Wimbledon’s Centre Court is buzzing, and not just because of the manicured green. Two titans—Novak Djokovic, the 38-year-old veteran hunting a record 25th Grand Slam, and Carlos Alcaraz, the 22-year-old phenom going for a hat trick—are sharing the spotlight (and a few practice sets) before the real show begins. Their recent friendly session under the Centre Court roof ended 5–5, with Djokovic humorously admitting Ibiza hasn’t dulled Alcaraz’s grass game. Meanwhile, Alcaraz is embracing the grass court’s glitz—he’s flying on it, he says—and comes in riding a stunning 18-match win streak and boosted confidence after Queen’s Club and Roland-Garros triumphs. Despite the generational clash—Djokovic: seasoned, hungry for history; Alcaraz: creative, free-spirited, living in the moment—the chess board is the same. Djokovic leans on grass-earned wisdom; Alcaraz, on speed and spontaneity. Both acknowledge: this fortnight is their arena of destiny.
Το ΒΗΜΑ, 22 June 2025