At the 2022 Mutua Madrid Open, Carlos Alcaraz didn't just win he made a statement. After knocking out Rafael Nadal in a dramatic quarterfinal, he faced the ultimate challenge: Novak Djokovic.

Their first-ever clash was an epic three-hour, 36-minute marathon that saw the young Spaniard unleash a masterful mix of power and finesse. Carlos Alcaraz dominated the scoreboard with 51 winners, frequently catching Djokovic off guard with perfectly placed drop shots.

The match ended fittingly with a thunderous forehand winner, a symbolic moment that sealed his historic achievement as the first player to beat both Nadal and Djokovic on clay at the same tournament.

As the 2023 Roland Garros draw was revealed, the tennis world eagerly awaited a semifinal blockbuster between Djokovic and Alcaraz. After their epic Madrid match, the young Spaniard’s second-set win hinted at another classic five-set battle.

However, the match took an unfortunate turn. Alcaraz was suddenly struck by severe cramps early in the third set, which completely derailed his physical performance and the competitive tension of the match.

Djokovic easily finished off the ailing Alcaraz. At the net, he showed great sportsmanship, telling his opponent, 'He's going to win this tournament, I'm sure, many, many times.'

As the 2023 Wimbledon final approached, the tennis world was buzzing with anticipation. While Carlos Alcaraz was seeking revenge for his French Open loss, all eyes were on Novak Djokovic, who was chasing history. Already the champion of the Australian Open and Roland Garros, Djokovic was just one match away from a clean sweep of the first three majors of the year, a feat that felt eerily familiar to his near-miss of a calendar Grand Slam in 2021.

This matchup wasn't just about a title; it was a clash of eras. Djokovic, a seven-time Wimbledon champion with a 34-match winning streak at the tournament, was the overwhelming favorite. Alcaraz, in contrast, had only played a handful of professional matches on grass before 2023, making his presence in the final a testament to his sheer talent and quick adaptation.

Djokovic seemed to be following the script early on, cruising through the first set. He even had a set point in the second-set tie-break that would have put him in total control. But a rare mistake a missed backhand into the net changed everything. That single moment shifted the momentum, allowing Alcaraz to snatch the set. It was a turning point that didn't just decide the match, but altered the course of tennis history.

In his four-set loss to Djokovic, Taylor Fritzcreated more break-point opportunities, 13 to Djokovic's 9. However, Fritz converted only two of them, while Djokovic capitalized on four.

A major factor in Fritz's struggle was his inconsistency on crucial points. He often made errors in tense moments and seemed uncertain about how to close out points, sometimes being overly aggressive and other times too passive.

This indecision was largely a result of Djokovic's masterful serving. By constantly varying his serves—from a slow, wide delivery to a powerful one down the T—Djokovic kept Fritz off balance and unable to anticipate what was coming. Djokovic even threw in some serve-and-volley plays to further disrupt Fritz's rhythm. This indecision was largely a result of Djokovic's masterful serving. By constantly varying his serves—from a slow, wide delivery to a powerful one down the T—Djokovic kept Fritz off balance and unable to anticipate what was coming. Djokovic even threw in some serve-and-volley plays to further disrupt Fritz's rhythm.