{"id":177155,"date":"2025-06-12T01:37:03","date_gmt":"2025-06-12T01:37:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/177155\/"},"modified":"2025-06-12T01:37:03","modified_gmt":"2025-06-12T01:37:03","slug":"what-carlos-alcaraz-did-on-grass-two-years-ago-that-surprised-everyone-including-novak-djokovic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/177155\/","title":{"rendered":"What Carlos Alcaraz did on grass two years ago that &#8216;surprised everyone&#8217; including Novak Djokovic"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Carlos Alcaraz has developed into one of the sport\u2019s best grass-court players over the past few years, winning consecutive Wimbledon titles.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In 2024, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetennisgazette.com\/news\/andy-roddick-stunned-by-something-novak-djokovic-did-during-wimbledon-defeat-to-carlos-alcaraz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Alcaraz won Wimbledon<\/a> for the second time, beating Serbia\u2019s Novak Djokovic in the final 6-2, 6-2, 7-6.<\/p>\n<p>Many had doubted the Spaniard coming into the tournament, following his shock second-round exit at Queen\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p>Alcaraz lost to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetennisgazette.com\/tag\/jack-draper\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jack Draper<\/a> in straight sets 6-7, 3-6, as his Queen\u2019s title defence went up in flames.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-2157840647-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Carlos Alcaraz and Jack Draper shake hands at the net after their match at Queen's in 2024\" class=\"wp-image-101391\" \/>Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>Bouncing back at SW19, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetennisgazette.com\/tag\/carlos-alcaraz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Alcaraz<\/a> proved why he\u2019s one of the best grass-court players around, winning his second title in as many years.<\/p>\n<p>One year earlier, Alcaraz had beaten Djokovic in the 2023 final, after which the 24-time Major champion revealed what his younger rival had done on grass that \u2018surprised everyone\u2019 on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetennisgazette.com\/tag\/atp\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ATP Tour<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Novak Djokovic said Carlos Alcaraz \u2018surprised everyone\u2019 with how quickly he adapted to grass<\/p>\n<p>In an instant classic, Alcaraz beat Djokovic 1-6, 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4, to lift the Wimbledon title in 2023.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>After the match, Djokovic was asked whether he was surprised by how quickly Alcaraz had adapted to all three surfaces.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo clay, no, I\u2019m not surprised because he grew up on clay. His game is obviously suited and developed for clay, probably slower hard courts,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut, yeah, grass, I must say he surprised me. He surprised everyone with how quickly he adapted to grass this year.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"699\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-1535936449-1024x699.jpg\" alt=\"Novak Djokovic speaks to the media after his loss to Carlos Alcaraz in the 2023 Wimbledon final\" class=\"wp-image-101382\" \/>Photo by AELTC\/Joe Toth via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe hasn\u2019t had too many wins on grass in the last two years that he played. Obviously, him coming from clay, having the kind of style that he has.\u201d<\/p>\n<ul class=\"inline-links multi\">\n<li>Carlos Alcaraz\u2019s grass-court wins in 2022: 3-1 (Lost in Wimbledon 4R)<\/li>\n<li>Carlos Alcaraz\u2019s grass-court record in 2021: 1-1 (Lost in Wimbledon 2R)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Djokovic reflected on Alcaraz\u2019s run at Queen\u2019s in the build-up to Wimbledon, explaining the effect it had on his Grand Slam triumph.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think Queen\u2019s helped him a lot. He was close to losing that first match, opening match, in Queen\u2019s,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen he started to gain momentum, more and more wins against really good players.<\/p>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Round<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Opponent<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Result<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Score<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>F<\/td>\n<td>Alex de Minaur<\/td>\n<td>Win<\/td>\n<td>6-4, 6-4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>SF<\/td>\n<td>Sebastian Korda<\/td>\n<td>Win<\/td>\n<td>6-3, 6-4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>QF<\/td>\n<td>Grigor Dimitrov<\/td>\n<td>Win<\/td>\n<td>6-4, 6-4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2R<\/td>\n<td>Jiri Lehecka<\/td>\n<td>Win<\/td>\n<td>6-2, 6-3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1R<\/td>\n<td>Arthur Rinderknech<\/td>\n<td>Win<\/td>\n<td>4-6, 7-5, 7-6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<p>Carlos Alcaraz at Queen\u2019s in 2023<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWimbledon courts are maybe slower than the Queen\u2019s courts. It\u2019s more suitable for, I guess, the baseliners like he is.