Wimbledon: Prediction for who wins Alcaraz versus Djokovic

Here we are at last. We’ve seen an incredible two weeks full of rain, upsets, epic matches and wonderful tennis. Even with all of the chaos surrounding the Wimbledon Championships this year, the men’s final will feature the top two players in the world rankings. Ho-hum, as one might say.

However, that is not to say this final is one to miss. It’s business as usual for Novak Djokovic, at least. Djokovic will be contesting the 35th Grand Slam final of his illustrious career.

As for his opponent and the No. 1 seed, Carlos Alcaraz, it is all still very new. Even as such, this was the match that many pundits would have predicted before things began at the All England Club.

Wimbledon men’s final: Who will win between Alcaraz and Djokovic

Djokovic has done what he does and just win on the grass. There has been a bit of a learning curve for Alcaraz, but with each passing test and round, he gains more and more confidence in his game on this surface. There will be no greater test of this newfound confidence on grass than facing Novak in the Wimbledon final.

While there may be a 16-year age gap between the two, it is clear they are still the two best players on the planet right now. They have a fledgling rivalry at the moment having only played twice. The record is split 1-1, but Djokovic won their last meeting in the Roland Garros semifinals a few months ago when Alcaraz could not physically survive the moment.

Alcaraz has been very open about his nerves and how they can negatively affect him, as evidenced by the severe cramping he saw that day. He will need to have learned the important lesson that it takes more than physical tools to unseat Novak at a Grand Slam.

If you are a fan of incredible defensive tennis and unbelievable gets, this will be the match for you. Nobody moves as well on grass as Djokovic does. He is simply a white blur as he races side-to-side.

Alcaraz, to his credit, is also an incredible defensive player. He plays with a youthful exuberance that allows him to attempt things most players would not. This creativity will be crucial as he attempts to break down the seemingly impenetrable grass court game of the Serbian.

Djokovic will want to keep the majority of the rallies in a backhand-to-backhand pattern, as this is where he has a significant advantage. If he allows Alcaraz to run around and dictate with his forehand, things could prove difficult.

The super Spaniard will have to overcome the nerves of playing in his first Wimbledon final. He is a Grand Slam champion, which should definitely assist with that.  However, Wimbledon is something special all to itself.

The experience factor would suggest Novak is the favorite. He has won 15 of the last 18 Major Finals while also not losing a match on Center Court at Wimbledon for 3, 659 days. His last defeat on this court was to Andy Murray in the 2013 Final.

Alcaraz will hope his performance matches that of the Brit’s from that day. Even on grass, I still expect this match to be a premium baseline war. Both men are quite adept at the drop shot, which will of course be utilized, but they make their money from the back of the court.

Carlos will need to be ultra-aggressive and try to push Djokovic back as often as he can. An ideal game plan would see him coming to the net a little more than usual. Taking time away from Djoker has proven successful in the past.

Stan Wawrinka’s big wins over Novak during his three Grand Slam runs could be the blueprint to follow. Smashing huge forehands and dictating play while constantly moving forward.

Obviously, this is easier said than done. Novak will want to hold serve and continuously dig into every Alcaraz service game. This will only amplify the pressure and strain of the moment on the 20-year-old.

Ultimately, the talent walking onto Center Court on Sunday will be the best the men’s game has to offer. Both players have every shot in the bag at their disposal. Who will handle the moment better? This could be the key.

One man is going for his 8th Wimbledon crown in Djokovic. His opponent wants to carve out his own London legacy and capture his 1st.

All eyes in the tennis world will be watching the 2023 Men’s Wimbledon Final. If you are a fan of the sport you will need to make it a priority to set your eyes on what could be a generation-altering moment in the sport.

Winner: Djokovic in four sets