2023 Wimbledon F: Alcaraz vs. Djokovic

[Jelenafan]

Mixed doubles indeed.

Who woulda thought that Margaret Court & Roger Federer sticking pins in tandem on their Novak voodoo doll would work?

 

[Federberg]

Mixed doubles indeed.

Who woulda thought that Margaret Court & Roger Federer sticking pins in tandem on their Novak voodoo doll would work?

I doubt Roger cares. He's too busy being a billionaire father of 4 with a gorgeous wife and living his best life

 

[Moxie]

All the Carlos love, here's something amazing about Novak. Of the last 12 Slams he's played in, he's reached the final 10 times. One of the two times he didn't make the final was due to disqualification in the 4R, the other was losing to Rafa in the RG QF last year.

It's true, but it's part of what makes people crave a new winner. (That, and specific to the Alcaraz charm.) I rooted against Roger before there was even a Rafa for that reason. (See: your note about Roger winning his first 7 Major finals.) I guess Novak is going to be sad that Alcaraz has developed so young, as likely was Roger about Rafa.

 

[Moxie]

I doubt Roger cares. He's too busy being a billionaire father of 4 with a gorgeous wife and living his best life

I agree...Roger is just the guy to move on. As will Rafa be, but for now maybe he's not sorry that his fellow Spaniard played wingman today, since Rafa is still in the race.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Another great thing for Alcaraz the Kid is a fast learner, winning Queens, was probably what he needed to do well at Wimbledon, he improved his return game on grass at Wimbledon, especially in those first couple of rounds, well done Alcaraz your were Amazing today, the best thing since slice bread
My favorite youngster to watch

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

It will be interesting to see what happens at the US Open when he will be defending a slam for the first time.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

It will be interesting to see what happens at the US Open when he will be defending a slam for the first time.

Yep the hardest thing to do is to defend your GS title

 

[Kieran]

I definitely agree. Even Elo says that Carlos is already better than Hewitt ever was. Carlos was at 2290 to begin the tournament, Hewitt peaked at 2295, and Carlos is probably now somewhere in the 2300-2330 range.

Hewitt was a really good player, and the fact that he was cast adrift by the rise of Roger sort of diminishes how good he actually was from 2000 to 2005. But...he was also the beneficiary of the kind of opportunity you talk about. His reign in 2001-02 was against a decrepit Sampras and old Agassi, a weak generation that should have been reigning (Kuerten, Moya, Rios, etc), an erratic then-best peer (Safin), and before the rise of Fedal. If the Kuerten group had been stronger and/or Safin been less of a head-case, there's no way he'd have gotten 80 weeks at #1.

The "anti-Hewitt" would be Andy Murray, whose mere 3 Slams under-represent how good he actually was.

That’s a great breakdown. Hewitt definitely slid in between the cracks.

I’ll be interested to read what Carlos ELO rating is now, and how it compares to others historically. He’s ahead of the Big 3 for this age, that’s for sure, though Rafa’s not far behind?

 

[Jelenafan]

I doubt Roger cares. He's too busy being a billionaire father of 4 with a gorgeous wife and living his best life

Sorry Bud, net worth Billionaires are the Michael Jordans, Ion Tiriacs, Tiger Woods & Lebrons of the World.

Blame Pauper Federer’s “only” half a billionaire status on high swiss tax rates.

 

[Moxie]

I definitely agree. Even Elo says that Carlos is already better than Hewitt ever was. Carlos was at 2290 to begin the tournament, Hewitt peaked at 2295, and Carlos is probably now somewhere in the 2300-2330 range.

Hewitt was a really good player, and the fact that he was cast adrift by the rise of Roger sort of diminishes how good he actually was from 2000 to 2005. But...he was also the beneficiary of the kind of opportunity you talk about. His reign in 2001-02 was against a decrepit Sampras and old Agassi, a weak generation that should have been reigning (Kuerten, Moya, Rios, etc), an erratic then-best peer (Safin), and before the rise of Fedal. If the Kuerten group had been stronger and/or Safin been less of a head-case, there's no way he'd have gotten 80 weeks at #1.

The "anti-Hewitt" would be Andy Murray, whose mere 3 Slams under-represent how good he actually was.

