2023 Wimbledon F: Alcaraz vs. Djokovic

[MargaretMcAleer]

Novak Djokovic has been fined $8,000 ( 6.150 pounds) for smashing his racket into the net post during yesterday's Wimbledon final

 

[kskate2]

The BBC report that the peak men's final audience was a whopping 11.3 million yesterday, the highest figure since Andy Murray won in 2016.

One reason. Carlitos = Box Office Baby

 

[kskate2]

Novak Djokovic has been fined $8,000 ( 6.150 pounds) for smashing his racket into the net post during yesterday's Wimbledon final

Haha. I asked yesterday if he would get a fine and no one paid attention to my post... It should be more. He physically damaged a very pretty piece of wood.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Haha. I asked yesterday if he would get a fine and no one paid attention to my post... It should be more. He physically damaged a very pretty piece of wood.

I agree, he got off lightly...should have been more

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

Rafanoy, Sinner’s prepwork & follow through on groundies is textbook to me, very mechanically sound.

The big question to me is his overall competitive mettle.

Everyone talks abou his rivalry with Alcaraz and how he matches so well with Carlos, but IMO the other 3 buzzy competitive players for the fall are Djokovic, Medvedev & Rune and against them Sinner is a combined 0-11, whereas the younger Rune has already beaten the other top guys, a couple of times vs Novak.

I want to see Sinner notch actual wins against these rivals in the next year.

Like FAA this year, I believe we'll find out in 2024, one way or the other, whether Sinner is destined to take the next level or if he's just another player.

 

[Kieran]

But the low ace count can't be all about the balls. Everyone in the tournament played w/ the same balls. Why can Babycakes, Eubanks, Bublik and a number of others bomb a plethora of aces and Djoke didn't?

That’s the real question I’m pondering. He has to be wondering what happened too. Other players got far more aces against Carlos. There was an element of Novak feeling pressure, frustration, hesitation, whatever, against Carlos that we haven’t really seen in him when he’s playing a non-3 opponent. He claims his backhand into the net on set point in the tiebreak was an unforced error, but it wasn’t, really. It was off a deep shot by Carlos that Novak felt he had to do more with. It came from a place of pain!

 

[Kieran]

Haha. I asked yesterday if he would get a fine and no one paid attention to my post... It should be more. He physically damaged a very pretty piece of wood.

I hope the cost of the repairs isn’t included in the fine and he pays it separately - but he won’t. Every time the real Djoker snaps through the veneer, it’s an ugly, entitled creature we see. I always nod the old bonce and say to the missus, ah there he is now, was starting to miss him…

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I hope the cost of the repairs isn’t included in the fine and he pays it separately - but he won’t. Every time the real Djoker snaps through the veneer, it’s an ugly, entitled creature we see. I always nod the old bonce and say to the missus, ah there he is now, was starting to miss him…

This is why I Hate Andrew Castle, my friend texted me, he lives in London, after the match and Castle he said was soo bias towards Novak, also Tim Henmen in commentary, after the racket smash into the post, Castle wasnt fazed he said it was just emotion coming out from Novak? lol! then when a fan whistled out when Novak was about to serve, he said That was too much lol! he is a first class d head I will let you fill in the blanks.I muted Castle when I knew he was in commentary at the start of the mens final.....as we have both discussed John Barrett the voice of Wimbledon, how I miss him.So many people have complained about Castle in his commentary in the mens final btw
Another point he smashed his racquet while his young son was watching him? what kind of message does that send his son, it is not the first time he has smashed his racket, though using the same old, same old, he did it in frustration, is wearing tired to me and others.

 

[the AntiPusher]

I just can't see the crown Princes (Tsitsipas and Zverev) improving drastically, working on their weaknesses or even changing their overall attitude. They are now going to be in August respectively ages 25 & 26.

It struck me how, even if generous on her contribution, Alcaraz stated in a post match interview how he took to heart what Martina Navratilova advised him last year , ie using more slice on the grass. He even stated you listen to a 9 time champion. Tsitsipas and Zverev would rather cut off their nonexistent testicles than admit a female champion had any sage advice to contribute to their games. Martina N. has offered suggestions on Stefano's slice BH and you can bet the arrogant one could care less for female champions, as he whined last year the WTA didn't deserve equal pay.

Zverev has complained about the pressure of playing in Germany or playing to get to the very top, meanwhile Alcaraz has played 3 Majors in a row, where if he won or lost he would either gain or lose the # 1 ranking. That's pressure and I can't imagine under similar circumstance those two relishing that challenge.

The kid is both thirsty and hungry for knowledge of the game, not a better person who's knowledge of the game is at a higher tennis IQ than Martina..

Here's the main stat that's gonna give Novak's mind fits and something I always thought Rafa could do but refuse..the kid went for it in the 5th set . He has an astonishing 18 winners vs Novak's defense. He went after the King and made sure he killed him. Nuff Said.! ( Sorry Stan Lee's best line )

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

The kid is both thirsty and hungry for knowledge of the game, not a better person who's knowledge of the game is at a higher tennis IQ than Martina..

Here's the main stat that's gonna give Novak's mind fits and something I always thought Rafa could do but refuse..the kid went for it in the 5th set . He has an astonishing 18 winners vs Novak's defense. He went after the King and made sure he killed him. Nuff Said.! ( Sorry Stan Lee's best line )

May I add, Carlos is a quick learner, whatever he gets told he stores it up, then uses it when necessary.

 

[Nadalfan2013]

The BBC report that the peak men's final audience was a whopping 11.3 million yesterday, the highest figure since Andy Murray won in 2016.

Tennis fans all over the world wanted to tune in to watch Nadal's protege Alcaraz put an end to noletardism.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Tennis fans all over the world wanted to tune in to watch Nadal's protege Alcaraz put an end to noletardism.

