An apotheosis final is expected at the US Open, which begins on Monday, between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, whose already historic clashes are still rare, unlike the duels between Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff, who could meet as soon as quarter-finals. Ahead of the final Grand Slam of the season, Djokovic leads 2-1 against Alcaraz in their duels at major tournaments this year after winning the Australian Open and Roland Garros where the 20-year-old Spaniard was physically bent. .
But the latter made an impression by surprising the Serb in the Wimbledon final where he was undefeated since his defeat in the quarterfinals in 2017… The “Djoker” has since proven that he was not yet ready to give up the place to the youngsters, and Alcaraz in particular, by snatching the trophy from Cincinnati, after a Homeric final lasting nearly four hours.
“Carlos always pushes me to my limits. And I think I do the same to her. This is why we produced this memorable final”, notes the Serb, believing that he played that day in Cincy one of the “best” and “most difficult” finals in the best of three sets of his entire career. Still tremendously competitive at 36, Djokovic wants to bring his number of Grand Slam titles to 24 (and thus equal Margaret Court’s absolute record), on the hard American where he has won only three times.
Already incredibly strong, Alcaraz is aiming for a third Major, a second at Flushing Meadows where his victory last year in the final against Casper Ruud allowed him to become the youngest world No.1 in history. In the absence of Djokovic, not vaccinated against Covid-19 and then deprived of the US Open by the American authorities. Sure of his own tennis, Alcaraz considers that what he has to learn the most from Djokovic is his mental strength.
“He’s a rock mentally (…) It’s probably his greatest quality and I try to complete my own game with this element”, indicates the Murcian who, on the strength of his victories in New York last year and at Wimbledon in July, feels “more mature on the court”. And if defending his title puts additional pressure on him, he says “try not to think about it” and prepare just like he did last year.
What we could see, before the dream final, is a half against Daniil Medvedev who also won in New York, in 2021, his first – and only to date – Grand Slam title. The Russian believes in his chances of final success, but he recognizes the current domination of Djokovic and Alcaraz. And he summarizes the situation in a formula of which he has the secret: “At each tournament, the objective of each of the players is to try to prevent them from facing each other”.
In the women’s draw, world No. 1 Iga Swiatek could well find her best enemy Coco Gauff in the quarter-finals. But if she won the first seven duels between the two players, the Polish lost in their last match.
In the semi-finals in Cincinnati, the American was heroic in defense and particularly relaxed to get rid of Swiatek, before winning her third title this season against the Czech Muchova. But the road to the title at the US Open will be strewn with pitfalls. The one who emerges victorious from this ninth duel will probably have to get rid of the world No. 2 Sabalenka in the final, after dismissing the Kazakh Rybakina (4th) in the semi-final.
