Wimbledon | Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz meet in the final

Same day (or almost), same time, same apples. It’s as if Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic had arranged to meet in a year. Unlike Patrick Bruel, the two tennis players don’t have to wonder how many will be there. We’ll all be there.

Djokovic will have the chance to avenge his Wimbledon final defeat last year at the hands of the young Spaniard.

The seven-time Wimbledon champion defeated Italian Lorenzo Musetti in three sets of 6-4, 7-6 (2), 6-4 in the semi-finals under the watchful eyes of his daughter and son who came to cheer on his father on Friday.

Djokovic appeared in great shape at the start of the match, despite having a knee protected by a knee pad. The Serb ran on every ball. On the other side of the court, Musetti did not hurt, but very little bothered “Djoko”.

The tide could have turned in the second set, when Musetti managed to convert a break point after missing three. Djokovic being what he is, he made sure to bring it all back to even serve. The set therefore went to a tiebreaker, which “Djoko” won hands down, giving his opponent only two points.

Musetti fought hard until the end, even when he was down 5-3 in the third set. He saved three match points to force a final game, which Djokovic eventually won.

To celebrate, the winner looked at the crowd and mimed playing the violin with his racket, a way of paying tribute to his daughter who is taking violin lessons.

“I’ve told this story many times, but I think it’s worth repeating,” he said into the microphone on the court. “I was a 7-year-old kid in Serbia, watching bombs fly over my head, and I dreamed of playing on the most important court in the world, here at Wimbledon.”

“I don’t want to take anything for granted. Every time I’m on this unique court, I really try to enjoy it. […] I’m obviously very satisfied, very happy to be in the final, but I don’t want to stop here.”

“I hope I get my hands on that trophy on Sunday,” he said to applause.

Musetti, at the age of 22, was playing his first match on the Wimbledon centre court, and his first Grand Slam semi-final in his career. All against one of the greatest champions in the history of tennis.

The 25^e world racket has nothing to be ashamed of. He was tenacious and stood up to the world number two on several occasions. He tried things; some worked, some didn’t. He was simply facing someone better – and more experienced in this kind of situation, naturally – than him this time.

Alcaraz recovers and wins

Earlier in the day, Carlos Alcaraz had defeated Daniil Medvedev in four sets of 6-7 (1), 6-3, 6-4 and 6-4 to reach his fourth Grand Slam final. He will be looking for his… fourth triumph.

Surprisingly, Alcaraz was out of his element at the start of the semi-final. Medvedev was in control, while the Spaniard made unforced errors, which is not his style. The most recent Roland-Garros champion was overplaying; he was “very, very nervous,” according to the main player concerned.

The decisive moment of the duel came at 2-1 in the second set, when Alcaraz scored a sublime volley to break the big Russian. That’s when he “started to put [son] “The game was in place,” he explained after the match. He never looked back, regaining his confidence, his precision and his poise. He diversified his shots.

“I didn’t want him to play his game, I didn’t want to exceed 10, 12 shots per exchange. But it was difficult to break the wall!” said “Carlito”.

He nevertheless succeeded and now he will try to defend his title against Djokovic, who will try to win his 25th^e Career Grand Slam…

“I’m not new anymore,” Alcaraz said. “I feel like I know how I’m going to feel going into the final. I’ve been in this position before.”

For his part, Djokovic spoke of a “huge battle” ahead on Sunday. “It’s going to take the best of my skills to beat him.”

“He’s going to win many more Grand Slams in his career, but maybe not the one on Sunday! But in the future, when I retire, in about 50 years,” he joked.

In any case, there is no point in meeting up in one – or ten – years to see if they will have become great players. They already are.

With Agence France-Presse and the Associated Press