View attachment 8510

Actually I forgot to add, Aclaraz v Novak also had more viewers also than Federer v Novak in 2019 as well
4.1 million streamed the match on line

 

[Jelenafan]

The kid is both thirsty and hungry for knowledge of the game, not a better person who's knowledge of the game is at a higher tennis IQ than Martina..

Here's the main stat that's gonna give Novak's mind fits and something I always thought Rafa could do but refuse..the kid went for it in the 5th set . He has an astonishing 18 winners vs Novak's defense. He went after the King and made sure he killed him. Nuff Said.! ( Sorry Stan Lee's best line )

Excelsior on that post! And no pun intended. ; )

 

[Kieran]

This is why I Hate Andrew Castle, my friend texted me, he lives in London, after the match and Castle he said was soo bias towards Novak, also Tim Henmen in commentary, after the racket smash into the post, Castle wasnt fazed he said it was just emotion coming out from Novak? lol! then when a fan whistled out when Novak was about to serve, he said That was too much lol! he is a first class d head I will let you fill in the blanks.I muted Castle when I knew he was in commentary at the start of the mens final.....as we have both discussed John Barrett the voice of Wimbledon, how I miss him.So many people have complained about Castle in his commentary in the mens final btw
Another point he smashed his racquet while his young son was watching him? what kind of message does that send his son, it is not the first time he has smashed his racket, though using the same old, same old, he did it in frustration, is wearing tired to me and others.

There were a lot of complaints about the BBC coverage this year, some focusing on Sue Barker’s replacement, the horse racing presenter Clare Baulding who was allegedly out of her depth and didn’t seem bothered by that at all..

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

There were a lot of complaints about the BBC coverage this year, some focusing on Sue Barker’s replacement, the horse racing presenter Clare Baulding who was allegedly out of her depth and didn’t seem bothered by that at all..

Maybe the All England Club should really invest more time in who they pick as replacements, eg Sue Barker, you would think someone with knowledge of tennis would be ideal for starters lol! though here at the AO some of the so called reporters to me, have been picked because they look good on TV

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Novak Djokovic was in talks with the All England Club officials calling for Wimbledon to move start of play on CC to start at 12pm to allow four matches to be played a day ( so they can finish before the 11pm curfew).
New Ceo of the club, Sue Bolten, 'historically we've always started play on our show courts around early afternoon. Bolten said everything will be for review for next year.

 

[Moxie]

Treat yourself to this beautifully written recap of the match from The Guardian.

 

[don_fabio]

That’s the real question I’m pondering. He has to be wondering what happened too. Other players got far more aces against Carlos. There was an element of Novak feeling pressure, frustration, hesitation, whatever, against Carlos that we haven’t really seen in him when he’s playing a non-3 opponent.

I think it has to do something with Carlos return game. Some guys serve like hell before they face Novak and then all of a sudden their serve is gone, they get broken 5-6 times. I think Novak got the taste of his own medicine. He probably tought he has an edge on serve and that he will hold it, while Alcaraz will give the break every now and then, just enough to win. Maybe it would go that way if Novak won the 2nd set, but he didn't. He couldn't find the answers in the TB.

Overall, I think he was not brave enough in this final, too tentative, too cautious, Alcaraz was the one with courage and it looked like Novak waited for the kid to start slipping and then take advantage like he did so many times, but it never happened, and when he wanted to do something about it after he got broken in the 5th, it was too late.

 

[Moxie]

Please show them. Great to see el rey there supporting Carlitos.

There's one in this Vanguardia article (Spanish.)

Matías Prats desvela la broma de Carlos Alcaraz al rey Felipe VI tras ganar Wimbledon

El tenis español está de enhorabuena. Lo visto este domingo en el torneo de Wimbledon ya es historia. Tras casi cinco horas de partido, Carlos Alcaraz, a sus veinte

www.lavanguardia.com

Or this one:

La divertida anécdota del encuentro entre Felipe VI y Carlos Alcaraz tras la victoria en Wimbledon, con mención a Rafa Nadal incluida

El tenista recibió la felicitación del rey tras vencer a Djokovic en la final del prestigioso torneo

www.infobae.com

 

[Moxie]

I think it has to do something with Carlos return game. Some guys serve like hell before they face Novak and then all of a sudden their serve is gone, they get broken 5-6 times. I think Novak got the taste of his own medicine. He probably tought he has an edge on serve and that he will hold it, while Alcaraz will give the break every now and then, just enough to win. Maybe it would go that way if Novak won the 2nd set, but he didn't. He couldn't find the answers in the TB.

I was trying to sell @Kieran on the notion that it was about having 2 very, very good returners on court, but he wasn't buying it.

Overall, I think he was not brave enough in this final, too tentative, too cautious, Alcaraz was the one with courage and it looked like Novak waited for the kid to start slipping and then take advantage like he did so many times, but it never happened, and when he wanted to do something about it after he got broken in the 5th, it was too late.

I think all of this is correct and a fair assessment. All Novak really had to do in the first set was give the kid time to self-implode. Too much nervous energy, no patience. But Alcaraz did rein himself in in the 2nd. I wonder if Novak's fairly easy draw didn't serve him ill in the final. He'd be forgiven for underestimating Carlos a bit, which I think he admitted. He didn't much or ever really need his A-game to reach the final, and he didn't need it to win the first set. Just break and protect. But when Alcaraz found his A-game, (and calmed down enough to play with some margin,) Novak really had to shake himself into a different gear. Losing that TB in the 2nd shocked us all, I think it's fair to say. Carlos knew he needed to be brave and play all-out to win. I think you're right that by the time Novak realized he'd have to do the same, it was too late.