"I think Novak was stressed, and he didn't know how to handle Alcaraz's pressure," Navratilova's analysis of Djokovic's defeat at the US Open
A true tennis legend, Navratilova enjoys sharing her analysis before and after matches. Interviewed by Sky Sports, she notably reflected on the clash between Djokovic and Alcaraz in the US Open semifinals. Despite a strong battle in the first two sets, the Serbian once again faced the limits of age and fell in three sets (6-4, 7-6, 6-2).
"He was hitting very hard, but there weren't many long rallies. I think Novak's backhand wasn't up to par. He's not used to winning so few points on Carlos's first serve. Normally, it's Novak who doesn't give any breathing room.
And now it's Alcaraz, so the roles are reversed. So I think Novak was stressed and didn't know how to handle the pressure from his opponent. The roles have completely switched, and he might not have known how to deal with that.
I've experienced it—a shot you could hit with your eyes closed ten years ago isn't as easy today. It's frustrating because the effort is there. The desire is very strong, but the result isn't anymore. It's a shame because I was 100% sure he could win."
For reference, at 38 years old, Djokovic has reached the semifinals of a Grand Slam four times this year. To date, he is the only one to have achieved this feat.
