Djokovic the underdog in Wimbledon final rematch

Although it is the rematch he has waited a year for, it was only until a few days ago that Novak Djokovic started to believe he could face Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final. When the 37-year-old underwent surgery on a torn medial meniscus in his right knee on 5 June, it was assumed that the seven-time champion would miss the tournament he places above all others.

- JAMIE BRAIDWOOD

There were doubts, he admitted, but because it was Wimbledon, Djokovic did everything he could to make the start line. "I was not thinking about, particularly in the first couple of matches, of the eventual title match," he said. And yet, here we go again.

Alcaraz is the only player to beat Djokovic in his last 51 matches on Centre Court, his epic five-set victory in last year's final ending a run of four consecutive titles at Wimbledon. The 21year-old Spaniard will be the favourite when he faces Djokovic in the rematch, in part due to the Serbian's knee and any lingering questions over his fitness, but also because of how Alcaraz has inherited Djokovic's powers of inevitability since capturing last year's title. If you can beat Djokovic on Centre Court once, you can do it again, and Alcaraz is a stronger, more confident player than 12 months ago.

Djokovic sees similarities between himself and his younger opponent. He believes Alcaraz is "as complete a player as they come" and said after last year's final that the Spaniard's game was a perfect blend of the sport's "Big Three". It is fitting, therefore, that Alcaraz is bidding to become the first player since Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same summer, in what is one of the toughest challenges in the sport. "It's going to take the best of my ability to beat him," Djokovic said.