By Joe Rindl.
Novak Djokovic says “history will be on the line” when he faces Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon men’s singles final.
Djokovic has the opportunity to equal Roger Federer’s record of eight men’s Wimbledon titles and secure a record 25th Grand Slam singles triumph with victory on Sunday.
The Serb, 37, who had knee surgery three weeks before the start of the tournament, is level with Australian Margaret Court on the all-time list with 24 singles majors.
“Of course, it serves as a great motivation,” Djokovic said.
“But at the same time there is also a lot of pressure and expectation.
“Wimbledon just extracts the best of me and motivates me to always show up and perform the best I can.”
The highly anticipated showdown is a repeat of last year’s final which Alcaraz won in five thrilling sets after four hours and 42 minutes.
Djokovic battles through knee injury and ‘boos’
Djokovic has not always seen eye to eye with fans at Wimbledon this year, accusing some of the Centre Court crowd of using their bellowing of Holger Rune’s name as “an excuse to boo” during his fourth-round win.
Following the second seed’s semi-final victory over Lorenzo Musetti, some fans booed him as he imitated playing a violin – a light-hearted celebration intended for his six-year-old daughter Tara.
But he has also shown a lighter side. Given an extra day’s rest after quarter-final opponent Alex de Minaur withdrew, he spent it playing tennis with his children on Wimbledon’s practice courts.
He pretended to take a penalty after his third-round match was momentarily delayed by fans celebrating England’s shootout win over Switzerland at the Euros.
And he kept up the football banter on Friday by telling reporters he expects Gareth Southgate’s side to “bring it home”.
Djokovic is having – by his lofty standards – a below-par 2024.
He has not won a title yet, his worst start to a year since 2006, while Wimbledon will be his first final since the ATP Finals in November.
But he has seemingly regained top form at SW19, playing his usual brand of dominant tennis and dropping just two sets in six matches.
“I wasn’t sure until three, four days before the tournament whether I’m going to take part,” added Djokovic who had surgery in June after tearing the medial meniscus in his right knee at the French Open.
“I made an extra effort to recover as quickly as possible just because it was Wimbledon.”
Alcaraz hopes to maintain unbeaten Grand Slam final record
Alcaraz recovered from a nervy start in last year’s championship match to beat Djokovic 1-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-1 3-6 6-4.
The 21-year-old, now a three-time major champion, could become the youngest back-to-back men’s singles winner at Wimbledon since Boris Becker in 1986.
This is only Alcaraz’s fourth appearance at the Championships.
However, the Spaniard – a crowd favourite wherever he plays – says he is “not thinking about taking the crown” off Djokovic as the next tennis superstar.
Alcaraz is unbeaten in Grand Slam finals, a feat he admitted he “thinks about” but believes will “be difficult” to keep up.
Five weeks ago he lifted his first French Open title and should he win on Sunday, he would be the youngest man to win at Wimbledon and Roland Garros in the same year.
“Sometimes I feel like I’m 26 or 27 and then I realise that I’m just 21 and everything is coming too fast and too quick,” Alcaraz told BBC Sport.
“It could be better if I had to wait a little bit, but I’ve put in the hard work every day and I am glad people get to see me achieve my dreams.”