Serbia’s
Novak Djokovic believes that a meeting with the current
world number one
Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open will be good for tennis.
The duo clashed in a brilliant final at the
Wimbledon 2023
which lasted for four hours and 42 minutes.
The current world number two ended up on the wrong side of
the result in a five-set thriller with a score of 1–6, 7–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–4.
After the final, Djokovic stated that he would like to face
Alcaraz at the US Open, which according to him will be good for the sport.
“Yeah, I hope we get to play in US Open,” he said. “I think
it's good for the sport, one and two in the world facing each other in almost a
five-hours, five-set thriller. Couldn't be better for our sport in general, so
why not?”
Djokovic was also asked whether he is looking forward to a
new rivalry with the 20-year-old. In response to that, the 23-time Grand Slam
winner stated: “I would hope so, for my sake (smiling). He's going to be on the
tour for quite some time. I don't know how long I'll be around. Yeah, I mean,
let's see. It's been only three matches that we played against each other.
Three really close matches. Two already this year in later stages of Grand
Slams.”
The defeat ended Djokovic’s 34-game winning streak at
Wimbledon which started way back in 2018. During that time, the Belgrade-born won
four back-to-back major titles at the grass court and was just one win away
from claiming his fifth.
However, the result ended Djokovic’s hopes of equaling the
record of eight Wimbledon titles of the former world number one Switzerland’s
Roger Federer.
The former Swiss tennis star remains the most successful player
in the history of the competition. Djokovic remains in the joint-second spot
along with America’s Pete Sampras with seven Wimbledon titles.