McEnroe advises Djokovic to pull up his socks for Alcaraz challenge

Former world number one John McEnroe has warned Serbia’s legendary tennis star Novak Djokovic about a potential clash with Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in the final at Wimbledon. The third Grand Slam of the year is slowly but surely approaching its conclusion, and the remaining players are giving their all to secure the ultimate prize.

The men’s semifinal lineup is complete, and both last-four clashes will be played on Friday. In the first semifinal, Russia’s Daniil Medvedev will face Alcaraz, whereas in the second, Djokovic will take on Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti.

McEnroe was recently quoted in a report where he fired a warning to Djokovic about having a potential rematch of the last year’s Wimbledon final with the Spaniard. According to the 65-year-old, the Belgrade-born star must bring his ‘A-plus game’ to get the better of the three-time Grand Slam winner, something he would have learned after suffering a heartbreaking defeat in the final of the mega-event last year.

"He's got better touch, arguably, than anyone else in the game and even Novak Djokovic is thinking, 'OK I need to bring my A game, A-plus game',” he said. "That [last year's final] was one of the greatest matches I have ever seen, the Wimbledon final last year, unbelievable match. Novak was in position to win but somehow Alcaraz was able to rise to the occasion and beat the greatest of all time."

Both players also faced off in what turned out to be a breathtaking final at Wimbledon last year. In that contest, Alcaraz came out on top with a score of 1–6, 7–6(8–6), 6–1, 3–6, 6–4. However, since then, the world number two has had the better of Alcaraz. After that final, Djokovic defeated the current world number three in the final of the Cincinnati Open with a score of 5-7 7-6(7) 7-6(4). Later in the ATP Finals, the 24-time Grand Slam winner once again came out on top against the young Spaniard in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-2.