Former top-10 star saw ‘Novak Djokovic in Carlos Alcaraz for the first time’ in Wimbledon final

Former world No 9 Andrea Petkovic has revealed she “saw Novak Djokovic in Carlos Alcaraz” for the first time in the Spaniard’s emphatic Wimbledon final win.
World No 3 and defending SW19 champion Alcaraz eased to victory in Sunday’s final, claiming a 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(4) win over seven-time champion Djokovic.
It would have been even more comprehensive for the Spaniard had he not been broken from 40-0 when serving for the match at 5-4 in the third set, but that was the only time Djokovic broke his serve all afternoon.
Many have signalled this match as a ‘changing of the guard moment’, with Alcaraz dispatching arguably the greatest male player of all time with ease – after needing five sets twelve months ago.
And writing in her Substack, Petkovic – a former French Open semi-finalist – believes traits of Djokovic were evident in the Spaniard throughout the final and the tournament as a whole.
She wrote: “Interestingly, I saw Novak Djokovic in Carlos Alcaraz for the first time and it made me scared for the others.
“Last year, Carlos and Novak had been from the first moment on the players to beat at The Championships 2023. This year, however, Carlos looked vulnerable. A lot of unforced errors, lapses of focus, needing five sets against Frances Tiafoe in round three (who admittedly was very good that day).
“But just when he needed to, just when he ran into Tommy Paul who he had lost to two times already, who had been unbeaten on grass, just when it was about time – Carlos found his game. He upped his level, found the depth, the power, the variety and everyone else instantly became fodder.
“He played his best match against Novak Djokovic in the final. Countless times have I seen Novak look beatable in the first week and like from another planet in the second week. Peak when it matters most.”
Thanks to a walkover and a kinder path through the draw – and arguably some better performances – many had fancied Djokovic’s chances heading into the match.
But he looked undercooked in the opening stages against Alcaraz, and Petkovic believes the world No 2 had not been battle-hardened enough across the event.
“It is sometimes dangerous when you have an easy path through the tournament,” the German added.
“Just as you practice forehands and backhands, you built resilience through tough situations and adversity.
“Novak didn’t really have that on his way to the final this year. So, when he met somebody who was ready to push him, he had not trained those muscles which know how to push back.”
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