Carlos Alcaraz makes brutally honest Novak Djokovic confession as he targets No 1 ranking

Carlos Alcaraz has confirmed he has become consumed by his rivalry with Novak Djokovic in some revealing comments ahead of the Shanghai Masters.

The Wimbledon champion is embroiled in a compelling battle with Djokovic to finish the year as world No 1, with Alcaraz closing in on the Serbian star who has won three of the four Grand Slam titles in 2023.

Alcaraz’s victory at Wimbledon and his consistency throughout the last 12 months has kept him in the hunt for the prestigious year-end No 1 title and he has conceded he thinks about Djokovic every time he sets foot on a tennis court.

“I think (about Djokovic) almost in every practise, I am not going to lie,” Alcaraz told the ATP. “I train with a goal. I go to the tournaments with a goal. To try to end the year as No 1.

“Novak Djokovic is on my mind in almost every practise. I have to practise my best. I have to go for 100 per cent in every ball to be able to catch him.

“He is 100 per cent focused. I watch his practise, his movement and the way he plays and trains and it is something I want. He puts 100 per cent in every practice and game and it is something I am trying in my game.”

Alcaraz is 2,830 points behind Djokovic in the updated ATP rankings, with points set to drop of the total for the Serbian in the coming weeks. 

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Djokovic is not playing at the Shanghai Masters and his absence will give Alcaraz a chance to claim another 1,000 back on his big rival in the race for the year-end No 1 title.

Djokovic also has 600 points to defend at the Paris Masters event later this month and 1,500 points on his record from last year’s successful ATP Finals campaign.

If Alcaraz was to enjoy a good run in Shanghai and Paris, there is the enticing possibility of the top two in the men’s game going head-to-head for the world No 1 ranking at the ATP Finals in Turin.

“We have really beautiful battle for the No. 1 spot after the great performance Djokovic had in the American season, let’s say. He’s the No 1 right now,” added Alcaraz.

“I’m coming here to China with extra motivation to try to recover it in the race, of course, in the ranking. As I said, it’s something that I have in my mind every time I practice, in every tournament.

“Is not obligatory for me to recover that, but of course, you have to put the goals in the year. So for me, No 1 spot is one of the main goals for me.

“In these great tournaments, I’m looking to do great to be able to be close or recover that number.”

Alcaraz appears to have handed a good draw for the Shanghai tournament, even as he will take on Gregoire Barrere from France in his opening match, with a possible meeting against Britain’s Dan Evans in the third round.

That would be a re-match of the entertaining contest Alcaraz and Evans played out at the US Open, which was won by the young Spaniard.