Interesting on Hewitt. He was very good, for a short period of time: scrappy and tough-minded. (No comment as to how much I liked him, or didn't.) It was mostly Roger, but his hips took him out of it, too. Excellent notion that Murray is the "anti-Hewitt." Kudos.

 

[Kieran]

Amazing that in a grass court match of 334 points there were only 11 aces.

Djokovic only served 2, across all the sets. It’s indicative of how the game has been changed..

 

[Federberg]

Sorry Bud, net worth Billionaires are the Michael Jordans, Ion Tiriacs, Tiger Woods & Lebrons of the World.

Blame Pauper Federer’s “only” half a billionaire status on high swiss tax rates.

I think you're wrong. For a start income tax rates in Switzerland are not materially higher than in the US. Obviously Canton rates vary but nevertheless. Even after all that based, on his equity stakes, I rather suspect he's doing ok. Folks always seem to forget about the wonders of compounding. The man has been earning $60 - 100m on an annual basis for at least 15 years. It always amuses me when people think it's just additive. Particularly in the land of private banking

 

[Moxie]

It will be interesting to see what happens at the US Open when he will be defending a slam for the first time.

I'd say his chances just went up. Given how much harder his draw was here, and the fact that he was just beginning to get his spikes in the grass, defending at the USO shouldn't look nearly as improbable.

 

[kskate2]

He will address it when he is retired. He might not want to reveal the contents of said drink if the substance itself might be on the watch list as a potential for a banned substance.

For sure. Plus, if he reveals it now, many will copy the concoction hoping for the same results.

 

[tented]

I'd say his chances just went up. Given how much harder his draw was here, and the fact that he was just beginning to get his spikes in the grass, defending at the USO shouldn't look nearly as improbable.

But this time, let’s get the Alcaraz/Sinner match in the final, not the QF. It was, by far, the match of the tournament.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

For sure. Plus, if he reveals it now, many will copy the concoction hoping for the same results.

I mean I doubt he ever reveals it even in retirement. If any of the ingredients are questionable, he would have that as the ending talk piece to his career. I doubt he would get this far in the GOAT race to ruin it.

 

[Moxie]

I think you're wrong. For a start income tax rates in Switzerland are not materially higher than in the US. Obviously Canton rates vary but nevertheless. Even after all that based, on his equity stakes, I rather suspect he's doing ok. Folks always seem to forget about the wonders of compounding. The man has been earning $60 - 100m on an annual basis for at least 15 years. It always amuses me when people think it's just additive. Particularly in the land of private banking

I think he's pulling your chain. Or poking at you. Don't fall for it. I thought Switzerland was a tax haven, anyway. Don't the French players tax shelter there? Or is it just that it's so much higher in France?

Anyway...anyone who says "the LeBrons of this world...." Everyone knows there's only one LeBron.

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

It will be interesting to see what happens at the US Open when he will be defending a slam for the first time.

The US Open is the hardest one to defend. Keep in mind, that the last player to repeat as US Open champion was Roger Federer from 2004-2008. I get the feeling someone other than Novak or Carlos will win the US Open.

 

[Moxie]

The US Open is the hardest one to defend. Keep in mind, that the last player to repeat as US Open champion was Roger Federer from 2004-2008. I get the feeling someone other than Novak or Carlos will win the US Open.

We know...you get the "feeling" that Tiafoe will win it. And I admire your steadfastness to the idea. I could get behind that.

 

[El Dude]

Interesting on Hewitt. He was very good, for a short period of time: scrappy and tough-minded. (No comment as to how much I liked him, or didn't.) It was mostly Roger, but his hips took him out of it, too. Excellent notion that Murray is the "anti-Hewitt." Kudos.

According to Wikipedia, he injured his hip in 2008, and by that point he had already slipped out of the elite. I don't think he really started declining until 2006 or so, but had just been passed by.

Even looking at his #1 years, 2001-02, and you see a guy who went out in the 4R or earlier at two Slams each year. He was far from a dominant #1, but just a very good player who was more consistent than his peers. As you said, he was very good and tough-minded, but then along came Roger (and then Rafa) with stratospheric talent and a champion's mentality (unlike Safin, who had great talent but the mentality of a lothario).