“Novak Djokovic made it the most difficult for me” Carlos Alcaraz points out the underrated serving ability of the Serbian
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Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz
World No. 6 Carlos Alcaraz is one of the most in-form players this season and his trophy cabinet is the justification for it. With four Tour titles including two Masters titles and the other two being ATP-500 tier, the Spaniard has made massive jumps to enter the Top-10 and is now just one place away from breaking into the Top-5, all before turning 20.
During his title run at the 2022 Madrid Open, the teenager first defeated World No. 4 Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals and then registered his first-ever win over a World no. 1 when he defeated Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals to become the first player ever to defeat the two giants of the sport in the same Clay event.
Carlos had earlier had a practice session with Novak where he lost 6-1 to the Serbian but ensured that he did not allow the Serbian to repeat the result during their first official meeting. Speaking with Marca after winning the Madrid Open, Alcaraz was asked whether he thinks he is the best player in the world at the moment as said by Alexander Zverev, runner-up in Madrid.
“No, the truth is that I don’t think so. For me the best in the world is the one who is number one and is the one who deserves it. Now there is Djokovic, I am six, I have five left to be the best in the world. Djokovic is not considered a great server, but, for me, he has been the player who has made it the most difficult for me to return his service.
“I couldn’t read him, the directions of the serve and that’s what impressed me the most. Apart from the great level that he has from the bottom of the track: it’s one thing to see him on TV and another to have him in front of you,” said Alcaraz during the interview shedding light on the underappreciated skill of the 20-time Grand Slam champion.
“The photographers told me”: Carlos Alcaraz on biting the Madrid Open trophy like Rafael Nadal
While Alcaraz has often refused to allow comparisons between him and Nadal, upon winning the Madrid Open, Alcaraz posed with the trophy between his teeth, a trademark celebration of Nadal that he has done over the course of his glorious career. Alcaraz was asked on the reason for his celebration style being copied by Nadal and the teen was quick to explain what really happened.
“I didn’t want to bite the trophy, but the photographers told me to bite it. It was a thing of the photographers and I, although I didn’t want to, listened to them,” said Alcaraz further. The teen has withdrawn from the Rome Masters this week and will be instead recovering and preparing for the 2022 French Open where he eyes his first major.
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