After his Wimbledon semi-final defeat, Novak Djokovic shared his pick for the highly anticipated 2025 final, giving a “slight edge” to Carlos Alcaraz over Jannik Sinner.
Djokovic Reflects on the New Guard
Following a straight-sets loss to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic opened up about the physical demands of top-tier tennis. He admitted that the wear and tear on his body makes it challenging to match the supreme fitness levels of younger stars like Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Djokovic even suggested that his long-held dream of securing a 25th Grand Slam title might face significant hurdles with the consistent presence of Sinner and Alcaraz dominating the courts. He acknowledged their exceptional form and physical prowess.
Picking a Favorite for the Final
Despite his recent loss to Sinner, Djokovic offered his perspective on the upcoming Wimbledon final. The Serbian legend, after his 3-6, 3-6, 4-6 defeat, cautiously selected two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz as the marginal favorite for Sunday’s showdown at SW19.
“Well, I think I will give a slight edge to Carlos as a favourite because of the two titles he’s won here and the way he’s playing and the confidence he has right now,” the 24-time Grand Slam winner stated. He also highlighted that Sinner remains a strong contender.
Djokovic further elaborated, “But it’s just a slight advantage ’cause Jannik is hitting the ball extremely well. I think it’s going to be, again, a very close matchup like we had in Paris, yeah.”
Sinner’s Mindset After French Open
Jannik Sinner is heading into this final shortly after a tough loss to Alcaraz at the French Open last month. In that match, Sinner had a golden opportunity, even reaching championship point, before ultimately falling short.
However, the Italian ace insists that the Roland-Garros defeat is not weighing on his mind as he prepares for another high-stakes encounter against Alcaraz. “I think if it would be a lot in my head, I would not be in the situation to play a final again, I guess,” he remarked, smiling.
Sinner expressed his eagerness for the upcoming match: “I’m very happy to share once again the court with Carlos. It’s going to be difficult, I know that. But I’m looking forward to it, no? I try always to put myself in these kind of situations what I really love. Sundays on every tournament are very special.”
Alcaraz Downplays Mental Edge
Similarly, five-time Grand Slam winner Carlos Alcaraz downplayed any perceived mental advantage he might have over the world No. 1 following their previous French Open clash. He expects Sinner to be at his very best.
“I’m pretty sure he’s going to take a lot of things from French Open final, that he’s going to be better. He’s being to be better physically, he’s going to be better mentally. He’s going to be prepared on Sunday to give his 100%,” Alcaraz explained. “I’m not thinking or I have advantage mentally Sunday because of that match.”
Key Takeaways
- Novak Djokovic views Carlos Alcaraz as a “slight favorite” for the Wimbledon 2025 final against Jannik Sinner.
- Djokovic cited Alcaraz’s past Wimbledon titles, current form, and confidence as reasons for his choice.
- Both Sinner and Alcaraz downplayed the impact of their recent French Open final match on the upcoming Wimbledon showdown.
- Sinner has made history by becoming the first man since the Big 4 (Federer, Djokovic, Nadal, Murray) to reach all four Grand Slam finals.
With both players at the peak of their game and downplaying past results, the Wimbledon 2025 final promises to be an enthralling contest between two of tennis’s brightest young stars.
