Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and the twist to an epic Wimbledon final rematch

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Even though Novak Djokovic has been looking forward to this rematch for a year, it wasn't until recently that he started to believe he could actually face Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final. After undergoing knee surgery on June 5, many assumed the 37-year-old would miss the tournament that is most important to him. Djokovic acknowledged his doubts, but his determination to compete at Wimbledon drove him to do everything possible to get to the starting line. "I wasn't even thinking about reaching the final in the first few matches," he said. And yet, here we are once again.

Alcaraz made history by defeating Djokovic in the most recent 51 matches on Centre Court. This happened during a thrilling five-set match in last year's final, marking the end of Djokovic's four consecutive Wimbledon titles. Now, the 21-year-old Alcaraz is seen as the favorite in the upcoming rematch against Djokovic. This is partly due to Djokovic's knee injury and concerns about his overall fitness. Additionally, Alcaraz has shown a new level of confidence and strength since winning last year's title. Beating Djokovic once on Centre Court has given Alcaraz a sense of inevitability and he is ready to do it again.

Djokovic thinks he and his young opponent have a lot in common. He sees Alcaraz as a very talented player and even compared his game to the top players in the sport. It's interesting that Alcaraz is trying to do something that only Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer have accomplished before - winning both the French Open and Wimbledon in the same summer. Djokovic knows it will be a tough match and he will need to play at his best to win against Alcaraz.

There is plenty of motivation driving Djokovic as he seeks revenge and seeks to make history by winning his eighth men's title, equalling Federer's record, and claiming his 25th grand slam title to surpass Margaret Court. However, the question remains whether Djokovic can reach the necessary level of play to defeat Alcaraz so soon after surgery. Musetti, who lost to Djokovic in the semi-finals, believed he saw Djokovic at his best and in great form. "He demonstrated that he is in excellent shape - not just in tennis," Musetti stated. "It was unbelievable how he was returning at the end."

Djokovic has had an easier path in the tournament compared to Alcaraz. He hasn't had to face a formidable opponent like Alcaraz yet. Djokovic mentioned that he expects a tough match against Alcaraz, who previously defeated him in a Wimbledon final. Alcaraz thrives in intense battles and doesn't let the pressure of being defending champion affect him. He approaches each match as if he could potentially lose, considering every match a challenging competition.

This tournament has been quite challenging for Alcaraz compared to his relaxed and carefree journey to last year's final. However, the champion now faces pressure with something to lose, but he has proven to be extremely difficult to defeat. While Alcaraz hasn't won in straight sets since the second round and has lost the opening set in three of his last four matches on his way back to the final, the Spaniard has developed a strong sense of confidence that he can overcome any obstacles he encounters. He demonstrated this ability in last year's Wimbledon final and has only grown stronger since winning the French Open last month.

At Roland Garros, Alcaraz was losing in two sets to one in both the semi-finals against Jannik Sinner and the final against Alexander Zverev. However, he managed to come back and win the fourth and fifth sets, securing his third grand slam title. His record in fifth sets has now improved to 12-1, with his only loss in a full-distance match occurring when he was just 18 years old against Matteo Berrettini in the third round of the Australian Open. In addition to his exciting style of play and incredible winners from difficult positions on the court, one thing that can always be counted on in Alcaraz's game is his ability to fight back.

However, despite being a skilled player with a wide range of skills, it is surprising that Alcaraz has had to make a comeback so frequently. At times, it seems like Alcaraz finds the game too easy and gets bored of following the same conventional shots.

Alcaraz attributed his difficulties to nerves, a topic he has consistently discussed during the Championships. "It's hard to play your best tennis or handle certain situations when you're not in control," he explained after defeating Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals, despite losing the first set on a tiebreak. "I found it challenging to stay calm during my service games," he admitted. "I felt rushed and nervous, while Daniil seemed to be in control of the match."

However, Alcaraz believes that the key to handling tough moments in tennis, a sport that requires perfection in many areas, is actually quite simple. He sees tennis as just a game, meant to be enjoyed. Alcaraz wants to have a good time on the court and will continue to aim for impressive winners because that's when he plays his best. He admits that sometimes things don't go as planned, but he finds that going for those shots helps him relax, have fun, and smile while playing. Alcaraz is aware that in a five-set match, he has the opportunity to regroup and find the motivation needed to turn the game in his favor.

So Djokovic will once more face off against his toughest opponent, known as the smiling assassin, who has defeated him in a grand slam fifth set before. This time, Djokovic is the underdog, going up against the Centre Court crowd and Wimbledon's new favorite player. A win in this match would be especially satisfying for Djokovic.