Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic once again will be the men to beat at the US Open – staring on Aug 28 – with the Spaniard being tipped to win the title however, tennis legend Jimmy Connors suggests there is a weakness in his game.
The 2-time Slam champion Alcaraz and 23-time GS champion Djokovic make the two men army against the whole US Open field as the former has clinched six titles this year including the historic Wimbledon golden-ware.
Now easily an established favorite at US Open, the World #1 closed his victorious run at SW19 by beating Djokovic in the 5-set blockbuster final of the Championships with the latter settling the score in their most recent Cincinnati Open final clash. The Serbian saved a MP to seal an epic three-set win for the fourth title of the season after already lifting trophies at Adelaide, Melbourne Park and Paris.
Placed in opposite ends of the draw, unsurprisingly, the duo don’t see any big disruptor in their respective races to final at Flushing Meadows and Connors doesn’t have anything different to think.
“You can’t win the tournament in the first week but you can lose it for sure. One day at a time, one match at a time, I hate that saying but it’s true in a Grand Slam,” he said the Advantage Connors podcast.
“If you look past your first round, you’re a loser and I say that from experience. The end result is if you had a gun to my head and said, ‘Alcaraz and Djokovic against the field, who would you take?’ I’d take them.”
He then appeared to show a tilt towards the 36-year for, adding: “It’s tough for me to bet against the Djoker just because of his experience, his heart and everything that he can do.”
Connors ultimately went with 20-year old while admitting the Murcia-native has a problem of losing concentration.
The former world No. 1 continued: “But after winning that match, I know he has a week off but that takes a lot out of you. And if he gets a flow, has some easy matches I’d take him but I think I almost have to go for youth. But the only thing about Alcaraz is that he can have a little walkabout on occasion. But you know he’s going to stay in there and fight his ass off no matter what. That’s one think I like.”
“It’s a long two weeks. I hope they meet in the final again which would be an incredible match, incredible for the viewing audience and the tennis fans. I’m going for the youth this time,” concluded the 8-time Grand Slam winner.