Carlos Alcaraz insider backs up brutal Novak Djokovic comment from Rafael Nadal's uncle
Novak Djokovic's tactics for the Wimbledon final have come under fire again, this time from a key member of Carlos Alcaraz's team
A Carlos Alcaraz insider has endorsed a scathing assessment of Novak Djokovic’s tactics by Rafael Nadal's uncle. Alcaraz, 21, became the youngest man in the Open era to win the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back after defeating Djokovic for the second year in a row at the All England Club.
The Serbian great was completely outgunned in straight sets by the Spanish star. After the final, Djokovic’s approach was savaged by Nadal's uncle Toni, who has played a key role in his nephew’s illustrious career as his coach.
Writing in El Pais, Toni called the tactics employed by Djokovic, who had been nursing a knee issue, “suicidal”. He said: “Knowing that neither his legs nor the precision of his strokes were what they once were, and that a long and physical match would not help him either, he tried a tactic that ultimately proved suicidal.”
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That assessment has been backed up by Alfredo Sarria, co-ordinator of the Carlos Alcaraz Tennis Academy, who was left baffled by Djokovic’s game plan. He told Region Deportiva: “Like last year, we had the hope [for the final], but not the guarantees that everything was going to go as it finally turned out.
“We didn't know the seriousness of the [Djokovic’s] knee injury as he had recovered quite well, but we felt that Carlos was at least a bit superior. Or at least what we had seen in the previous matches was that Carlos was a little bit above him.
“In the match, Carlos gave his best version and Djokovic changed his plan. He played something he is not used to and that, at this level, is a bit suicidal.”
Alcaraz, Djokovic and Nadal are now preparing for the Olympic Games, with the tennis tournament being staged at the French Open venue, Roland Garros. Sarria said the Games have been Alcaraz’s main target for 2024.
He said: “Carlos is a guy who has always liked to set himself challenges, goals. And his main objective this season has been the Olympics.
“It is not only the great challenge for Carlos, but also for Djokovic. Even for Nadal. They dream with the Olympic gold. It's something that only happens every four years and it's a bigger challenge than the Grand Slams.”
The Olympic tennis tournament begins on Saturday, July 27 and concludes on August 4.
