Mats Wilander claims Carlos Alcaraz has all the necessary weapons to end ‘superman’ Novak Djokovic’s streak at the Australian Open

The 2024 Australian Open continues to keep the fans on edge. The men’s singles was rather interesting, given that all six top seeds made their way into the quarterfinals. From the two quarter-finals that were played on Day 10, top-seeded Novak Djokovic and fourth-seeded Jannik Sinner have progressed into the semis. 

On Day 11, World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz and World No. 6 Alexander Zverev will go head-to-head for a place in the semis. With the defending champ, Djokovic, still in the draw, the road to the title is tough.

Amid this, Mats Wilander, a former 3-time Australian Open winner, has made another bold prediction after his previous big comparison of the two. 

The 2023 Wimbledon finals stunned everyone when Alcaraz stopped Nole from winning his fifth straight title at the All-England Club. Since then, the Serb has won both of their ties. Despite this, Wilander believes the young Spaniard can beat Djokovic in Melbourne as well.

He does have the weapons to beat him. I think anywhere. The question is Novak hasn't lost in Australia once he made the semi-finals. So, yes he has the weapons but no one has such a deep source of confidence, that I don't think he thinks that anyone can beat him. 

said Wilander speaking with Eurosport.

But if you look at Alcaraz, he's faster than Novak from one spot to another, he hits the ball a little bit harder than Novak on the forehand, he plays with more variation than Novak which is why he won Wimbledon.

Added the Swede.

Wilander also observed that Alcaraz’s risk-taking ability supersedes Djokovic’s. This one factor makes the two-time Grand Slam title winner play at his 100% and overcome the most successful man in terms of Majors won.

‘Superhuman’ Novak Djokovic is still a ‘human’ claims Mats Wilander

Of the 102 main-draw matches Novak Djokovic has played in the Australian Open, he has lost only 8 in his career.

He last suffered a defeat in Melbourne Park back in 2018 when he lost in the fourth round to Hyeon Chung. It was later revealed that Nole was nursing an injury and immediately underwent surgery after the defeat in Melbourne.

Mats Wilander emphasized the fact that despite the current World No. 1 being ‘Superhuman’, he can still have off days. And players like Carlos Alcaraz only need to find that one day to make Nole ‘human’.

But Novak is a superhuman, but he's still human. So he has bad days. The question is, who can make him have an off day? And there are not many guys, there are only two or three who can.

Commented Wilander.

While the 7-time Grand Slam winner can only hope Djokovic faces some real battle, it seems Nole is prepared for everything. The 10-time AO winner registered his 9th win over Taylor Fritz to maintain his 100% win record against the American. He has now moved into the semis where he will take on Jannik Sinner.

Alcaraz however has a big test in the quarter-finals. He will take on sixth-seeded Alexander Zverev who made the semis in Melbourne Park back in 2020. The German is desperate for his maiden Major and will not allow the Spaniard to steamroll him.

With a Djokovic-Alcaraz clash only possible in the finals, fans will have to depend on a lot of results to see the epic match play out this Sunday.

In case you missed it:

• Nick Kyrgios, who himself wrote that his career ‘may be over’, takes a complete U-turn calling retirement talks ‘absolute non-sense’
• “I have to fight till the end!” ‘Emotional’ Dayana Yastremska has some strong words for her mother after reaching the semifinal of the Australian Open

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