“He is the best,” Carlos Alcaraz explains why his matches against Novak Djokovic are ‘good for tennis’

Carlos Alcaraz holds a 3-5 head-to-head record over Novak Djokovic, losing the previous two matches he played against the Serb.

“He is the best,” Carlos Alcaraz explains why his matches against Novak Djokovic are ‘good for tennis’

Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via ATP/X)

Carlos Alcaraz has faced Novak Djokovic eight times, with the most recent being this year’s Australian Open quarterfinal. Matches between them have always been some of the most thrilling ones in recent years, and the Australian Open quarterfinal too saw them give each other a tough fight.

According to Alcaraz, Djokovic “is the best” if the records he has broken are considered. Even though Djokovic has reached the twilight of his career and is struggling for form, he has secured two consecutive victories over the Spaniard in big events.

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I said I think that when he and I face each other, I think it’s good for tennis, for people who maybe haven’t seen much tennis to see those matches. It makes them maybe get hooked and start watching tennis or even practicing, I think that’s nice.

Carlos Alcaraz told MoluscoTV

In spite of his hamstring injury, the Serb came from a set down to beat Alcaraz at Melbourne Park this year, denying him a chance to complete the Career Grand Slam. Last year, after the 21-year-old clinched second Wimbledon title with back-to-back wins over Djokovic in the final, he was pitted against Nole for the Paris Olympics final.

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Alcaraz was the heavy favorite. But as the Olympic gold medal eluded Djokovic for more than a decade, he fought hard to win, knowing that it was perhaps his last chance to claim the only big title that he never won before.

Carlos Alcaraz discusses evolution of tennis

Carlos Alcaraz thinks the era dominated by John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, Ivan Lendl, and others is different from the Big 3 era that was dominated by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. Alcaraz, when asked during an interview with El Nuevo Dia about whether current players could have long careers like the Big 3, said tennis is evolving and current players too have to play according to the conditions.

Carlos Alcaraz (2)
Carlos Alcaraz (Image via ATP/X)

And we have to keep changing as tennis evolves. I think that Rafa, Federer, and Djokovic have accustomed us in a certain way, but tennis will continue to evolve and we will evolve.

Carlos Alcaraz said

During the same interview, Alcaraz also admitted that he takes pride in having a career in which he faced the Big 3 before their retirement. Federer called time on his career at the 2022 Laver Cup and Nadal followed suit at the 2024 Davis Cup.

Djokovic too will hang up his racket, if not in the near future. He was last seen in action at the Qatar Open. Both he and Alcaraz will next participate at the Indian Wells Open.