So much had to go right for Djokovic to even get a chance to play Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final 39 days after undergoing surgery on the meniscus in his right knee. Ultimately, it might have gone too right as he looked to play himself back into shape.
Djokovic got lucky, not just by drawing a qualifier and a wild card in the first two rounds, but by seeing Alcaraz and world No 1 Jannik Sinner land on the other side of the draw. Then he played Alexei Popyrin, who had little Centre Court experience, and a formless Holger Rune.
His next opponent posed what appeared to be a formidable test — Alex de Minaur, another Aussie, a lover of grass and, most importantly, a top-10 player with the wheels and the engine to run all day. De Minaur was even showing some newly acquired power, to hang with Djokovic when he revs through the gears.
But De Minaur tore his hip cartilage and pulled out, leaving Djokovic with more rest before he played Alcaraz, five steps up in toughness. By the time he had raised his level to where it needed to be to hang with Alcaraz, Djokovic was down two sets.
So much different. Too different. Everything had gone right — when he just needed a little on-court adversity to be ready for this ultimate test.
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Wimbledon final analysis: Carlos Alcaraz beats Novak Djokovic for second Wimbledon title
