Can Novak Djokovic Win Another Grand Slam? US Open Odds and Betting Offers

The only noise louder than Carlos Alcaraz’s passionate roars on Centre Court during the Wimbledon final was the sound of pens being sharpened in the press box, ready to write Novak Djokovic’s obituary. 

While the young Spaniard’s straight-sets victory over the Serb was relentless and emphatic, it was also rare, in the sense that Djokovic has never been outplayed to that extent before.

You can understand why there was widespread shock at the Halley’s Comet-type event that unfolded on Centre Court against Djokovic.

As for whether it might happen again, the 37-year-old will rightfully argue that he was nursing a knee injury which saw him unable to match Alcaraz’s speed.

It’s an indisputable fact but so is that Alcaraz has beaten Djokovic in back-to-back finals at Wimbledon – even if last year’s showdown was a match that could have gone either way after the Serb raced into a two-set lead which might have made him complacent. 

Either way, the broader point is that there is enough mounting evidence to suggest that the long-awaited changing of the guard is taking place in real time. 

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that Djokovic won’t win another Grand Slam ever again. It might just take a change of tactics to get over the line. 

An uncomfortable truth 

It is a view shared by Rafa Nadal’s uncle and former coach Toni, who described Djokovic’s strategy against Alcaraz as ‘suicidal.’ 

Specifically, the suggestion is that Djokovic’s decision to try to match Alcaraz shot for shot at the back of the court played into the Spaniard’s hands. 

Put another way, Djokovic no longer has the physical means to dictate the match’s tempo against an opponent who is 16 years his junior. When the Serb tries to, he leaves himself exposed and unable to make the ground he needs to return Alcaraz’s well-placed shots. 

The solution to this is to opt for a plan that involves extending the match by leading Alcaraz into unforced errors. The most effective way of doing this would be to prolong rallies and not try to win a point at the earliest opportunity by running to the net. 

While this method of winning points was meat and drink for Djokovic in his prime, time no longer allows it against an intelligent opponent in Alcaraz who is backed by startling agility. 

Additionally, Djokovic should use every opportunity legally afforded to him to disrupt the rhythm of younger opponents. Sometimes referred to as the ‘dark arts’ in football, this is a way of winding down the clock which can affect the temperament of an opponent who feels they are being made to wait. 

Tennis has always been a psychological battle. Now more than ever, Djokovic needs to use this mental warfare to increase his chances of beating the young starlets threatening to permanently end his reign on the throne of the international game. 

Djokovic starts the US Open as an underdog 

Of course, this strategy is much easier said than done, as the likes of Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner aren’t merely knocking on the Serb’s door – they are in the process of kicking it down.

The latest odds for the Men’s US Open scheduled to begin in late August further reflect the fight Djokovic has on his hands to prolong the end. Indeed, both Alcaraz at 11/10 and Sinner at 15/8 have been allocated lower odds of winning the showdown in Queens than the Serb at 10/3. 

You have to go back nearly a decade to find the time when Djokovic wasn’t the outright favourite to win the final Grand Slam of the year.

Tennis fans who believe that Djokovic would have learned an invaluable lesson during the rout against Alcaraz at Wimbledon can back the 24-time Grand Slam champion to win the US Open with these betting offers.

These promotions include offers from William Hill, Paddy Power, and BetUK who are offering as much as £30 in free bets which can be used on the US Open outright winner market. 

Boxing smart 

They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks but Djokovic doesn’t necessarily need to learn anything new; the Serb must simply double down on what he does well at this late stage of his career. In fact, success in Grand Slams now relies on Djokovic eliminating parts of his game.

This day was always coming but it would be a surprise if Djokovic didn’t enjoy at least one or two more Grand Slam wins before the end of his illustrious career.