Novak Djokovic picks iconic doubles partner for blockbuster clash with Carlos Alcaraz
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz have battled it out in two major finals already in 2024.
Novak Djokovic will line-up with the iconic John McEnroe in his next bid to get one over rival Carlos Alcaraz. Djokovic has picked the 65-year-old to partner him in a glamorous exhibition match during US Open fan week, although Alacaraz himself has also selected well.
The Spaniard will team up with another American legend in Andre Agassi, with the doubles match scheduled for August 21.
Fan week in New York takes place from August 19-25, with the final Grand Slam of the season getting underway the following day.
And it’s the meeting involving Djokovic and Alcaraz which will undoubtedly serve as the main event in the build-up, with the clash part of the ‘Stars of the Open’ day pencilled in for the 21st. The Serbian is the defending US Open champion and has four titles to his name at Flushing Meadows.
But the venue is also poignant to Alcaraz. The 21-year-old won his first Slam title there in 2022, and has since gone on to capture two Wimbledon crowns.
McEnroe, 65, won four of his seven Slam titles in New York while Agassi lifted the title twice in his own illustrious career. However, the quartet won’t be the only stars taking to the courts that day.
Juan Martin Del Potro, Gabriela Sabatini, Andy Roddick, Venus Williams, Caroline Wozniacki, Jessica Pegula, and Frances Tiafoe will also be on show. But it’s the latest battle between Djokovic and the Spanish protege which will be billed as the main event.
Alcaraz retained his crown at SW19 with a straight sets win over the 24-time Slam winner, a clash widely perceived to be the ‘passing of the torch’ between the pair. However, the 37-year-old hit back in the Olympic final in Paris, landing the one major achievement that had eluded him in his distinguished career.
And few will be surprised to see one of the two emerge victorious in New York. Djokovic remains just one Slam away from the all-time record, currently tied with Australian female player Margaret Court.
The exhibition match is one of the few events where the general public will need to purchase tickets during US Open fan week, with some going for as much as £142. And Agassi has been active in promoting the clash on social media.
Djokovic will also be involved in an exhibition event in Bulgaria in September, in order to raise funds for the Grigor Dimitrov Foundation. Tickets for the match in Sofia sold out within 10 minutes of going on sale this week.
