran
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