Wimbledon: Alcatraz And Djokovic Lock Horns In A Repeat Of 2023 Final

Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz said Sunday will be a “good day for his country as he prepares to defend his Wimbledon title on the same day Spain play England in the final of Euro 2024.



The 21-year-old Spaniard clinched a 6-7 (1-7) 6-3 6-4 6-4 comeback victory over fifth seed Daniil Medvedev in Friday’s first semi-final.



He will face seven-time champion Novak Djokovic in what will be a repeat of the 2023 showpiece after the Serb beat Lorenzo Musetti in the other last-four tie.


“It will be a good day for Spanish people as well,” Alcaraz said of Sunday in his on-court interview.


That led to the Centre Court crowd briefly – and jokingly – booing him for hinting at his allegiance.


Smiling, the three-time major winner added: “I didn’t say Spain are going to win – but I say it will be a fun, fun day.”


The men’s singles final at Wimbledon is scheduled to start at 14:00 BST, with the Euro 2024 final in Berlin on six hours later.


“Being a Spaniard, yeah it would be a perfect Sunday,” Alcaraz said of the possibility of a double triumph.


“I have to think of my work. Hopefully let’s see if the final is going to be at a good hour to watch the Euros final.”


The third seed’s compatriot and hero Rafael Nadal won Wimbledon in 2008, when the Spanish football team also triumphed at the men’s Euros.


Nadal was the men’s singles champion at Wimbledon again in 2010 – the same year Spain beat the Netherlands in the final of the men’s Fifa World Cup.


Alcaraz’s triumph at the All England Club last year arrived a month before Spain won the Fifa Women’s World Cup for the first time, edging England in the final.


Alcaraz could become just the ninth man in the Open era to retain the Wimbledon title – after Djokovic, Rod Laver, John Newcombe, Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Boris Becker, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer.


It’s also his chance to win back-to-back titles at Roland Garros and SW19 – a rare accomplishment completed by Nadal in both 2008 and 2010, and achieved most recently by Djokovic in 2021.