Novak Djokovic subject of 'strange' comments after losing to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon
Jimmy Arias believes his comments on Wimbledon finalist Novak Djokovic are 'strange'
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Former world No 5 Jimmy Arias believes Carlos Alcaraz can operate at a higher level than Novak Djokovic.
However, the American has also confessed his comments seem 'strange' given everything the Serb has achieved throughout his career.
Djokovic had gone into the recent Wimbledon final as the favourite to win, especially given how he'd previously won seven crowns in the capital.
Yet Alcaraz was in sensational form on the day and recovered from a set down to win 1-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-1 3-6 6-4.
Carlos Alcaraz powered his way to Wimbledon glory at the expense of Novak Djokovic
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Now, speaking on Tennis Channel’s Inside-In podcast, Arias has hailed Alcaraz and expressed a belief he can operate at a 'higher level' than Djokovic.
“Before the Wimbledon final, a couple people asked me and I said – and this maybe sounds crazy but – he (Alcaraz) at his best level is better than anybody else," he said.
"He’s better than Djokovic, Djokovic can’t get to the level that Alcaraz [can].
“This is the best level I’ve seen – him at his best.
"I didn’t know if he was gonna be able to bring it in a Wimbledon final against Djokovic, but I did also know that he’d be more relaxed than he was at the French [Open].
“The French was a strange situation for him because he’s playing a, at the time a 22-time Grand Slam champion, and he’s favourite, by a wide margin.
"And I thought that was a strange mental hurdle for him.
“In the Wimbledon final, it was the other way.
"Now Djokovic is favourite and I knew he (Alcaraz) would play relaxed, or I thought he would, but it’s a Wimbledon final.”
Arias then said his view may seem 'strange' but insisted Alcaraz would scale significant heights in the years to come.
“(On Djokovic) It’s so strange for me to say that the greatest player of all time’s peak isn’t as good as this kid who is 20 years old," he added.
"But you watch Alcaraz and I don’t know how he’s done it so quickly.
"He’s sort of taken the ‘Big Three’ and combined all their strengths and put them into himself.
“He has sort of the offensive weapons of Federer, he’s got the heart of Nadal from what we’ve seen.
"I mean, how does he serve out the final game at Wimbledon, with playing Djokovic?
"He made every first serve and Djokovic only missed one return and it still didn’t faze him in any way.”
The onus will now be on Alcaraz to achieve consistency.
On top of winning Wimbledon this month, he's also claimed the US Open trophy - winning that prize last year.
Alcaraz will return to Flushing Meadows next month as the favourite to reign supreme.
Novak Djokovic will be out for revenge on Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open next month
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But Djokovic can't be ruled out either, with the Serb returning to America for the first time since restrictions were lifted on those who haven't had a coronavirus vaccine.