Carlos Alcaraz made classy gesture to Novak Djokovic behind the scenes before Wimbledon final

Carlos Alcaraz let Novak Djokovic walk ahead

Carlos Alcaraz let Novak Djokovic walk ahead

BBC
Stuart Ballard

By Stuart Ballard


Published: 14/07/2024

- 14:14

Updated: 14/07/2024

- 14:30

Carlos Alcaraz is looking to defend his Wimbledon title against Novak Djokovic in a repeat of last year's final.

Carlos Alcaraz gave Novak Djokovic the honour of walking ahead through the corridors of Centre Court before stepping out for the Wimbledon final.

The two tennis titans are competing in a repeat of last year's final, which lasted nearly five hours.


Djokovic is hoping to enact revenge on the young Spaniard while Alcaraz is looking to become just the sixth male player to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion was the first to emerge from the championship changing rooms and up the stairs of Centre Court.

Carlos Alcaraz let Novak Djokovic walk ahead

Carlos Alcaraz let Novak Djokovic walk ahead

BBC

Alcaraz wasn't far behind him with a Wimbledon official appearing to ask the defending champion if he wanted to walk ahead of Djokovic.

But the Spaniard showed his respect for Djokovic by gesturing for Djokovic to walk ahead.

"You go first, I don't know." Alcaraz could be heard saying.

Both players laughed off the exchange with Djokovic smiling as he walked ahead.

"At this stage there's a hierarchy," Tim Henman said on BBC.

"Djokovic is such a great champion. Seven times here with 24 majors but you know as soon as they get out on court and put their bags down that it really is gonna be an immense confrontation."

The 37-year-old is also gunning to equal Roger Federer's all-time record for most Wimbledon singles titles.

Speaking after his win over Lorenzo Musetti on Friday, Djokovic admitted the record is playing on his mind.

Novak Djokovic saw the funny side

Novak Djokovic saw the funny side

BBC

He said: "Obviously I'm aware that Roger holds eight Wimbledons. I hold seven. History is on the line. Also, the 25th potential Grand Slam.

"Of course, it serves as a great motivation, but at the same time it's also a lot of pressure and expectations. Every time I step out on the court now, even though I'm 37 and competing with the 21-year-olds, I still expect myself to win most of the matches, and people expect me to win, whatever, 99% of the matches that I play.

"I always have to come out on the court and perform my best in order to still be at the level with Carlos or Jannik or Sascha or any of those guys, Daniil. This year hasn't been that successful for me. It's probably the weakest results the first six months I've had in many years.

"That's okay. I had to adapt and accept that and really try to find also way out from the injury that I had and kind of regroup.

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Novak Djokovic is hoping to get revenge on Carlos Alcaraz

Novak Djokovic is hoping to get revenge on Carlos Alcaraz

REUTERS

"Wimbledon historically there's been seasons where I wasn't maybe playing at a desired level, but then I would win a Wimbledon title and then things would change.

"For example, that was the case in 2018 when I had elbow surgery earlier in the year, dropped my rankings out of top 20, losing in fourth round of Australian Open, I think it was quarters of Roland Garros, and just not playing the tennis that I want to play. Then I won Wimbledon and then won US Open and then later on became No. 1 very soon.

"Yeah, Wimbledon just extracts the best of me and motivates me to really always show up and perform the best I can.

"Of course, I'm aware of what's on the line. It always is really. Any Grand Slam that I play, there's always history now on the line. I will try to use that as a fuel to, yeah, play my best tennis."

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