Roger Federer has lauded Carlos Alcaraz’s 2023 Wimbledon final victory against Novak Djokovic as incredible saying he knows from experience how tough as ask it is to beat the 7-time Wimbledon champion at the Wimbledon Center Court.
Djokovic appeared in last year’s Wimbledon classic as the heavy favorite after winning four back to back titles at All England Club and was attempting to equal Federer’s eight titles at the Grass court major with his last defeat at tournament coming in 2017.
Alcaraz meanwhile was still a beginner on grass and he became a great by dethroning a great in what was only third appearance at the event.
The Spaniard has backed up his Wimbledon glory with Roland Garros trophy this year as he came triumphant against a seriously threatening Alexander Zverev in a 5-setter in the championship match.
20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer discussed the current state and future of men’s tour in an in interview given to ESPN: “The guys are doing so well. Alcaraz at the French [Open] was fantastic, his win here last year [at Wimbledon] against Novak was incredible in that five-setter.”
Federer lost three Wimbledon finals to Djokovic – including in 2019 when he had two match points – while he only got the better of his arch Serbian nemesis once in the 2012 semi-finals of the Championships.
The Swiss added: “I’ve played Novak here I know how hard he is to beat. So for Alcaraz to do it was incredible.”
But Alcaraz is not the only youngster who is making the headlines over the past couple of months as Italian Jannik Sinner sealed his maiden major title at the Australian Open and overthrew Djokovic as World No. 1 after another deep run at Roland Garros a month ago.
Alcaraz and Sinner have played some of the best matches in last year or so with their most recent clash coming in French Open – an 5-set epic semifinal.
“Then Sinner how his progression has been the last couple of years, I like it a lot. So I see that continuing, which is gonna mean that both are gonna meet each other so many times it’s gonna be a great rivalry,” Federer said.
Djokovic meanwhile is bouncing back after sustaining a knee injury in his Roland Garros quarterfinal match which he won in 5-sets. Initially expected to miss the SW19 lawns Djokovic because of a surgery on his right knee, Djokovic recovered in time to come to the event just three weeks after the procedure.
In his first match on return, the 24-time Grand Slam champion crushed Vit Kopriva in three sets before taken to four sets by Brit Jacob Fearnley.
“Novak is amazing that he’s bounced back. Incredible effort for him after the surgery to come back and be playing. It will be very interesting to see how he bounces back against his three-hour match [on Thursday],” Federer said.