Novak Djokovic heads to the US Open for the primary time since 2021 along with his world No.1 rating gone and a brand new rival intent on denying him a twenty fourth grand slam title, however solely the courageous would write off his probabilities at Flushing Meadows.
The 36-year-old’s bid for a calendar-year grand slam ended with a five-sets loss to Carlos Alcaraz in final month’s Wimbledon last, with followers, pundits and former gamers saying the end result heralded a altering of the guard in males’s tennis.
Returning to the United States after his enforced absence in 2022 and the early a part of this yr as a consequence of his COVID-19 vaccination standing, a refreshed Djokovic says his urge for food for fulfillment has not diminished.
“I like the feeling that I have after 20-plus years of professional tennis. There’s still a fire going,” stated Djokovic, who gained the Australian Open and French Open titles to leapfrog Rafael Nadal into high spot within the record of males’s main champions.
“There’s still that drive and motivation to really come at the biggest events in sport and try to win, try to win titles and try to bring some good sensation to the crowds.”
Djokovic, who stated he had “zero regrets” lacking tournaments in America as a consequence of his vaccination stance, ramped up his preparations for Flushing Meadows by successful the Cincinnati crown after a draining last in opposition to world No.1 Alcaraz.
“This rivalry just gets better and better,” Djokovic stated.
“Amazing player. Tons of respect. For such a young player to show so much poise in important moments is impressive.
“The feeling I’ve on the court docket jogs my memory a little bit bit once I was dealing with Nadal after we have been at our prime of our careers.
“Each point is a hustle. Each point is a battle.”
If the chasing pack really feel Djokovic’s days of dominance are numbered, the three-time US Open champion’s report on hardcourts ought to give them pause for thought.
The Serb’s willingness to push his physique to its limits has not pale, as his youthful rivals discovered at this yr’s Australian Open when he battled to the title enjoying with a torn hamstring.
Alcaraz, although, is proving greater than a pressure to be reckoned with, the 20-year-old taking the tennis world by storm since changing into the youngest males’s world No.1 after final yr’s US Open triumph.
The Spaniard will search for one other assertion win at Flushing Meadows to cement his standing within the sport after tightening his grip on high spot by capturing his second slam at Wimbledon.
That epic five-set last victory over Djokovic made Alcaraz the youngest champion since Boris Becker in 1986 and solely the third Spanish man to win the title after Manuel Santana and Nadal.
The bull-like Alcaraz, enjoying solely his second slam last in comparison with Djokovic’s report 35, placed on a present that left little doubt that he’s main the altering of the guard.
Djokovic hit again, nonetheless, with a surprising efficiency in a gripping Cincinnati Open last final Sunday, saving a match level and overcoming stifling warmth to beat Alcaraz 5-7 7-6 (9-7) 7-6 (7-4) and add extra spice to a brand new rivalry in a sport that has lately waved goodbye to Roger Federer and Serena Williams and is making ready to do the identical to Nadal.
When they met for the second time within the French Open semi-finals in June, it was the inexperienced Alcaraz who cracked beneath stress and suffered from extreme cramps as Djokovic prevailed.
Now they’re degree once more after Wimbledon and Cincinnati, creating big expectation for a doable US Open last showdown.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
