Carlos Alcaraz claims Novak Djokovic is 20 and not 36 following their intense exhibition clash in Saudi Arabia 

Carlos Alcaraz looked impressed with Novak Djokovic's fitness.

Carlos Alcaraz claims Novak Djokovic is 20 and not 36 following their intense exhibition clash in Saudi Arabia 

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic (Image via Eurosport)

Carlos Alcaraz against Novak Djokovic is the new hot rivalry in the tennis world. Despite the massive age gap between the two players, both Alcaraz and Djokovic get the best out of each other whenever they are pitted against each other. The level of tennis played is on another level and the intensity is high too.

Both Alcaraz and Djokovic make it really tough to score a point against each other and this has been seen in the matches they have played against each other. The intensity of the two players does not go down even if they are playing an exhibition match against each other. The exhibition match in Riyadh was an example.

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Alcaraz and Djokovic fought it in the Riyadh Tennis Cup final and the Spaniard took the title home as he beat Djokovic 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. The scoreline depicts what level of tennis they produced in front of a packed crowd. While Djokovic dominated the first set, Alcaraz made a comeback to take the second and then reigned supreme in the decider to claim the title.

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After the win, Alcaraz had high words of praise for the Serbian as he claimed that Djokovic is 20 and not 36. The Spaniard reiterated his claim about Djokovic being super fit. Alcaraz said that it is a pleasure for him to share the court with Djokovic and that the Serbian plays like a 20-year-old despite being 36.

It is incredible to share the court with him (Djokovic), in this event, everywhere […] As I said many times, he seems like he is 20
Carlos Alcaraz said about Novak Djokovic.

The admiration is mutual between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic

While Carlos Alcaraz praised Novak Djokovic for his supreme fitness, Novak Djokovic also hailed the Spaniard as the next superstar of the game. Djokovic predicted that with Roger Federer retired, Rafael Nadal on the cusp of it, and his generation coming to an end, Alcaraz will rule the tour for the next ten to fifteen years.

Novak Djokovic Carlos Alcaraz Cincinnati Open
Carlos Alcaraz (L), Novak Djokovic (R) at Cincinnati Open prize ceremony (Image via Tennis.com)
It’s good that there’s a great new rivalry in tennis. He’s going to lead for the next 10 or 15 years. Rafa didn’t play in 2023, Federer retired… Our generation is coming to an end, but the emergence of [Carlos] is great.
Novak Djokovic heaped praise on Carlos Alcaraz.

This is not the first time Carlos Alcaraz has received words of praise from the 24-time Grand Slam champion. Djokovic had hailed the Spaniard after he beat him in the Wimbledon Final. Even after Djokovic won the title in Cincinnati following a grueling battle with Alcaraz, he had lauded the 20-year-old for his never-give-up attitude.

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