Mixed doubles took an exciting center stage in the preliminary week of the US Open. Mixed is the most interesting game of doubles because the relative strengths and weaknesses of the players are potentially magnified by their gender. The old adage to "play the woman" still holds, but with a caveat for club players.
After the first set, I jokingly told my two friends: “This match is over. No matter how close it gets, our team will not win.” This ended up being true even though the Chestnut pair came back from 3-6 in a 2nd set tiebreak to send the match into a Super. What was it that allowed me to make my prediction in what was essentially a neck and neck …
It was set to be a clash of titans: a 20-yearold World #1 against World #2 and GOAT, Novak Djokovic, now 37. They had played twice before. The first time in Madrid in 2022. Alcaraz won 6-7, 7-5, 7-6. The second time was this year in the semifinals of Roland Garros. Djokovic won 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1. What happened?
In the most highly anticipated match of the 2023 pro season, Carlos Alcaraz met Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. After a close 2 sets, Alcaraz was severely limited by cramps and limped his way to the finish line. We talk about why.