The tennis world is hoping for another epic showdown between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic in the US Open final, but Tim Hemman is not convinced the two top seeds will meet in the deciding match in New York.
After their epic Wimbledon final was backed up by a sensational contest between Alcaraz and Djokovic in the Cincinnati Open final last Sunday, former British No 1 Henman has suggested we may be disappointed if we are waiting for a re-match at Flushing Meadows.
Speaking in his role as a Sky Sports analyst as the UK and Ireland broadcaster prepares to return to tennis at the US Open, the 2004 semi-finalist in New York suggested other names will be in the mix in the second week of the final Grand Slam of 2023.
“I would sign up for another Alcaraz versus Djokovic final right now, but I don’t think [it will be] a shoot-out between those two,” said Henman.
“On hard courts, there are more players who are capable of getting through to the final. The depth is far greater than it is on grass, where you can count on two hands the number of players who could win.
“What Alcaraz did at Wimbledon was absolutely incredible. He beat him at his own game, but I still think Djokovic is the player to beat at the US Open.
“He won the first two Slams of this year and was in the final at Wimbledon. His record and experience are incredible, but it is great that we are in the early stages of a new rivalry.
“They are at completely different stages of their career, but let’s hope they play plenty more times.”
Henman believes the emergence of Alcaraz as a real threat to Djokovic at the top of the men’s game will fuel the ambition of the 23-time Grand Slam legend, as he argued the Serbian’s desire to win is his driving force.
“When you are talking about an athlete of Djokovic’s stature, I don’t think motivation has been or will be an issue,” he added.
“The players he has beaten and the rivalries he has had have been incredible and if Alcaraz wasn’t there, Djokovic will be saying to himself he can dominate now and win more and more and more.
“The way that I would envisage Djokovic viewing Alcaraz’s emergence is he would want to prove to Alcaraz and prove to everyone that he is still the best.
“His hunger and desire has been clear for everybody to see and if that was to change and he lost some of his desire, he would probably stop, but I don’t see that happening for a few years yet.”
Djokovic’s remarkable win against Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday’s epic Cincinnati Open final has whetted the appetite for what may come between the game’s top two male players heading into the US Open and former British No 1 Johanna Konta insists the Serbian great has nothing to prove in New York.
“I really want Djokovic to get to 24 Grand Slams,” added Konta, as she backed the Serbian to claim another major title. “I always support the top dog and not the underdog.
“I always feel more for the people who are expected to win because it’s just harder. It’s a lot harder to achieve and keep achieving again and again like these players have.
“Why would you not root for that? Djokovic hasn’t got a point to prove against anyone, but he will want to win again for himself.
“He lost a brilliant (Wimbledon) final against a brilliant player who is probably going to be the future of our sport, but I just hope he gets to 24 and hopefully a few more after that.”
The US Open returns exclusively to Sky Sports and NOW with access to all court feeds from 28 August.
