Carlos Alcaraz is the only man not named Novak Djokovic to win a Grand Slam title in the past 12 months.
Then again, Djokovic wasn’t in attendance at last year’s U.S. Open due to vaccination requirements. The 36-year-old Serbian has won the past three Grand Slams he has entered — Wimbledon last summer, the Australian Open in January, and last month’s French Open.
Djokovic beat Alcaraz in four sets at Roland Garros to claim his record 23 career Grand Slam title.
The two will meet again in Sunday’s men’s final at the All England Club. Unlike the slower clay surface, this meeting comes on Djokovic’s specialty as he attempts to tie Roger Federer’s record of eight men’s Wimbledon titles.
It’s considered a dream matchup — the top-ranked young Spaniard taking on the No. 2 seed Djokovic in a battle of next-gen superstar vs. all-time great. The winner will also leave Wimbledon with the No. 1 world ranking.
Djokovic is the -190 favorite at BetMGM and has even shorter odds at DraftKings, where he has been backed by 62 percent of the total bets and 67 percent of the money to win. Alcaraz is being offered at +160 by both books.
Djokovic will attempt to claim his eighth Wimbledon title in 12 years. He’s in the final at the All England Club for the fifth consecutive time.
“I’d like to believe that’s the case,” Djokovic said when asked if he’s playing his best tennis ever. “You have to rely on yourself. … I try not to look at the age as a hindrance or a factor. Thirty-six is the new 26, I guess.”
Djokovic will set a record of Grand Slam finals appearances with 35, one ahead of Chris Evert.
Djokovic is 1-1 in his career against the 20-year-old Alcaraz, the fourth-youngest Wimbledon finalist in the Open Era (since 1968) and the third Spanish man to reach the grass-court final (Rafael Nadal, Manuel Santana).
“It is going to be incredibly difficult but I will fight,” Alcaraz said about facing Djokovic. “I believe in myself and I will believe that I can beat him here. He hasn’t lost on this court since 2013, so it is going to be a really tough challenge for me. I dream since I started playing to play a final here and it is even more special playing against Novak. It is a final. There is no time to be afraid, be tired. I will go for it.”
The shortest odds in the Set Betting prop at DraftKings is Djokovic at +230 to win in straight sets. He is being offered at +320 to win in four sets and +400 to win in five.
By contrast, Alcaraz is +500 to win in straight sets and +550 to win in either four or five.
–Field Level Media