Novak Djokovic’s former coach and Grand Slam champion Goran Ivanisevic has rejected claims two-time defending champions Carlos Alcaraz is the ‘favourite’ to win Wimbledon.
Alcaraz, who is attempting to become only the fifth player in the Open Era to win three successive Wimbledon titles, beat Jan-Lennard Struff in his third-round clash.
The five-time Grand Slam winner was taken to five sets in his opening round against the retiring Fabio Fognini before beating British world No. 719 Oliver Tarvet in straight sets.
Alcaraz dropped his fourth set of the tournament against Struff but recovered from the setback to safely book his place in the fourth round, where he will face prolific Grand Slam quarter-finalist Andrey Rublev.
Wimbledon champion Alcaraz is the bookmakers’ favourite to lift the trophy at the All England Club but Ivanisevic disagrees with that verdict.
Instead, the 2001 Wimbledon champion views the player he used to coach, seven-time winner Djokovic, as the man to beat in SW19.
Djokovic, desperate to claim a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title, overcame physical issues to beat Alexandre Muller in his opening round before knocking out Great Britain’s Dan Evans.
The 38-year-old faces his fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic on Centre Court on Saturday evening for a place in the fourth round.
‘Here [at Wimbledon], I see his chance,’ Ivanisevic told Clay Tennis. ‘Looking at the draw, I don’t think no one can beat Djokovic before the semis.
‘He’s never lost to [potential semi-final opponent] Jannik Sinner here. OK, Australian Open and Roland Garros, but here Novak’s beaten him twice.
‘In my view, Novak’s the favourite, no matter how sentimental that sounds. Alcaraz has beaten him twice, but last year Novak came after knee surgery, and in 2023 we all remember how close it was.
‘Everyone says this is his last chance – I don’t agree. Plus, he’s the best grass-court player, experienced, he knows exactly what it takes here. It’ll be fascinating.’
Djokovic’s possible semi-final opponent, world number one Sinner, has enjoyed a seamless path through to the fourth round.
The 23-year-old dropped just 17 games as he thumped his first three opponents in straight sets.
Sinner has two fewer Grand Slam titles than Alcaraz and is on a five-match losing run to the Wimbledon champion.
Asked about the difference between Alcaraz and Sinner, successful tennis coach Ivanisevic added: ‘Sinner had three match points and served for it [in last month’s French Open final].
‘In 2022 at the US Open he had match point too. In Paris, he tightened up a bit, especially on the third match point, but what Alcaraz played at the end – that was unreal.
‘I think their matches will always be close – you won’t see blowouts. Their styles are a bit different, which makes for exciting matchups.
‘The problem is people now expect every match to be like the Roland Garros final – they’ve set the bar as high as it gets. It can’t be like that every time, but we’ll see plenty more incredible matches.’
Among the men’s players hoping to spring an upset at Wimbledon are Eastbourne champion Taylor Fritz, US Open winner Marin Cilic and British star Cameron Norrie.
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