PARIS –For two sets and two games on Friday, the match we had been waiting for between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz was a masterwork in the making. But two sets and two games is not nearly enough staying power to get the best of Djokovic in a Grand Slam tournament.
He is formidable in any venue and on any surface, as he has proven season after season and decade after decade. But the best-of-five-set format that is now only in use at the four majors is where he truly shines at this late stage in the game.
Long form gives him more time to solve problems; more big points and occasions to navigate; more time to expertly manage his resources against less experienced opposition.
For a driven champion who has now won every significant pro tournament at least twice, best-of-five is his priority, and it shows.