When fans look back on Roger Federer’s five-set win over Pete Sampras at Wimbledon in 2001, it is often referred to as the changing of the guard.
Except it wasn’t. It has been romanticised.
Sure, Pete only had one Grand Slam left in him at that point; but Federer, 19 at the time, wasn’t at that level, at least not then. He was still two years away from his first Grand Slam title and his ranking had double figures.
Compare that with this Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic rivalry; the contrast is stark. This isn’t a changing of the guard created only in hindsight. It’s a real battle for it.
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Alcaraz, still only 21, arrived at a time when Nadal and Federer were either going or gone. Djokovic not only remained but remained dominant.
Young, exciting, brash, flexible, and irresistible. Alcaraz reflects so much of what Novak was, and to a point, still is. Their similarities are obvious.
Yet their differences are equally as pronounced.
The Spaniard plays with a smile and without fear. He plays with brutality and flair. His unforced error count will be high, and he’ll hit winners galore. His game is everything, all the time, all at once.
Djokovic, 16 years Alcaraz’s senior, on the other hand, is not as simple to define. He’s complex, surgical, and breathtaking.
As Andy Roddick once said, "First, he’ll take your legs, then he’ll take your soul".
Together, it’s a hell of a combination. Like, fire and ice; chaos and order.
It’s no wonder ticket prices for their evening session were A$400 higher than for Jannik Sinner and Alex de Minaur tonight.
It’s also no wonder that Rod Laver Arena was still at capacity on the stroke of midnight with only three of a possible five sets played.
Winning 4-6, 6-4 6-3, 6-4, it was vintage Djokovic; with a 2023 twist.
After trading breaks early in the first set, Alcaraz broke his elder counterpart for the opportunity to serve for the set at 5-4.
Before he could do so, however, Djokovic went off the court for a medical time-out after grabbing at his groin and thigh area.
He returned with strapping to his thigh and a new game plan. Like his 2023 title run with a minor hamstring tear, Djokovic went heavy on the forehand and tried, insofar as possible against a dynamic Alcaraz, to shorten points.
Alcaraz closed the set 6-4, but the Serbian would soon turn the screws.
Demonstrating exactly why he’s considered the greatest returner of all time, Djokovic continually asked questions of Alcaraz when serving. Each question putting more and more pressure on Alcaraz.
At first, the reigning Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion was able to keep Djokovic at bay.
But even for young Carlos Alcaraz, there’s only so much you can take; particularly when Djokovic is hitting big and landing them deep.
Once 'plan A' didn’t work, Alcaraz’s tyres started to spin. Errors started to creep in, and some of those service games where he could hold from deuce started to go the other way.
Djokovic was creating relentless pressure on the Alcaraz serve that the Spaniard could not replicate on return.
Yet even having seen this movie on Rod Laver Arena so many times before, it always felt different having Alcaraz as the protagonist.
Each long and gasp-filled rally brought the crowd to its feet. They were begging Alcaraz to keep going, and being there in the stadium, it still felt possible.
Young and with an aura of invincibility, it only felt over for Alcaraz after the final point was played.
In the end, Djokovic managed to suffocate Alcaraz like he has to so many players before him.
Djokovic later admitted in his post-match press conference that he is "concerned" about his leg issue.
Whether this prevents him from taking to the court against Alexander Zverev on Friday in his 50th Grand Slam semi-final remains to be seen.
Nonetheless, Djokovic has, for now, at least delayed the final stages of the changing of the guard.
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