Carlos Alcaraz will always be able to say that he took two Wimbledon titles away from the best player in history. Novak Djokovic, at 37 years and 249 days old, has once again proved that he is the ‘Big One’ of the racket sport. Despite losing the first set and suffering a physical mishap, Djokovic levitated on Tuesday, as he has done so many times, on the blue cement of Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena. He ran and ran bandaged until he closed a favorable score of 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 and 6-4, in 3 hours and 37 minutes. The clock struck 01:00 in the morning.The Serb felt something in the ninth game of the first set when he went for a corner ball with his forehand. It was 15-15. Alcaraz would break and Novak quickly noticed that he had hurt himself because he communicated this to the members of his bench through his body language. With 5-4 down, he asked for the assistance of the physiotherapist and went to the locker room to be treated for three minutes. That’s what the rule says. He returned with a bandage on the thigh of his left leg. The Spaniard remained focused and took the opening set to love
Before the physical mishap, Djokovic had started better, winning the first two games. The sun and heat had given way to wind and cold. That’s how Melbourne, the city of four seasons, is. From 30 degrees in the daytime session to just 22.
In the blink of an eye, Alcaraz equalized the score at two. In the stands of the central courtthe crowd could be heard shouting “idemo” (let’s go in Serbian).The two held their serve until Djokovic’s body resented the battle, although it later proved to be a false alarm.
A break to love that is worth a set
Novak was not going to give up because it is not in his character and he started the second set just like the first: 2-0 up and then 3-1. Alcaraz knew the importance of the second set and gritted his teeth to level at three games apiece. His decorated opponent was playing possum, but he was still standing and not waving the white flag. In fact, he made an immaculate tenth game and a blank to sign the equaliser
Djokovic was better and was flying over the center of Melbourne Park. The crowd was with him and that was giving him wings. After several failed attempts, Andy Murray’s pupil broke the opponent’s serve for the fourth time. The score was 4-2 and service for him. He lost it and Carlitos did the same. “How can it be,” said the young Spaniard when he accumulated unforced errors. Everything remained the same although this time the Balkan served for the set. This time he did not fail and ended up blowing kisses to all the staff. He took advantage of his time in the chair to take anti-inflammatories
The hierarchy of the best tennis player who ever wielded a racket did the rest. Alcaraz conceded a sixth break at the start of the fourth set. And the comeback became a utopia. Carlitos fought and manufactured a 15-40 to equalize at four games. It was the last train. If Nole continues at this level, let Alexander Zverev and Jannik Sinner tremble. It is already 50 Grand Slam semifinals for him, 12 of them in Melbourne