Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic shared a familiar embrace on the practice courts of Wimbledon 12 months after their epic showdown at the 2023 tournament.
Alcaraz famously defeated the Serbian legend in a thrilling five-set final to win his second Grand Slam and a maiden Wimbledon crown. He exacted revenge after losing to Djokovic just a few weeks earlier in the semifinal of Roland Garros when his body succumbed to cramps.
The defeat prevented Djokvioc from tying Roger Federer’s record haul of eight titles by a male player at the event, and there are doubts about whether he will play this year despite traveling to London and practicing.
The 37-year-old has recovered from a knee injury that he aggravated at the 2024 Roland Garros and which required surgery. But he stated that he would be taking it day by day before he could commit to play.
Alcaraz arrived at Wimbledon this past week and wasted no time in hitting the practice courts after his early defeat at Queen’s. Djokovic joined him this week, and the two men who contested last year’s final and won the last two Wimbledons crossed paths.
Upon completing his session on Monday, during which he was spotted practicing side by side with WTA World No. 1 Iga Swiatek, Alcaraz met with Djokovic at the exit, who presumably was making his way into the grounds.
The two players were pictured embracing, and Manuel Sánchez of EFE Noticias quotes Djokovic as saying, “I’m trying. I have improved quickly. Young people are beasts,” in response to his injury recovery.
Wimbledon shared a short video overlaying each other of the post-match hug shared by the two players from last year’s final and their recent reunion on the same premises.
“A familiar embrace, one year on from the 2023 Gentlemen’s Singles final.”
