Will Djokovic And Alcaraz Maintain Friendly Fire In New York?

“People don’t seem to understand that it’s a damn war out there,” goes the famous Jimmy Connors quote. Connors made a habit of hating his opponents. He “didn’t feel right” otherwise. Who knows what the ‘Brash Basher of Belleville’ makes of the respect between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz as they fight for the US Open. It’s 2-2 so far on the scoreboard and the Mutual Appreciation Society ranking between the two is a perfect ten. Where’s the needle?

Men’s tennis once leaned so heavily on the Roger and Rafa roadshow that it is easy to think things were always gracious. Federer pointed to intense friction during those constant peak battles. “We (also) started respecting the rivalry we used to have and we almost miss it, playing each other every other weekend. Back in the day we couldn’t stand each other probably for that…,” said the Swiss earlier this month about how his relationship with Nadal evolved.

Alcaraz and Djokovic have been effusive to each other ever since that incredible Wimbledon final which established them as the only players on the first-class supersonic plane. There’s no doubt that while the likes of Casper Ruud, Holger Rune and Jannik Sinner are talented, the Carlos and Novak flight path leaves the others on the tarmac.

What resonates about this match-up is that the enormous respect between the two, vocalised by both, never dilutes the ferocity of the contest. Alcaraz was in tears after losing the epic Cincinnati final. The Spaniard failed to take a match point as the Serb showed his capacity to come back from the very edge to take the spoils. Minutes later, the two were beaming together at the trophy presentation. “This is going to be tough for me to talk, but I try to do my best,” said the man from Murcia. “First of all, congrats to Novak once again. It’s amazing to share a court with you and learn from you.”

That transparency is real. It is not a tribute act. The two-way praise feels genuine. The contest doesn’t need a negative edge to add to the plot. Djokovic and Alcaraz are mentality monsters but possess a synergy that brings the best out of each other in the immediate moments after the game too.

When the current French champion beat a physically cramping opponent at Roland Garros after a monumental opening two sets, the bar was already set high. “He’s (Alcaraz) an unbelievable player, incredible competitor, very nice guy. So he deserves all the applause and all the support,” said the 23-time major winner of the new kid on the block.

Arguably, Djokovic has spoken about the 20-year-old in more glowing terms than he ever did about Federer and Nadal where the acknowledgements were more corporate. Alcaraz is bringing out the best and the beast in Djokovic. There is something looser, more outward about the 36-year-old as he tackles this new challenge.

Nadal and Federer are removed from the equation and Djokovic is the main man, the GOAT in terms of titles and is revelling in the stage without the historical legacy of the Fedal Empire hanging over his achievements. Tennis has moved on and life tastes good. As a double Grand Slam champion, Alcaraz has come to the party at the highest tier by beating the seven-time Wimbledon champion and the Serb took it with the greatest grace possible. It’s almost as if he lost to the right man.

There’s a realisation of something special in this mix. Despite a very small sample size, every single match has been special in parts or, for three of those encounters, over the whole course. The content on the court is guaranteed premium steak. What elevates the contest is that both are as hungry as ever, despite being at opposite ends of their career.

“I don’t know what the difference [between us] was,” said Alcaraz after his three-hour, 35-minute win in the very first encounter against Djokovic at the 2022 Madrid Open. “That’s it. That’s exactly it. There really is nothing between them. They know it too.

Djokovic and Alcaraz also know that they are the best by some distance but that is not the point. They are providing epic finals that outlast all Kevin Costner epics (or duds) by some distance. They are a natural double act, but fighting for the same space. It’s business when they step over the white line. This is the best of sport and it’s happening right here right now.

The Big Three is no more. The Big Apple wants to see the new member against the only original member left standing. The old band has split up but the acoustics will be great if the world number one and two meet again at Flushing Meadows on September 10.