WIMBLEDON — Completely erasing an outspoken homophobe from tennis’ ultimate record is just one reason to hope Novak Djokovic bounces back from this difficult Wimbledon final defeat.
It will sting for some time, the straight sets loss to Carlos Alcaraz, but Djokovic must somehow channel this disappointment when resuming his bid to move one clear of Margaret Court at the US Open next month.
Flushing Meadows was the scene of his 24th slam last year, so if anyone can, Djokovic can, providing he treats Sunday as the collector’s item it was, the rarity of a one-sided final going against him.
It was, after all, another final, the 37th at this level for the 37-year-old, who on grass remains the greatest challenger to a player almost a whole Lamine Yamal younger than him.
The age gap was noticeable as a 21-year-old played the veteran with a knee brace off the court, but the sport needs Djokovic to fight on, as does Alcaraz, with the Spaniard only likely to keep improving each time he plays the Serbian on such stages.
Wimbledon needs that, too, not just for these direct meetings with Alcaraz, but overall, as Djokovic was pivotal in breathing life into a fortnight that otherwise fell pretty flat.
Wet weather wreaked havoc across the tournament, prompting a first-week drop in attendance at the All England Club. A shorter queue and drenched hill resulted in a dampened mood, while outdoor courts frequently covered saw major storylines struggle to surface. No protests, and previous few player-umpire rows to boot.
There was at least a fitting women’s finale as Barbora Krejcikova continued a fine Czech tradition, plus the melodrama of Emma Raducanu’s mixed doubles withdrawal that overshadowed her impressive singles run, but the men’s singles was lacking in bite.
Overall, as its divisive and injured entertainer – Nick Kyrgios – looked on from the commentary booth, Alcaraz and Djokovic were left to heavily prop it up.
Djokovic, in particular, still causes a stir and attracts an audience for whom he is Marmite. One side sees a violin-playing wind-up merchant eager to rile up the crowd and ensure every superhero has its villain, while on the other side he remains a hero to millions, and continues to play at a level few – or only one, really – can match.
He remains a huge draw, has an army of fans, and is one of the first names spectators will look for on the order of play, which was even more so the case this year due to the lack of Andy Murray.
Fittingly honoured on Centre Court with Sue Barker seamlessly back on the mic, Murray may have still played the men’s doubles for a farewell that only became so after the fact, but his absence from the singles was noticeable. The art he mastered, and so badly wanted to play in at one last grand slam, was poorer without him.
It was therefore a window into next year, where there will be no Murray at all, save for the likely Royal Box appearance or interview on the BBC, while old rival Rafael Nadal is unlikely – bar a U-turn – to return to SW19 again, either.
That leaves Djokovic among the legendary old guard, as has been the case for the past few years, as the last great standing, and rather typically, as opposed to merely relinquishing the crown to Alcaraz and co, he has continued to wrestle for it.
It has been essential. His tenacity has ensured the fourth and last truly great rivalry of his career has not been as fleeting as some might have thought. This was their sixth meeting overall, a third at a grand slam, and though that is mighty shy of his 59 duels with Nadal, 50 with Federer and 36 with Murray, it has come to define Djokovic’s final chapter.
How long that lasts depends on how long this man seemingly made of elastic can withstand the inevitable pressures facing a 37-year-old body playing elite sport. Djokovic’s French Open withdrawal last month was his first walkover in 13 years, while he last retired hurt during a match at the 2019 US Open.
The knee injury was therefore a sign that even a player who has so carefully constructed a pliable physique, who is so diligent with his diet and incorporates yoga into his training, is not invincible.
His swift comeback from surgery somewhat disproves that, and having previously confessed he will only retire once he feels as though he can no longer consistently challenge at the top, this fortnight has surely proved it won’t be anytime soon – regardless of how the final played out.
And love him or loathe him, it helps the sport in this post-Federer and now virtually post-Nadal and Murray era.
Jannik Sinner may remain the world No 1, but on grass the Italian is undeniably a level below Djokovic and Alcaraz, with his quarter-final exit this year unchecking the progress that had taken him to the semi-finals in 2023.
His moment may come, but so long as Alcaraz continues to compete against Djokovic on the final Sunday here, then he will only continue to leave his fellow generation in the dirt.
It remains a different story on the hard courts, where Sinner came up trumps at the Australian Open earlier this year, while Djokovic was a cut above at the US Open 10 months ago, but on the grass it was no surprise to see a repeat of last year’s Wimbledon final, Djokovic’s sixth straight and 10th overall.
That it was so processional for Alcaraz was the surprise, especially after a 13-minute opening game, but Djokovic is merely down and not out, and will have been buoyed by the fact he was so well supported by the crowd on Sunday.
Make not mistake, the hunger that propelled a swift return from injury will take him to Flushing Meadows in pursuit of No 25, and first to Paris, with Olympic gold still eluding him.
Expect Djokovic to compete there and in New York, and going by his closing words to his team on-court after the final – “Thanks for being in my corner, and let’s keep it going.” – expect that he does so for years to come.