Like many others, Novak Djokovic could not stay indifferent to the Roland Garros final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz this June. The two outstanding rivals provided one of the greatest matches of all time and an instant classic.
Carlos prevailed 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6 after five hours and 29 minutes, defending three match points and providing one of the greatest escapes in tennis history. To make the story even better, the greatest player of all time almost missed it!
Speaking with Piers Morgan, Djokovic admitted he had not planned to watch the final. However, heended up joining his family to witness history unfold on the Paris clay a couple of days after falling to Sinner in the semi-final.
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At first, Novak approached the match like a student of the game, or the professor. He focused on the tactical side of what was happening between the two young stars, examining what they were throwing at each other.
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However, as the rallies stretched and level soared despite ongoing hours on the clock, even the analytical mind of one of the greatest players ever gave way to pure admiration, which does not happen often in his case.
Djokovic revealed that he rarely experiences such moments when watching others play. He recalled that only a handful of matches in his life, and mostly those including Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, let him in similar awe.
The Sinner-Alcaraz showdown revived those vibes and earned a place in that elite group. For the Serb, the extraordinary Roland Garros final was more than a battle between two rising forces.
It provided a glimpse into tennis' future at its absolute peak, calling their level astronomical. Carlos and Jannik battled for five and a half hours without taking breaks, saying bad words about each other or anything like that.
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They provided one of the greatest duels in game's history and established their rivalry as the one to watch in the years to come. You do not often here 'WOW' from Novak, and on that Sunday, the Spaniard and the Italian earned that honor on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
"When I started watching, I did it with a tactical eye, to understand what they were doing. Then, I entered a phase of admiration. I have not often felt that while watching other people play.
It happened a few times while watching the duels between Roger and Rafa. There are only four or five matches in my life where I said to myself, 'WOW,' and this one is one of them.
It was an astronomical level of tennis," Novak Djokovic said.
