Jannik Sinner is 23 and Alcaraz is 21. That’s a lot of years to admit when your opponents are as good as they are.
But Grand Slam titles have been regularly won by great players in their mid-thirties over the past decade, and Edberg has played his part.
The Swede was part of Roger Federer’s coaching team in 2014 and 2015 and is sure Djokovic’s fire is still burning.
“These guys have a lot of people around them and they just love to be out there. Especially with Novak chasing a lot of records, I think that’s enough motivation,” he said.
“He’s still in great shape, so that will at least give him a chance, even if it’s going to be very difficult this time.”
What’s clear when we talk to Edberg is that top players now feel no psychological barrier to winning in their thirties. Although the length of the season remains brutal, he says smarter planning helps.
“If I look back on my own career, I think what burned me in a lot of ways was playing Davis Cup,” he explained.
“We went to six Davis Cup finals in a row – that meant playing until December and then starting the season again.
“It really cut my career short when I look back on it. Physically I could have played another five years.
“At the time I was playing, the chances of winning a Slam at 30 or 31 were very, very small. That has changed now.”
Edberg retired in December 1996 at the age of 30, after one more Davis Cup final appearance.
