Serbia's Novak Djokovic (L) comforts Spain's Carlos Alcaraz Garfia after his victory during their men's singles semi-final match at the French Open. Photo: AFP
A rejuvenated Carlos Alcaraz enters Wimbledon as the top seed after reclaiming the world number one ranking but the brightest star of the next generation knows few will look beyond holder Novak Djokovic as the favourite.
The 20-year-old Alcaraz's battle with the seasoned Serbian for the top ranking had largely played out as a long-distance rivalry this season due to injuries and Djokovic's enforced absence from the hardcourt swing in the United States.
When the duo finally met for the second time in the French Open semi-finals earlier this month it was the inexperienced Spaniard who cracked under pressure and suffered from severe cramps as Djokovic, 36, levelled their head-to-head record.
Djokovic beat Casper Ruud in the Paris final to capture a men's record 23rd Grand Slam title to leapfrog Rafa Nadal and the 36-year-old will gun for an eighth Wimbledon singles crown to match Roger Federer's men's record at the All England Club.
Hoping to stop the Serbian winning his fifth Wimbledon title in a row will be refreshed U.S. Open champion Alcaraz, who warmed up for his bid to bag a second major title by winning the Queen's Club event in his third tour-level tournament on grass.
"The chances don't change so much," Alcaraz said of his Wimbledon prospects after winning his fifth title of the year. "Novak is coming to Wimbledon."
But Alcaraz said recovering the number one ranking from Djokovic had given him extra motivation and confidence.
"I ended the week playing at a high level so right now I feel one of the favourites to win Wimbledon, but I have to get more experience on grass," Alcaraz added.
"Novak is the main favourite to win Wimbledon.
"But I'll try to play at this level to have chances to beat him or make the final. I saw a stat that said Novak has won more matches at Wimbledon than the other top 20 players (combined). What can you say about that?"
THE MIX
The return of players from Russia and its ally Belarus this year following their 2022 ban over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine - which it calls a "special military operation" - will also throw world number three Daniil Medvedev into the mix.
The 27-year-old Russian made a superb start to the year with five titles before an early exit at Roland Garros scuttled his plans to add a second Grand Slam trophy to his cabinet on a surface that he was slowly warming up to.
Medvedev has had mixed results on switching to grass with an early loss in 's-Hertogenbosch and a quarter-final run in Halle, but will hope to rediscover his best form in time for the July 3-16 Wimbledon Championships.
Last year's runner-up Nick Kyrgios is facing his own battle against the clock as the swashbuckling Australian deals with a knee injury that required surgery earlier this year and has starved him of competitive action.
Americans Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe are also among the chasing pack aiming to make their progress this year count, with the latter proving his credentials as an all-court player by claiming the Stuttgart crown to enter the top 10.
Home hopes will rest on British number one Cameron Norrie, who reached the semi-finals last year, while two-time champion Andy Murray will look to turn the clock back for another deep run after winning titles in Surbiton and Nottingham.
Djokovic, statistically the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) in men's tennis, fired a warning to his rivals by posting a clip of himself on social media nibbling on the grass at Wimbledon.
"Remembering the taste and hungry for more," Djokovic said.
- Reuters