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI must say the slices, the kind of chipping returns, the net play, it\u2019s very impressive. I didn\u2019t expect him to play so well this year on grass, but he\u2019s proven that he\u2019s the best player in the world, no doubt.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s playing some fantastic tennis on different surfaces, and he deserves to be where he is.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Novak Djokovic claimed he had never seen a player like Carlos Alcaraz<\/p>\n<p>When asked if there were any players he would compare Alcaraz to after the 2023 final, Djokovic admitted the Spaniard shares similarities with himself, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetennisgazette.com\/tag\/roger-federer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Roger Federer<\/a>, and Rafael Nadal.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think people have been talking in the past 12 months or so about his game consisting of certain elements from Roger [Federer], <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetennisgazette.com\/tag\/rafael-nadal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rafa [Nadal]<\/a>, and myself. I would agree with that. I think he\u2019s got basically the best of all three worlds,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s got this mental resilience and real maturity for someone who is 20 years old. It\u2019s quite impressive. He\u2019s got this Spanish bull mentality of competitiveness and fighting spirit and incredible defence that we\u2019ve seen with Rafa over the years.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-1258851360-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"Carlos Alcaraz celebrates a point at Queen's in 2023\" class=\"wp-image-101383\" \/>Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think he\u2019s got some nice sliding backhands, and he\u2019s got some similarities with my backhands. Yeah, two-handed backhands, defence, being able to adapt. I think that has been my personal strength for many years. He has it too.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Djokovic did, however, admit he\u2019d never played anyone quite like Alcaraz.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI haven\u2019t played a player like him ever, to be honest,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRoger and Rafa have their own strengths and weaknesses.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCarlos is a very complete player. Amazing adapting capabilities that I think are a key for longevity and for a successful career on all surfaces.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>At just 22 years of age, Alcaraz has already matched Nadal\u2019s tally at Wimbledon, although he still has some way to go if he wants to reach the heights of Federer and Djokovic at the All England Club.<\/p>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Player<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Wimbledon titles<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Years won<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Win %<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Roger Federer<\/td>\n<td>8<\/td>\n<td>2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2017<\/td>\n<td>88%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Novak Djokovic<\/td>\n<td>7<\/td>\n<td>2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022<\/td>\n<td>89%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Carlos Alcaraz<\/td>\n<td>2<\/td>\n<td>2023, 2024<\/td>\n<td>90%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Rafael Nadal<\/td>\n<td>2<\/td>\n<td>2008, 2010<\/td>\n<td>83%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<p>Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal compared at Wimbledon<\/p>\n<p>Alcaraz will certainly be hoping to add a third Wimbledon title to his collection in 2025 as he looks to close in on Djokovic and Federer.<\/p>\n<p>The 2025 Wimbledon tournament is scheduled to begin on Monday, June 30.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Carlos Alcaraz has developed into one of the sport\u2019s best grass-court players over the past few years, winning&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":177156,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4105],"tags":[4294,6359,4295,79,1068,16,15,5068],"class_list":{"0":"post-177155","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-tennis","8":"tag-atp","9":"tag-carlos-alcaraz","10":"tag-novak-djokovic","11":"tag-sports","12":"tag-tennis","13":"tag-uk","14":"tag-united-kingdom","15":"tag-wimbledon"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114667837486196060","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/177155","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=177155"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/177155\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/177156"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=177155"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=177155"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=177155"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}