“Only Jannik Sinner can play Carlos Alcaraz on equal terms” : Toni Nadal says Novak Djokovic made suicidal mistake in Wimbledon final defeat
Novak Djokovic was completely outclassed in the finals of Wimbledon 2024, as he was defeated by Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets. The Serbian had no answers to the Spaniard’s onslaught, as he was beaten for a second consecutive year by the same opponent in the Wimbledon finals.
Rafael Nadal’s former coach and uncle Toni Nadal believes that Novak Djokovic made a huge error in the finals. Novak Djokovic has certainly not been at his best this season, as he is yet to even a single title in 2024. His participation at the Championships was also in serious doubt, given that he had a surgery just a couple of weeks heading into the tournament.
On the other hand, Carlos Alcaraz has been enjoying a great season so far, as he has claimed the French Open and Wimbledon titles in just over a month’s time. Toni Nadal believes that Novak Djokovic’s strategy to shorten the points, and be in a hurry during rallies cost him the finals against Carlos Alcaraz.
“He wanted to impose a high tempo, play aggressively, shorten the exchanges from the back of the court and at the slightest opportunity, close out the points at the net. In my opinion, the only option the Serbian had was to try to slow down the game,” said Djokovic.
Toni Nadal says only Jannik Sinner can currently match Carlos Alcaraz’s level of play
Toni Nadal believes that only Jannik Sinner can currently match Carlos Alcaraz’s level and intensity of play at the moment. The Italian won the Australian Open earlier this year, and has been having a sensational year on the tour as well.
Jannik Sinner was defeated in the semifinals of the French Open by Carlos Alcaraz in a close five-set battle. Toni Nadal expects several such battles between the two youngsters, who he believes will be the face of tennis.
“Perhaps only Jannik Sinner can play the Spaniard on equal terms. And, in fact, this Sunday’s final confirms that the real rivalry in the next tournaments and, probably, in the next few years will be between these two: the Italian and our great Spanish champion,” he added.
Carlos Alcaraz became only the fourth player to win the French Open and the Wimbledon in the same calendar year. Next up for him is the Paris Olympics, which commences in about a week’s time. The event will be played on clay courts, a surface which the Spaniard usually prefers. As things stand, he is the favorite to claim the gold medal in the Singles event.
