LONDON: There was a combination of factors working against Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final on Sunday. Carlos Alcaraz was red hot, and it was just five weeks since the 37-year-old's right knee went under the scalpel in a Paris hospital, the Serbian didn't have the luxury of time in his preparation.
That said, the seven-time champion didn't bring his best tennis of the fortnight to the title match. The last time Djokovic came out as flat as he did on Sunday in the latter stages of a major was in Melbourne Park in January, in the Australian Open semifinals against the 22-year-old Jannik Sinner. The Italian had won three of their last four meetings.
