Carlos Alcaraz faced some serious headwinds in the aftermath of his decision to split from Juan Carlos Ferrero. After Djokovic won the first set of Sunday’s Aussie Open final, many scribes were sharpening their pencils in gleeful anticipation of Alcaraz’s demise (perhaps there was some cosmic vengeance at work).
But the magician of Murcia showed why he is unquestionably the greatest player currently playing the game, rallying back to become the first man to ever beat Djokovic in a Melbourne final. In the process, he also became the 9th- and youngest- man in history to complete the Career Grand Slam. How do you quantify that type of achievement?
Alcaraz usurps Sinner on hardcourts
After Sinner won Wimbledon, I thought that the Italian hardcourt cyborg would easily triumph in New York and Melbourne. Sinner looked impervious on the faster surfaces and had just taken Alcaraz’s Wimbledon crown. To use a cricketing analogy: Australia look like they are far closer to winning the Ashes in English conditions that vice versa. Likewise, it felt like Sinner was closer to dominating on the natural surfaces than Alcaraz was on hardcourts. But Alcaraz came to New York with a grim determination, sporting a remodelled serve that helped him win more cheap points than usual. And now he has conquered the final leg on the Career Grand Slam, winning in the type of brisk conditions that were made for Sinner.
Improved serve vital
Alcaraz and new head coach Samuel Lopez built on what came before, looking to make Alcaraz’s serve into more of a weapon. Look, it’s not as if Alcaraz is suddenly a servebot ala Zverev. But he won more cheap points than usual on his delivery during the tournament, firing nine aces in the final while winning 77% of his first-serve points (while Djokovic only won 66%). And those percentages are a bit lobsided when you consider how Djokovic started the match. The Serb looked dialled-in during that first set, picking up from where he left off in his scintillating semifinal victory over Sinner. It felt like Alcaraz was still reeling from the cramp that afflicted him against Zverev.
Turning the tide
But the momentum switched with a lucky net cord at 15-15 in the 3rd game of the 2nd set. The ball dropped dead on Djokovic’s side, prompting Alcaraz to sheepishly apologize to the Serb. Alcaraz had his break of serve a few points later and never really looked back, gaining ascendancy in the longer exchanges. For me there were two primary shots that helped him win the game: the crosscourt forehand and the drop-shot. That crosscourt forehand- delivered with a devilish dose of topspin- sent Djokovic into Rafa Nadal-type areas of the court. And Alcaraz is too good a volleyer to not clean up at the net.
Drop-shot rules the day
And the drop-shot may have been the biggest driving force behind Alcaraz’s win (even when he wasn’t playing it). Let me explain. I think we can all concede that Alcaraz has one of best drop-shots you are likely to see. He used that to great effect against Djokovic in the last three sets, wearing him out both physically and mentally. His drop-shots were so accurate that Djokovic always had them in the back of his mind, and I think that indecision led to more unforced errors than usual. At times you could see Djokovic caught in no man’s land, uncertain of whether to stick to the baseline or advance into the forecourt. That left some easier passing opportunities for the Spaniard.
Alcaraz and Sinner to lead the way
I still think that we are looking at a duopoly in men’s tennis. Sinner will come back reinvigorated from this and could go on another 20-match winning streak. But Alcaraz is going to be right there with him. And to me, it looks like Alcaraz is currently the one adding more dimension to his game. Sinner won two majors last year and eased to the ATP Finals title. But you could argue that his brand of dominant first-strike tennis does become a tad one-dimensional (though effective). Alcaraz’s more mercurial style makes him more adaptable to the changing conditions of the tour. Alcaraz is a player made for the easily bored Gen Z, with every single point different from the last. As for Djokovic- there was surely enough there to suggest that 25 isn’t an impossibility. But the fact remains that Sinneraz has now won the last nine slams. And he would likely have to beat both guys to get his hands on that elusive record-setting slam. Good luck with that.
