After changing to the grass surface, the tennis pros are currently preparing for the classic in Wimbledon. The biggest favorite is of course record Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic. Meanwhile, number two Carlos Alcaraz is baking small rolls.
Novak Djokovic won his 23rd Grand Slam title at the recent French Open, securing the sole record ahead of Rafael Nadal. A few weeks before the first serve in Wimbledon, it seems a likely scenario that the Serb would also triumph on the sacred lawn in England.
Last year’s finalist Nick Kyrgios sees it that way. When asked who can beat the 36-year-old, the Australian joked on the sidelines of the ATP tournament in Stuttgart in front of the “Sky” microphone: “Nobody, if not me.”
However, it is hardly to be expected that the 28-year-old actually poses a threat to Djokovic. After surviving a knee operation, he recently celebrated his comeback in Stuttgart and lost in straight sets to the Chinese Wu Yibing.
Meanwhile, Kyrgios hopes that Djokovic will even have 30 Grand Slam victories at the end of his career: “It makes me look better after losing to him at Wimbledon last year.” Then he added, a little more seriously: “I know how hard he works. He wasn’t in some Grand Slams, wasn’t allowed to enter Australia, for example. He would probably already have 25 or 26 titles.”
Alcaraz: ‘Kyrgios has better chances of beating Djokovic’
One of Djokovic’s toughest challengers in recent years has been Carlos Alcaraz, most recently the two fought a gripping fight in the semifinals of the French Open. The Spaniard, who was in poor health, lost out in four sets on his favorite surface, sand.
The 20-year-old doesn’t really count his chances on grass. “I’ve always said that I can win any tournament,” he said in the run-up to the tennis tournament in Queens, “but of course it’s more difficult on grass because I have little experience and had problems on the surface in the last few games”.
Rather, Alcaraz sees Kyrgios in a promising position: “He has already played a Wimbledon final and is very good on grass. I’m not saying that I can’t beat Djokovic, but I have better chances on other surfaces. Kyrgios has better chances, Djokovic than any other player.”