Novak Djokovic prepared for ‘possibly the LONGEST match’ of the season as he takes on Carlos Alcaraz in the French Open semis
The Serb defeated Karen Khachanov in the quarter-finals to set up a blockbuster semi-finals matchup against Alcaraz.
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Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz ( Credits: Manila Bulletin and Yahoo Sports)
Novak Djokovic had an outstanding victory over Karen Khachanov in the quarter-finals of the French Open. The Serbian will now be facing Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals of the major. While addressing the press, Djokovic stated that he is ready to deliver his best tennis against the World No.1 player.
The 36-year-old had an incredible start to this year. Djokovic got his Grand Slam total to 22 by winning the Australian Open after defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets. At the Dubai Championships, the Serbian reached the semi-finals but faced a tough loss at the hands of Daniil Medvedev. With the start of the clay tours, the Australian Open champion had an early exit in the Monte Carlo Masters. The Serb also reached the quarter-finals of the Rome Open but fell short because of a brilliant performance by Holger Rune.
At the Roland Garros, the World No.3 has booked his semi-final clash with Carlos Alcaraz. Looking at their ATP Head2Head, both the players had their first and only meeting in the 2022 Madrid Open. The Spaniard leads the battle 1-0 as he defeated the 36-year-old in the tournament’s semi-finals. During the press conference with Serbian reporters, Djokovic was all praise for Alcaraz and cited him as the favorite for the championship. He stated that he despite the tough challenge, he will be playing his best game while aiming to win the trophy in Paris.
” I mean, semis of a Slam, I an going to fight until the last drop of sweat and last ounce of energy. I don’t know how many opportunities to fight for big titles I will have, so I am cherishing every opportunity and see this as a big chance to win the trophy,” he said.
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Novak Djokovic wished Rafael Nadal a speedy recovery post his surgery
Novak Djokovic overcame the challenge of Juan Pablo Varillas in the fourth round of the Roland Garros. In the quarter-finals, the Serbian player defeated Karen Khachanov in a four sets match. At the press conference, Djokovic wished Rafael Nadal a quick recovery post his surgery.
Rafael Nadal underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left psoas muscle at the Teknon Clinic in Barcelona. The Spaniard will take five months to fully recover from the surgery. Nadal had earlier withdrawn from the Roland Garros for the first time since 2005 and is expected to make his comeback on the professional tour by 2024.
While addressing the press, Djokovic shared his experience about his elbow surgery and how the complications affect the life of a player. He cited Nadal as one of the ‘greatest legends’ of the sport and wished to see him in a healthy state.
“I think that he’s so important for our game on and off the court, one of the greatest legends of tennis in the history of the game. We want to see healthy Rafa, no question about it, playing for what he announced his last season. You know, hopefully, he’s gonna be able to do that,” he said.
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Tanushree Verma
(52 Articles Published)