Mats Wilander doesn’t bet on Carlos Alcaraz to win Wimbledon despite his outrageous Queen’s victory as Novak Djokovic threat looms over All England

Tennis expert Mats Wilander believes Novak Djokovic is the favorite for Wimbledon, while Carlos Alcaraz faces challenges on grass.

Mats Wilander doesn’t bet on Carlos Alcaraz to win Wimbledon despite his outrageous Queen’s victory as Novak Djokovic threat looms over All England

Carlos Alcaraz, Mats Wilander, Novak Djokovic (Credits: Sky Sports, Wikipedia, The Japan Times)

As the prestigious Wimbledon tournament commences, tennis expert Mats Wilander has shared his insights, naming Novak Djokovic as the “big favorite” for the men’s singles title. Wilander, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, highlights Djokovic’s unmatched solidity from the baseline and his consistently improving serve, making it difficult to bet against the Serbian superstar.

He said, “To me, Novak Djokovic goes in as the big favorite. And the reason that I think he’s the big favorite is that I still haven’t seen anyone who is as solid as Novak from the baseline.”

Speaking exclusively to Eurosport, Wilander acknowledges the immense pressure on Djokovic as he aims to secure the calendar Grand Slam for the first time in his career. Additionally, a Wimbledon victory would tie Djokovic with Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles and further solidify his position above Rafael Nadal. However, Wilander believes Djokovic remains composed and has learned valuable lessons from past high-stakes matches.

Continuing his train of thought, he further added, “I mean, the pressure is on for Novak big time because obviously, if he wins, he ties Margaret Court at 24 Grand Slams. I think the weight of expectations is there, but I don’t think that it’s quite there yet. So this time I think Wimbledon is a little bit more relaxed for him.”

Related: Mats Wilander backs Novak Djokovic to go all the way at Wimbledon and equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles

Mats Wilander expresses caution regarding Carlos Alcaraz’s Wimbledon prospects

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Carlos Alcaraz, Mats Wilander (Credits: CNN and Reuters)

While Carlos Alcaraz’s recent triumph at Queen’s surprised many, Wilander expresses caution regarding the Spanish rising star’s Wimbledon prospects. Wilander highlights the challenge of adapting to grass courts and the vulnerability that players face against big-serving opponents. Despite Alcaraz’s impressive skills and versatility on other surfaces, Wilander does not consider him a strong threat against Djokovic, who possesses a well-rounded game and a formidable serve.

“Of course, Carlos Alcaraz with the win in Queen’s is very dangerous. But can he have learned in just one year on grass courts and not that many matches? Can he have learned enough to threaten Novak? I don’t think so.“

Wilander further suggests that the young Spaniard has learned crucial lessons during his Queen’s victory, particularly regarding playing against big servers. While Alcaraz has shown his adaptability on other surfaces, grass court dynamics require precision serving and shot selection. Wilander sees Alcaraz as a threat to players who struggle with variety and movement but cautions that he may encounter difficulties against opponents with powerful serves.

“Carlos Alcaraz, I think, figured out that he knows how to play on a grass court. Someone that moves well and hits the ball back in play is not a threat to him. But the big server, I think, Alcaraz has to look out for, I think he figured out how to move. You cannot go as fast on a grass court. You have to stop by taking small steps.“

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