Novak Djokovic recognised Carlos Alcaraz as one of the most complete players he has faced as the pair showed their mutual respect after their latest match. Alcaraz acknowledged the need for improvement to reach Djokovic’s level as he gave praise to the Serbian icon.
Novak Djokovic dominates Alcaraz to set up ATP Finals grudge match with Sinner
Djokovic secured a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Alcaraz in the ATP Finals semifinals. He is set to face Janik Sinner in the final; he is the only player to have defeated him in Turin thus far.
Following the match, Djokovic thanked the crowd for being there. He provided an update, mentioning that his kids were present, and he credited them for giving him the motivation, trust, and strength to navigate the game. Djokovic also acknowledged every parent’s challenges when being away from their children. Additionally, he praised Alcaraz’s greatness, placing him among the ranks of his past opponents.
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“I knew from the beginning this would be a match of high, high quality. We have already played against each other four times, and [Alcaraz] is the most complete player I have ever played against in my life,” noted the Serbian. “He is so fast and does incredible things, whether in defense or attack, so it is a big victory for me.”
“In the first three matches here, I have spent the most time on the court of all the semi-finalists, so it feels nice to win now in two sets. At the beginning of the match, it was very intense. Carlos had a lot of break-point chances. After that, I started to feel much more free, and more or less, it was a perfect performance for me.”
Alcaraz praised Djokovic highly after their match, emphasising the mutual respect shared among top players. He acknowledged that to reach his full potential, he would need to elevate his skills to the level of his opponent, particularly on indoor surfaces.
Alcaraz reflected on his match against Djokovic, emphasizing its significance for his upcoming pre-season preparations. He acknowledged the areas that require improvement to reach the level of competing and defeating the world’s best players.
Alcaraz intended to review the match to identify weaknesses and enhance his overall game. In a forward-looking approach, he intended to forget past matches against Djokovic and concentrate on the lessons learned in this encounter. The young player emphasized the need for improvement to reach Djokovic’s caliber.
“He plays the same level during the whole match. The shot quality he has is unbelievable,” Alcaraz said. “He plays really, really deep. It’s really difficult to take advantage of that. Once again, he has shown why he is the best player in the world.”
