Carlos Alcaraz, a few hours before his debut at the ATP Masters 1000 in Shanghai, launches a challenge to Novak Djokovic. He already said: “Conquering first position again: this is my main objective in the last part of the season.” The Serbian champion decided not to participate in the Asian tour after winning his 24th Slam at the US Open, fueling thoughts of overtaking the Spaniard.
Djokovic and Alcaraz have faced each other three times in 2023 and the Serb has triumphed on two occasions.
The first victory came in the semi-final at the Roland Garros, when cramps prevented Alcaraz from being competitive starting from the third set.
The second, however, in the epic final of the Western & Southern Open. One step away from defeat, Djokovic found a way to overcome his physical difficulties and cancel a match point from his rival.
Alcaraz prevailed in another incredible battle: staged on the most famous Court in the world.
The Spaniard won Wimbledon for the first time by beating Djokovic in the fifth set on the lawns of the All England Club.
Carlos Alcaraz, the revelation on the rivalry with Novak Djokovic
In an interview with ATP a clear question was asked to Alcaraz: “How present is Novak Djokovic in your mind?”
The 20-year-old responded very candidly: “Practically every training session.
I’m not going to lie. I train with a goal, I play a tournament with a goal. I want to try to end the season as world number one. Novak is in my mind, even during training. When I think about him, I think I have to train as best I can, hit every ball 100% to be able to catch him.”
To improvesand beating Djokovic is a great motivation in the mind of a tennis player like Carlitos.
And his young age can help him in this. But the dark part of the moon is also there in this situation. Alcaraz must always keep in mind the dividing line, which separates motivation from obsession. Overcoming, yes, but that bar to cross must not become a jackhammer in the Spaniard’s mind, otherwise it will have the opposite effect.
Alcaraz will try to start in the best possible way in Shanghai, he will face Gregoire Barrere in the second round, after the defeat suffered in the semifinals at the ATP 500 tournament in Beijing against Jannik Sinner. The Italian then also beat Daniil Medvedev and raised his ninth career trophy to the sky.
