Tennis rivalry? This time, who is it? Borg-McEnroe in the late seventies to the early eighties; Agassi-Sampras in the nineties; Federer-Nadal in the 2000s; or Nadal-Djokovic in the 2010s? One of the most exciting and thrilling tennis rivalries today is between Djokovic and Alcaraz. It’s a rare rivalry where it’s not only a battle of generations but it’s also highly competitive and entertaining to watch.
To date, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz have played against each other seven times. The head-to-head record stands at 4-3 in favor of Alcaraz, though Djokovic recently defeated Alcaraz in the August 2024 Paris Olympics to win a gold medal. Their first encounter was on the outdoor clay surface during the Madrid semi-finals in 2022.
In the Madrid Open 2022, Alcaraz proved that he is not only a talented player but a rising star in tennis. After winning the quarterfinals against Rafael Nadal, his tournament didn’t get any easier as he faced top-notch Djokovic.
A 19-year-old Alcaraz hit 51 winners compared to 24 by Djokovic. This teenager became the first player to defeat both Nadal and Djokovic at the same clay-court tournament. This win marked a significant turning point in Alcaraz’s career, and by the end of 2023, he had become the youngest ever to claim the world number one ranking.
“I know that I played a really good game,” Alcaraz said. “For the rest of the season, I think I am capable of playing against the best players in the world and beating them as well, so it gives me a lot of confidence.”
In 2023, when the Roland Garros draw was released, all eyes were on the semi-final blockbuster between Djokovic and Alcaraz. Djokovic took an early lead, but Alcaraz won the second set in classic style. However, as soon as the third set began, Alcaraz started suffering from body cramps and was unable to physically recover, leading to Djokovic winning the French Open 2023 semi-final.
Alcaraz was open about his feelings after the loss. He said, “I’m disappointed in myself, honestly. In a match like this, coming in with great feelings and feeling great physically, cramping at the end of the second set and beginning of the third was really disappointing. But these kinds of things happen, and I have to deal with that.”
Alcaraz did not have to wait long for his chance at revenge against Djokovic. Just a month later, at Wimbledon 2023, Alcaraz won his first Wimbledon title and his second major title. The seven-time Wimbledon champion, Djokovic, was the clear favorite and was poised to win his eighth title. But Alcaraz changed the course of the match and history.
In this rollercoaster battle, Alcaraz said, “It’s a dream come true for me. As I said before, of course, it’s great to win, but even if I had lost, I would be really proud of myself for this amazing run. Making history in this beautiful tournament, playing a final against a legend of our sport.”
On the other hand, Djokovic smashed his racket on the net post in a moment of frustration, for which he was charged with ‘racquet abuse’ and fined $8,000.
For Alcaraz vs. Djokovic, this was their first hard-court match. Alcaraz firmly controlled the match, leading by two serves in the second set. However, he later gave Djokovic an opening, and Djokovic turned the clash into a classic. After the second-set tiebreaker, both men raised their levels, and Djokovic served for the championship in the third set. Ultimately, Djokovic won the title after three hours and 49 minutes, the longest best-of-three final in ATP Tour history (since 1990).
Djokovic said, “Overall, it was one of the toughest and most exciting matches I’ve ever been a part of, and these are the kinds of moments and matches that I continue to work for day in and day out. I was never in doubt that I could deliver my ‘A’ game when it mattered most, and I’m just thrilled.”
After defeating Alcaraz, Djokovic commented, “Boy, you don’t give up, Jesus Christ,” to which Alcaraz responded with good humor, “Spanish never die.” This reminded Novak of his all-time rival, Rafael Nadal. He added that he had heard this phrase before.
Djokovic delivered the most emphatic result in this rivalry with a dominant performance in Turin. With this victory, Djokovic moved ahead in the series.
“I approached the match with the right attitude and the right mentality, and I knew from the very first point that it was going to be intensely competitive,” Djokovic said.
“He had break points right away, 15/40 in the first game. That’s Carlos. He always brings out his best in these kinds of matches and starts with a lot of high-quality tennis and intensity. You’ve got to match that, try to weather the storm, and I did that.”
Djokovic won his record-breaking seventh Nitto ATP Finals crown by defeating Jannik Sinner in the finals.
Competing for the second consecutive time in the final at Wimbledon, Alcaraz ensured history repeated itself. Alcaraz hit 42 winners compared to 26 from Djokovic over two hours and 30 minutes. Djokovic, who had undergone right knee surgery just two weeks before the tournament, was aiming to win his 25th Grand Slam—a record in both men’s and women’s games.
With this win, Alcaraz captured his fourth Grand Slam title at the age of 21 or under, joining Boris Becker, Bjorn Borg, and Mats Wilander. He also became the sixth man to win the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back.
“It is a dream for me, winning this trophy,” said Alcaraz at the trophy ceremony. “In an interview, when I was 11 or 12 years old, I said my dream was to win Wimbledon, so I am realizing my dream. I want to keep going, but it is a great feeling to play on this beautiful court and to lift this amazing trophy. This is the most beautiful tournament, the most beautiful court, and the most beautiful trophy.”
The Paris Olympics 2024 marked Alcaraz’s debut. In the finals of the men’s singles, Djokovic asserted his dominance over Alcaraz in one of the highest-quality matches of the season, winning the gold medal.
“We played almost three hours for two sets. It was an incredible battle, an incredible fight,” said 24-time major winner Djokovic. “When the last shot went past him, that was the only moment I actually thought I could win the match. I mean, I believed that I could win, but to actually win it—because he keeps on coming back and keeps on forcing me to play my best tennis.
“I don’t know what to say. I’m still in shock, honestly. I put my heart, my soul, my body, my family, and everything else on the line to win Olympic gold at age 37. I finally did it.”
Djokovic and Alcaraz are two of the best tennis players right now. They’re always competing against each other, and it’s really exciting to watch. Alcaraz is new to the top, but Djokovic is very experienced and tough to beat. Their matches are incredibly important for tennis, and they’re playing at the highest level, leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come.
