Former world No 1 doesn’t ‘fully understand’ Novak Djokovic’s Wimbledon final approach

World No 2 and seven-time Wimbledon champion Djokovic was beaten comprehensively in Sunday’s final by Carlos Alcaraz, the Spaniard winning 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(4) in the first straight-sets men’s final since 2018.

Many had expected the contest to be as similarly thrilling as their epic battle in the 2023 final, though Alcaraz was ultimately able to defend his title with little fuss – with only a minor wobble towards the end of the contest.

The build-up to the tournament was dominated by whether Djokovic would play, with the Serbian undergoing surgery on a meniscus tear just weeks before the Championships.

The 24-time major winner impressed on his way to the final but was far from convincing in the championship match.

And Roddick, himself a three-time finalist at SW19, believes Djokovic’s knee issue may have played a factor in what was a strange performance tactically.

Speaking on Served with Andy Roddick, he said: “What I was a little surprised about with Novak and you don’t know if he just… listen he’s smarter than I’ll ever be in this game so you’re not questioning, you’re just wondering what the factors are with the decision to play a certain way.

“Novak for his entire career has been the master of kind of extending points, playing within himself, forcing you to attack from tough positions, and today I felt like whether it was the serve and volley, whether it was going line very early, not sticking Carlos into that backhand to backhand rally, it seemed like Novak was in a hurry to get out of that.

“I don’t fully understand, maybe his read on the first couple of points getting bullied, obviously the knee issue, he must know something that we don’t. I was surprised how quickly he went to that all-out aggressive play.

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“I didn’t mind the coming in, I didn’t mind the approaching line but kind of taking random shots line very, very early in rallies in a very aggressive nature, not wanting to switch the direction of a rally.

“I’m surprised he didn’t put more volume on Carlos’ backhand.”

Roddick is by no means the first person to question Djokovic’s approach to the final.

Toni Nadal, the legendary former coach of nephew Rafael, claimed that the Serbian’s approach “ultimately proved suicidal” in a scathing criticism of the all-time great.

“The decision was not easy to make,” said Nadal. “How to approach the match, with our usual weapons and our own style, or try to neutralise the opponent by looking for other solutions and moving away from our characteristic game?

“Personally, I have always opted for the first solution. If it is already difficult to play well by doing what you are used to doing, it has always been much more difficult in my opinion to play well, especially in the final, by doing what you are not used to doing.

“Djokovic opted for the second solution. Knowing that neither his legs nor the precision of his shots are those of yesteryear, and that a long and physical match would not favour him either, he tried a tactic that ultimately proved suicidal.”

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