It’s the ultimate showdown: Djokovic on Wimbledon 2023 final with Carlos Alcaraz

Novak Djokovic says the ldquoworld of sportrdquo will be watching when he faces Carlos Alcaraz in a Wimbledon final where history and a generational shift are at stakeDjokovic is attempting to equal Roger Federerrsquos record of eight titles at the All England Club and match Margaret Courtrsquos alltime mark of 24 Grand Slam crownsHaving already pocketed the Australian Open and French Open in 2023 victory on Sunday will put the 36yearold just one major away from completing the first menrsquos calendar Grand Slam since 1969ldquoItrsquos the ultimate showdownrdquo said Djokovic who will be playing in a record 35th Grand Slam finalldquoEverything comes down to one match All eyes of the tennis and sports world will be directed on this Sundayrsquos Wimbledon final Itrsquos probably the most watched tennis match globallyrdquoAt 20 Alcaraz is Djokovicrsquos junior by 16 years When Djokovic captured the first of his 23 majors at the 2008 Australian Open the Spaniard was still three months shy of his fifth birthdayDjokovic can become Wimbledonrsquos oldest champion while Alcaraz is bidding to be its third youngest after Boris Becker and Bjorn Borg ldquoI obviously have more experience It can help a little bit in some important moments beginning the match managing the nerves managing the occasion circumstancesrdquo said DjokovicldquoBut itrsquos not going to be the deciding factor really Whoever on a given day is in a better state mentally and physically will be the winnerrdquoDjokovic won the mind games when the pair clashed in the French Open semifinals in June Alcaraz suffered body cramping a physical ailment brought on he freely admitted just by the sight of Djokovic on the other side of the netldquoIf you think how big he is you strugglerdquo admitted Italyrsquos Jannik Sinner who was blown off court by Djokovic in Fridayrsquos semifinalThe memory of his Paris collapse is still raw for Alcaraz who plans a series of mental exercises to counter the tension on Sunday ldquoIrsquoll try to forget that Irsquom going to play a final against Novakrdquo he saidAlcarazrsquos first SW19 finalSunday will be Alcarazrsquos first Wimbledon final in just his fourth grasscourt event Djokovic is in his ninth championship match at the All England ClubThe Serb has won 34 successive matches at the tournament and has not been beaten on Centre Court since losing the 2013 final to Andy Murray ldquoHersquos in great shaperdquo Djokovic said of Alcaraz ldquoHersquos very motivated Hersquos young Hersquos hungry Irsquom hungry too so letrsquos have a feastrdquo Their progress to the final has been similar Both have only lost two sets They have spent virtually the same amount of time on courtlsquoBest moment of my lifersquoldquoThis is going to be the best moment of my liferdquo said Alcaraz who aims to become the third Spanish menrsquos champion after Manuel Santana in 1966 and Rafael Nadal who won the title in 2008 and 2010ldquoPlaying a final here in Wimbledon is something that I dreamt about when I started playing tennis Itrsquos even better playing against Novak Itrsquos going to be a really emotional moment for me For Novak is one more day one more momentrdquo added Alcaraz who described Djokovic as a ldquolegendrdquo of tennis Alcaraz will likely enjoy most of the crowd support as All England Club fans in common with most around the world remain stoically ambivalent of Djokovic despite his status in the gameAlso Read Carlos Alcaraz dreams of SW19 final against Novak DjokovicI believe I can beat Djoko says AlcarazWorld No 1 Carlos Alcaraz is convinced he can defeat Novak Djokovic in Sundayrsquos blockbuster Wimbledon final insisting therersquos ldquono time to be afraidrdquo Alcaraz 20 became the youngest man to make the Wimbledon final since fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal in 2006 as he swept aside Daniil Medvedev 63 63 63 on Friday ldquoI will believe I can beat him hererdquo said Alcaraz who is looking to add a first Wimbledon title to his US Open victory last year ldquoEveryone knows the legend he is He is going to be really difficult I will fight I will believe in myself I saw that he is unbeaten here on Centre Court since 2013 so itrsquos going to be challenging but I am ready for thisrdquoThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever