Alcaraz is brilliant athlete who runs down a lot of winners with his foot speed. The fact that he is able to play a difficult shot while on the run makes it all the more difficult for any player to make easy points.
Today's final was won by Alcaraz threat to run down those cross court volleys and return them with some more venom. There were countless times where Djokovic had the advantage in the rally, like say 3rd set, 0-1,0-30 Alcaraz serving - when Djokovic had easy put aways which were dumped to net. These may be counted as unforced errors, but they were largely due to the threat of the Alcaraz movement on both wings, which asked Djokovic to do more while having the final shot on his racquet, that's what forced the error.
Djokovic was also not upto the mark for large parts of the match, but again it was due to the threat of Alcaraz movement which was creating doubts in shot making. Another good example here was in Tie break, first point - Djokovic actually hit a very good volley but was still going to lose that point quite easily. This threat of getting run down on your last shot, is a bigger threat than the shot making. Shot making, anyways is world class.
Is there a solution to this threat of Alcaraz movement ?
I think, first thing would be - to not get threatened by it. Just like Nadal's game was broken down by Djokovic, not by attacking his backhand but by breaking down his best shot - ie Forehand. In this case - I think executing your shots while not getting threatened by the movement and those running winners is the way to go. If you yourself break down by playing the sort of tennis that you are not prepared for - it's not the other guy winning, it's you who is handing over the match.
And second thing probably is to probably change the pace of the match. Throw in a few more drop shots, even if they look bad - but if they are able to disrupt that movement a few times, they will definitely help your cause to have clean winners, I think.
But all the above is easier said than done. We are in the Alcaraz world and the threat of Alcaraz movement and shot making is bigger than the actual movement and shot making.
And congratulations to the new king!!
Today's final was won by Alcaraz threat to run down those cross court volleys and return them with some more venom. There were countless times where Djokovic had the advantage in the rally, like say 3rd set, 0-1,0-30 Alcaraz serving - when Djokovic had easy put aways which were dumped to net. These may be counted as unforced errors, but they were largely due to the threat of the Alcaraz movement on both wings, which asked Djokovic to do more while having the final shot on his racquet, that's what forced the error.
Djokovic was also not upto the mark for large parts of the match, but again it was due to the threat of Alcaraz movement which was creating doubts in shot making. Another good example here was in Tie break, first point - Djokovic actually hit a very good volley but was still going to lose that point quite easily. This threat of getting run down on your last shot, is a bigger threat than the shot making. Shot making, anyways is world class.
Is there a solution to this threat of Alcaraz movement ?
I think, first thing would be - to not get threatened by it. Just like Nadal's game was broken down by Djokovic, not by attacking his backhand but by breaking down his best shot - ie Forehand. In this case - I think executing your shots while not getting threatened by the movement and those running winners is the way to go. If you yourself break down by playing the sort of tennis that you are not prepared for - it's not the other guy winning, it's you who is handing over the match.
And second thing probably is to probably change the pace of the match. Throw in a few more drop shots, even if they look bad - but if they are able to disrupt that movement a few times, they will definitely help your cause to have clean winners, I think.
But all the above is easier said than done. We are in the Alcaraz world and the threat of Alcaraz movement and shot making is bigger than the actual movement and shot making.
And congratulations to the new king!!
