Marion Bartoli claims Novak Djokovic is much ahead of Carlos Alcaraz as his numbers this season prove everything

Bartoli sides with Novak Djokovic as she discusses the Alcaraz vs. Djokovic debate.

Marion Bartoli claims Novak Djokovic is much ahead of Carlos Alcaraz as his numbers this season prove everything

Marion Bartoli, Novak Djokovic(Images via: Vosges Matin, Telegraph India)

Recently, in a podcast by ‘Tennis Majors’, former tennis player Marion Bartoli spoke her mind as she discussed the on-court rivalry between the top two players in the Men’s tennis scene. The men in question are the 24-time Major winner, Novak Djokovic, and Spain’s young tennis star, Carlos Alcaraz.

Marion Bartoli, who won the Wimbledon title in 2013, spoke on the podcast, ‘Match Points’ as part of a three-person panel. The other panelists included journalist and author of the book, ‘The Roger Federer Effect’, Simon Cambers as well as Carole Bouchard, tennis writer and author of ‘The Quest: Novak Djokovic’.

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Bartoli admitted that it is hard to point out who has an edge over the other when it comes to Djokovic and Alcaraz. The former Wimbledon champ, however, brought to light the two players’ numbers this season. “I think we have to go deeper into the analysis and when you look at the season, there is one who won three Grand Slams and one who won one Grand Slam, it’s as simple as that. And one who played four Grand Slam finals and one who played one,” she said.

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“I think we have to just look at a broader way on how each other are handling the whole season. And out of that for now, as it stands, Novak’s doing a better job,” Bartoli said. Novak Djokovic recently made history as he broke several records with his 24th Grand Slam win at the 2023 edition of the US Open. At 36 years of age, he also became the oldest man to claim the title, shattering Ken Rosewell‘s 1970 record at the US Open.

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Marion Bartoli is in awe of Novak Djokovic

Current World No.1, Novak Djokovic turned professional at tennis in 2003. While all his old rivals have retired from the game, 20 years later as a 36-year-old, the Serb is still out on courts and winning Grand Slams. With 3 out of the 4 Majors this season in his pocket, Djokovic appears to be in his best form ever.

While taking into consideration several factors including Novak Djokovic’s experience and expertise on the court and Spain’s rising tennis player, Carlos Alcaraz’s age and propensity for growth as a player, the retired French professional claimed that Djokovic had an advantage over the 20-year-old.

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic post his 2023 US Open win (Image via: US Open)

“That doesn’t mean it’s not going to change of course; obviously Novak is more towards the end of his career than the beginning. But I just think that the way he has managed this season… and just the mental strength and the ability to bounce back from anything – I found it extraordinary and I don’t think a lot of people can pretend to have the same mental strength as him,” Bartoli claimed.

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