Carlos Alcaraz refuses to fall prey to controversial question on Novak Djokovic’s MTO and fist pump celebration during French Open semifinal

Carlos Alcaraz refuses to arise a controversy on Novak Djokovic's timeout during their high octane semifinal clash at the French Open.

Carlos Alcaraz refuses to fall prey to controversial question on Novak Djokovic’s MTO and fist pump celebration during French Open semifinal

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz (Image via FirstSportz)

It was a dream-shattering moment for World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz as he succumbed to Novak Djokovic in the semi-final at Roland Garros. In a match where the intensity was insane in the first two sets, Alcaraz failed to maintain the tempo and eventually went down to the Serb 3-6, 7-5, 1-6, 1-6 in an energy-sapping contest that lasted more than 3 hours.

Alcaraz seemingly got injured after the completion of the second set and needed a medical timeout. It was looking as if the Spaniard would not be able to continue the contest, but he shadowed the fight and gave it his all till the end of the match. Not only was this applauded by everyone, but Alcaraz also won everyone’s hearts with his post-match comments on Djokovic.

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During the interview, a reporter controversially asked Alcaraz about his opinion on Djokovic taking a medical timeout after the second set. To this, the reigning US Open champion answered, “Many people may want to create controversy and claim that Novak went to the bathroom to stop the game or break rhythm, but no, not in my case. I don’t believe it influenced anything.”

FS Video

The reporter tried to lure Alcaraz to speak against Djokovic by asking further if he would have been in the place of the Serb had he celebrated the same way Djokovic did against an injured player. However, Alcaraz was in no mood to stir up any controversy, as he has great admiration for Djokovic. “I don’t blame him for anything. He had to close the match. If I were facing someone who was injured or not playing at their best and I experienced a slump, I would likely do the same. Closing a match is never easy,” signed off Alcaraz with a sassy reply.

Also Read: Novak Djokovic hailed as the ‘GOAT’ as Fedal fans taunted following Serbian’s semifinal victory at the 2023 French Open

No passing-of-the-torch moment for Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz

Many expected that Alcaraz would be the one to bring a generational change in men’s tennis after the dominance of the ‘Big Three’, but this will have to wait. Djokovic once again proved that age is just a number for him and no one, especially from the current lot, can play a five-setter better than him. It was even-stevens after the second set, as both players looked visibly exhausted.

Having said that, a medical timeout from the former World No. 1 worked wonders as he dug deep from his reserves and played the next two sets masterfully. Injury to Alcaraz too made it somewhat easier for Djokovic, who will face fourth seed Casper Ruud in the summit clash on Sunday. Ruud made easy work of Alexander Zverev by winning the contest in straight sets en route to his second straight final at Roland Garros.

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