This season Novak Djokovic-Carlos Alcaraz’s rivalry has been the revelation of a high-quality duel between two players of disparate ages. The differences between the two players in personality, age, and experience have been diluted due to their sheer intensity in performing at the highest level and their unabated desire for success.
However, with statistics of more wins on the side of Novak Djokovic, the only defeat against the Spanish starlet at the Wimbledon final left a significant zest for revenge in the Serbian’s heart. In a recent interview, he reflected on the defeat at the hand of the Spaniard.
Novak Djokovic shares his thought on Wimbledon Final loss
World No.1 Novak Djokovic has admitted that his Wimbledon final defeat to Carlos Alcaraz’ p****d’ him off. The Serbian star who won his 24th Grand Slam title in New York and seventh Nitto ATP Finals title last month said that the defeat to the Spaniard motivated him to win every tournament in the United States.
Carlos Alcaraz won his second major title against the Serbian in Wimbledon back in July. Though the youngster lost the first set, he came back to win 1-6, 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 in an epic final match that lasted almost five hours.
Novak Djokovic recently appeared on the CBS show 60 Minutes where he spoke to Jon Wertheim. The 36-year-old was asked whether the defeat to the Spaniard in the final ‘energized’ him.
“Yes, absolutely, it was. And you’re right because that p****d me off so much that I needed to win everything on American soil, which I did,” he said.
The Serbian was pushed this season by young talents like Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner – who beat him in the group stage of the ATP Finals and in the Davis Cup semifinals while playing for Italy against Serbia.
“The young guys who are very hungry and very inspired to play their best tennis against me is an additional motivation,” Djokovic told CBS. “I think they kind of awaken a beast in me. He’s [Alcaraz] as a complete of a player as I have seen in ages. It’s a great opportunity for me to reinvent myself and really push harder than I ever did.”
Novak Djokovic establishes his retirement milestone
During the interview with leading tennis journalist Jon Wertheim, Novak Djokovic was asked if the current version of himself would beat the Djokovic of 2011, a year in which he won three majors, five ATP Masters 1000s and 10 titles in all.
“He said that at 36 he would beat the 24-year-old Novak of 2011. He might be able to run faster, but experience and the confidence of having come through so many situations would enable him to beat the player who was 12 years younger,” Wertheim revealed.
This season Novak Djokovic hoisted seven trophies this season, including three majors, two Masters 1000s and the Nitto ATP Finals crown. The 98-time tour-level titlist told Wertheim that retirement was nowhere in his immediate plans.
“He said something to the effect of, ‘When the young guys start kicking my butt it will be time to reassess, but that’s not happening yet,” Wertheim disclosed.
Novak Djokovic also admitted that the new season would kick off for him at the United Cup, beginning on December 29, before aiming to win his 11th Australian Open title from January 15-28.
