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Tennis legend Boris Becker has assessed why Carlos Alcaraz was unable to maintain his superb form after his triumph against Novak Djokovic in the 2023 Wimbledon final.
The six-time Grand Slam champion feels battling with Djokovic and winning a maiden Wimbledon crown were factors in Alcaraz’s decline, while asserting that other players have since improved and the Spaniard has not.
This year, Alcaraz won six titles between February and his Wimbledon victory in July, where he downed Djokovic in an epic five-set final to claim his second Major crown. The win saw him end the great Serbian’s 34-match winning streak at the All England Club.
Following his Wimbledon triumph, Alcaraz did not win another title and made only one final in his last seven tournaments of the 2023 season.
The 20-year-old Spaniard lost six of his last 13 matches going back to the US Open semi-finals, where his title defence was ended in four sets by Daniil Medvedev.
READ MORE: Andy Roddick highlights factor making Carlos Alcaraz dangerous at the Australian Open
Speaking on an episode of the Eurosport Germany Das Gelbe vom Ball podcast, Becker suggested why Alcaraz experienced a dip in form after Wimbledon.
“Why is that? Duelling with Djokovic, becoming No 1 in the world and winning Wimbledon for the first time – maintaining this level is the most difficult thing in tennis,” said the German.
“Anyone can have a good tournament or a good year from time to time, but maintaining that level over the years is the real challenge. My favourite saying in this context is: ‘The locker room never sleeps’.
“It means that the other players have realised how you have to play against Alcaraz to have a chance against him. That’s what happened. Other players have developed and Alcaraz hasn’t.”
The former world No 1 declared that he expects Alcaraz’s coach Juan Carlos Ferrero to help the world No 2 make the necessary adjustments in the off-season.
“He continues to play fantastic tennis. I love watching him play tennis at its best with his footwork, his variation, his serve and his forehand. But the top players have adapted to this and know how to counter it,” Becker continued.
“I’m convinced that Alcaraz will now train something new or different with Juan Carlos Ferrero in the winter and improve. Their task is to further develop his strengths. And I’m also convinced that we’ll see a very strong Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open 2024.”
Becker has been coaching Alcaraz’s young rival Holger Rune since October.
READ MORE: How Novak Djokovic’s incredible 2023 season compares to his 2011 and 2015 achievements
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