Novak Djokovic could lead Carlos Alcaraz 4-3 in conferences however the rivalry is already one for the ages, with two generations colliding and constructing to a crescendo. Will they meet at this 12 months’s US Open?
From their first conflict on the 2022 Madrid Open to their most up-to-date encounter at this summer season’s Olympics, the pair have delivered tennis from one other planet.
Djokovic accomplished a profession Golden Grand Slam in Paris, the place he gained Wimbledon revenge by defeating Alcaraz within the gold medal match.
However will we see them battle it out for supremacy in New York? You possibly can watch all of the drama unfold stay on Sky Sports activities Tennis from Monday, August 26 from 3pm.
Naomi Broady: Lots of respect between Novak and Alcaraz
Alcaraz and Djokovic have been joined by Jannik Sinner to turn out to be the brand new ‘Huge Three’ in males’s tennis
“I believe you would need to say the US Open winner will come from Sinner, Alcaraz and Djokovic. They’ve turn out to be the present huge three with the outdated guard stepping away from the game, however Novak is constant with the brand new technology with two new guys in his place, however it’s a must to say winner will come from these three.
“They can not all make it by to the ultimate so the draw can have all eyes on it as a result of it might doubtlessly affect the winner of the entire event.
“I believe Carlos and Novak actually respect one another and I believe they actually like one another as nicely. Novak all the time appears to have a smile on his face as a result of he actually respects him as a competitor and as an athlete.
“Alcaraz has seen the blueprint of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic and added it to his game so I think it’s really nice to see how much respect he has for Novak. How highly they speak of each other but they love to play each other.”
Tim Henman: Olympics was Djokovic’s biggest achievement
Djokovic will likely be aiming to win his twenty fifth Grand Slam on the US Open
“The Olympics final was Djokovic’s greatest achievement because of the circumstances. It was the one piece of the puzzle that was missing and at the age of 37 this was his last chance.
“He complete kind of psychology and the strain round it, it should have been completely immense after which add the truth that he is taking part in Alcaraz, who’s on the prime of his recreation having gained the French Open and Wimbledon, so for Djokovic to return by and win that was completely unimaginable.
“There was a question mark over his knee going into the Olympics and it looked like he was trying to keep the rallies short. He was coming to the net a lot and that was going away from his game style that had been so effective throughout his whole career, so I think he’ll be happy going back onto hardcourts which is a surface he’s had most success on at the Australian and US Opens.”
Jonathan Overend: A actual heavyweight rivalry
The pair have developed fairly a rivalry in recent times
“The feeling in Paris was very much like he’d completed tennis… that was the set, all the slams multiple times, the Davis Cup and now Olympic gold. And to do it against Alcaraz, the young pretender, the way he did, I thought it was phenomenal from Novak.
“He continues to shock, and whereas he’s doing that, something stays attainable. That stated, I all the time assume he is received a mic drop second in him [to retire], and that could be when he will get to 25 Grand Slams to say the all-time file, one forward of Margaret Courtroom.”
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Highlights of final 12 months’s US Open last between Daniil Medvedev and Novak Djokovic at Flushing Meadows in New York
Naomi Cavaday: Each gamers on a excessive heading to New York
Djokovic has 24 Grand Slams however now he is concentrating on an historic twenty fifth
“Carlos has won two Grand Slams this year, while Djokovic the gold medal at the Olympics – such a massive prize for him, and the final against Alcaraz was quite special.
“The Wimbledon last between the pair was checked out as being fairly one-sided, Djokovic wasn’t in it and it was on grass. However folks neglect that he had surgical procedure only a couple weeks earlier than… so he was nonetheless doing unimaginable issues on the courtroom.
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“Then, going into the Olympics, he was speaking really confidently, saying ‘I’m a different player’. And he manages to win… so both players are riding pretty high going into the US Open.”
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