It’s time for the “ultimate showdown,” as Novak Djokovic put it after the most-anticipated encounter in the men’s singles draw for the Wimbledon 2023 final on Center Court. Djokovic, the four-time defending champion and seven-time winner, is halfway through a calendar Slam and is never in doubt in the final. However, the talk has been about how much pressure Carlos Alcarez, who has recently been friendly with, can handle. But the world number one improved since the Queen’s title earlier this month and marched into his maiden Wimbledon final hoping to end Djokovic’s reign.
Ahead of the Djokovic vs Alcaraz final on Center Court, we look at key stats and records from the match…
Head-to-head tie:
This will be their third meeting on the ATP tour between the two, who have won one match each so far. Alcaraz won their first meeting 24 hours after shocking Rafael Nadal in the 2022 Madrid Open semis. However, the Spaniard suffered cramping before going down in four sets in their first Grand Slam meeting at the French Open last month.
– Alcaraz defeated Djokovic 6-7, 7-6, 7-6 in the 2022 Madrid Open semifinals.
– Djokovic defeated Alcaraz 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 in the 2023 French Open quarterfinals.
Key Statistics:
- Djokovic is playing in the second-most Wimbledon finals after Roger Federer (12) on Sunday. Overall, it will be his 35th Grand Slam final, surpassing the legendary Chris Evert (34) by any player in the Open Era, male or female.
- Djokovic has a 7-1 record in Wimbledon finals, winning in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022. He only lost in the final in 2013 when he scripted Andy Murray. Set win. Overall, the Serb has a 23-11 record in Slam finals, second-best among the Big Three, while Nadal’s 22-8 mark still tops the chart. Federer is now third with a record of 20-11.
- Alcaraz became the third Spaniard to reach the Wimbledon final after Nadal in 2008 and 2010 and Manuel Santana, who won the title in 1966. Overall, this will be his second Grand Slam final since the US Open 2022 where he defeated Casper. Rudd won his first major in four sets.
- At 20 years and 72 days, Alcaraz is the youngest player to reach a Wimbledon final, beating compatriot Nadal (20 years and 36 days) in the 2006 final.
- Djokovic has never lost on Center Court since the 2013 final against Murray and has a 45-match winning streak, the most ever by a player, male or female, on the iconic arena. The 36-year-old is unbeaten at Wimbledon since 2017 with 34 wins, the third highest at the tournament behind Björn Borg (41) and Federer (40). He is also unbeaten in a Grand Slam since a quarter-final loss to Nadal at the 2022 French Open, marking a 27-match winning streak.
- It will be the first time since the 2019 final (No. 1 Djokovic d. No. 2 Federer) that the two top seeds will meet at the summit. In total, there have been only three other incidents – in 2015, 2013 and 2013.
Battle for No. 1:
Alcaraz regained the No. 1 ranking after her first grass-court title at Queen’s, which helped her become the top seed at Wimbledon. But as Djokovic heads into the final round of the 2023 championship, he will walk home with the Wimbledon trophy and the ATP ranking crown.
Records follow:
- The current French Open and Australian Open winner is aiming for a 24th Grand Slam title, which would not only take her two ahead of Nada (22) in men’s singles tennis, but also overtake legend Serena Williams (23). Biggest winners of all time in the Open Era. Overall, Margaret Court will be tied for the most slams in tennis history.
- The Serb is also aiming to equal Federer’s Open Era record for most Wimbledon titles after his fifth straight win and eighth overall.
- At 36 years and one month, Djokovic is aiming to overtake Federer, who won his last trophy at SW19 in 2017 at the age of 35, to become the oldest Wimbledon champion. Overall, he could be the third oldest player after Ken Rosewall. (37 years, 1 month and 24 days during the 1972 Australian Open hole), Federer (36 years, 5 months and 7 days during the 2018 Australian Open victory), and Rosewall (36 years, 4 months and 5 days during the 1971 Australian Open victory).