Djokovic (3) defeats Alcaraz (1) 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1.
This match had plenty at stake. If Djokovic won, tennis was still in the Big 3 era. If Alcaraz won, then it was possible that a new era was in place (though we’d need Alcaraz or Ruud to lift the trophy – Zverev doing so, an unlikely event, I know, would leave us in a bit of limbo).
Djokovic was the underdog. He’d had a woeful clay court lead in and was seeded No.3. He’d also lost his last match versus Alcaraz, on clay, back in the Madrid semis 2022.
Alcaraz was the tournament favorite. He’d won Madrid and his early Rome loss had given him some much needed rest time for a player who has been both the computer No.1 and the ‘real no.1’ since Miami (tennis fans on social media just will not trust those computers!).
The likelihood of a good match was high. Djokovic turns it up for the slams and Alcaraz is still fresh on the game’s big stages.
Early on, the match delivered, too, a beautiful Djokovic volley earning him the match’s first break for 3-1. Djokovic winning the first set would be good for everyone. It gave hints of a contest and he’d have a decent chance to even win the match. Going a set or two down versus a player reaching his peak 17 years his junior was always going to be a tough ask. Mind, that is the kind of question the man thrives on.
Djokovic went on to take the set with a service winner. He did it in reasonable time, too-just under the hour.
In the second set, Alcaraz settled in. The Spaniard inched ahead to a 4-3 lead and Djokovic took an MTO. Alcaraz was not bothered by this. In fact, he stepped up a gear, winning a beautiful smash filled point on his way to his first break of the match.
The Spaniard failed to capitalize as Djokovic succeeded in breaking him, a backhand down the line winner on his second break point putting him back in the set.
That fight back seemed to sap him, Djokovic going down three break points. It was a momentary dip, however. The third seed fought off those break points and took the game.
After saving break points in his next service game, Alcaraz broke Djokovic to love to level the match at a set all after two hours and eleven minutes.
Djokovic had missed his chances late in that second set. A two sets to love lead is an altogether different prospect to a set all versus an Alcaraz who’d worked his way into the match, pulling through some difficult moments.
Djokovic took a toilet break, bringing on some whistling and booing. Again, Alcaraz didn’t care much for any interruptions. On the first point of the second set, he brought his rival in with a drop shot and hit the return into the open court for a winner. On game point Alcaraz, a sublime lob sealed a 1-0 lead, and for the first time the top seed led the match.
A game later, the set at 1-1, Alcaraz began cramping. Djokovic approached him on his side of he net to support him as Alcaraz struggled. Unable to take a medical time out, Alcaraz forfeited a game while he received treatment and Djokovic found himself up a break in the third. The crowd whistled what they thought of this rule.
The level of the match dropped down as abruptly as the contest had taken off. Alcaraz could barely run and Djokovic seemed distracted. The third seed won the next several games to take the set 6-1.
The match lost all its tension. A bored looking Djokovic fought with the crowd a little, the spectators not happy with his drop shotting Alcaraz. He got himself down break points so he could fight back and give a roar. Anything to get some energy going.
Djokovic broke for 2-0 as Alcaraz netted a routine backhand. The games racked up on Djokovic’s side of the score board. At 5-1, he served out for the set, and brought an end to what had become a frustrating contest.
A match that had changed in less time than it takes to pound a forehand may end up changing tennis for the next season or two. Djokovic was always the favorite to win the upcoming Wimbledon and be the first to win #23. He’s also the pick to beat Ruud or Zverev in the final so it could be #24 he has engraved into his shoes or jacket if (well, when) he lifts the trophy in July. Then, he’d compete for the Calendar Year Grand Slam. Next up, a confident Djokovic would be heading down under. And so it could go on…and on.
We were close to the new era emerging. Had Alcaraz won, we’d have had two of the last three slams featuring non Big 2 players. One or two non Big 2 holding two of the last three slams. Finally, we’d have broken free, to some degree, of this long and seemingly never-ending hold the Big 3 have on the game.
Alas, it’s not to be. Of course, anything could happen. Ruud or Zverev could win the final. But tennis is a sport where anything doesn’t really happen. The same things, instead, do.
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