"I’d say use the slice more": Navratilova gave Alcaraz advice he used during Wimbledon final win

Former world number one Martina Navratilova gave a piece of advice that helped Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz to win the final of the Wimbledon 2023.

The 20-year-old defeated the defending champion and current world number two Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in the final of the third Grand Slam of the year on Sunday with a score of 1–6, 7–6(8–6), 6–1, 3–6, 6–4.

Ahead of the final, Navratilova gave advice to Alcaraz to slice more, something that helped him immensely during a clash that lasted nearly five hours.

“Well, I don’t think you need much (advice), cause you’re doing so amazingly well, winning winners from the baseline,” she said while talking to the current world number one. “I had to come to the net to hit the winners. But I’d say use the slice more. Cause the ball stays low. Nobody really likes to see a slice coming at them. And you hit it really well. And come to the net more. Not because you need to, but because it’s so nice to see you there.”

Alcaraz, after the final, while thanking the 66-year-old, admitted that the advice of the 10-time Grand Slam winner helped her in breaking Djokovic’s 34-match unbeaten streak at Wimbledon.

“(The advice helped me) a lot,” he said. “I saw her after I got out from the court. And I told her, ‘It was your advice! The key.’ I sliced. I tried to do everything she told me. I mean, nine times champion – You have to do whatever she tells you. And I think it was great.”

The victory also ended Djokovic’s hope of equaling Roger Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon titles. Currently, the 36-year-old is the joint second-most successful player along with America’s Pete Sampras in the history of Wimbledon with seven titles to his name.