The rivalry between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic has not finished talking.
When they face each other, it’s as if the two most polished players of the modern era want to offer the world the most beautiful and finished tennis. Because Djokovic is the best in history and Alcaraz will undoubtedly steal the title from him one of these four. But what’s so special about them?
Robby Ménard is one of the most renowned analysts in Canadian tennis. Coach, specialist in advanced statistics and analyst at the Sports Network, Ménard rubs shoulders with some of the best players in the world as part of his work.
He was therefore the perfect person to put into words the widespread amazement that emerged from the last two duels between Alcaraz and Djokovic in the final of the Wimbledon and Cincinnati tournaments. Because often perfection is hard to explain. After all, Baudelaire once insisted that strangeness is the necessary condiment for all beauty.
The whirlwind arrival of the young Spanish prodigy reminds Robby Ménard of that of Roger Federer at the turn of the 2000s.
“Federer came in with a style of play that people had rarely seen. A guy who can defend himself. We have always seen Federer’s speed and his ability to be incredible defensively, but also capable of serving and volleying, extraordinary touchdowns and sometimes taking the ball super early. Alcaraz is the same thing. He comes with a panoply of possibilities in his game that wows. He does everything. »
Even according to Ménard, Alcaraz has one more advantage than Federer: “He is not tall, but he is extremely explosive at the muscular level. He is already physically mature. […] Like Federer, it’s a perfect technique for a hyper-explosive guy, but even more powerful than Federer, naturally. »
Federer is considered by many to be the father of modern tennis. Especially because of his impeccable technique. It was the Australian Peter Carter who had taught him everything at the time. While many remember his fluid and ample one-handed backhand, the Swiss managed to make his place in history more thanks to his forehand. Accurately brushed, early in the rebound and unpredictable.
Alcaraz, on this point, is similar to his idol, Ménard believes: “On all his shots, he is extremely competent. Technically, it’s beautiful as it can’t be. Especially its mechanical sequences. »
On the other side, despite his 36 years, Djokovic refuses to leave the floor to anyone. Especially to a youngster who has just landed, despite all the respect he has for him.
Djokovic is a fighter and if he still plays, it is to win. Alcaraz learned that the hard way in Cincinnati.
“Djoko always impresses me with his ability to renew himself on details,” explains Robby Ménard. He was always effective against the best players, because “he played on pace, early and close to the line, and he countered the forces of others”.
Since the hatching of Carlito, and other young shoots on the circuit, Djokovic has had to adapt. If he’s still the best player on the planet, it’s because he’s still finding ways to improve, Ménard believes: “He’s worked on his offensive game, to not just be a blocker. He is better in the second service ball, he is better with his first. He takes a little more risk to attack the second and to chain two quality shots. »
Even if seeing Alcaraz and Djokovic exchange courtesies is a treat, the saddest thing is to understand that this rivalry will not last forever, because one is starting his career and the other is almost at the end of his. At least their first four encounters, especially the two most recent ones, have been exquisite.
” It’s natural. It’s like [Pete] Sampras and [Andre] Agassi. Sampras is serve and volley and Agassi played everything. So much fun to see. Like [Björn] Borg and [John] McEnroe, it was fireworks,” recalls Robby Ménard.
“There, what is even more interesting, he says about the clashes between the Serb and the Spaniard, is that we do not know all the time where it is going. Sometimes both will play super early, then one backs off more. »
The good news, according to Ménard, is that Alcaraz’s early flourish will be able to keep Djokovic active longer than expected: “Djoko wants to beat the best. And Alcaraz will give Djokovic a year or two more, because he will be motivated to surpass himself. »
And if this prediction comes true, no one will complain.
