Exclusive: ‘Everybody knows Djokovic is the favourite’ – Carlos Alcaraz out to defy odds in Wimbledon final

Carlos Alcaraz has labelled Novak Djokovic the obvious favourite ahead of their hotly anticipated Wimbledon final at the All England Club.

“Everybody knows [Novak] Djokovic is the main favourite, myself as well,” Alcaraz told Mats Wilander. “I know he’s the favourite, he’s won the last four Wimbledons, [he’s] coming for the fifth in a row, 44 matches unbeaten here in Wimbledon, it’s something crazy.

“I’ll try not to think about it, I’ll try to forget all the stats he has here in Wimbledon. I’ll try to think it is one more match like every match that I played before, and I’ll try to show my best and find a way to beat him.”

Djokovic is out to equal Roger Federer’s record of winning Wimbledon five times in a row and eight times in total as he continues his assault on the tennis history books. The 36-year-old can also complete the third leg of the calendar Grand Slam for the second time with victory on Sunday.

But rather than be phased by such a formidable opponent with so much on the line, 20-year-old Alcaraz is relishing the prospect of taking on arguably the greatest male tennis player of all time.

“It’s a dream for me to play a final here in Wimbledon and it’s even more special against Djokovic,” he added. “He is a legend of our sport and I always say if you want to be the best you have to beat the best.

“I want to win Wimbledon one day but it would be more special if I beat Novak in the final. It’s going to be a really emotional moment for me. This is something I looked for since the draw came out to play a final with him and I’m going to enjoy.”

Should he want to win, however, he’ll have to avoid a repeat of what happened the last time the pair met in the semi-finals of the French Open. With the match poised at one set apiece at Roland Garros, Alcaraz was struck down with cramp early in the third and never recovered.

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