WATCH: Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz play unexpected practice session
It’s not often the top two players in the world play a practice session together, but that is what took place on in Paris on Sunday as Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz renewed their rivalry.
There has been some doubt over whether Alcaraz would play at this week’s Paris Masters event after he pulled out of last weekend’s ATP tournament in Basel due to injury.
Yet the Wimbledon champion appeared to be in good shape as he took on Djokovic in what turned out to be a predictably competitive practice set between the world No 1 and his nearest rival in the ATP rankings.
There was a friendly greeting between Djokovic and Alcaraz when they arrived on the practice court and while the score of the points they played were not revealed, it was clear that the duo were taking the session seriously as they traded blows.
As news broke that the top two would be practising together, the YouTube channel screening their hit saw tens of thousands of fans rush to watch a live stream, as the two players who last met in a compelling Cincinnati Masters final in April got back to what they do best.
These two great champions will be hoping to meet again in a competitive match at the end of the Paris Masters, with the top two seeds on course to meet in the final if they can overcome a star-studded field in the French capital.
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Even if Alcaraz wins the final ATP 1000 event of the season, his hopes of finishing ahead of Djokovic in the year-end rankings appear to be forlorn.
The Serbian has a 2,420 point lead over Alcaraz at the top of the rankings, despite playing only ten tour level events so far in 2023.
With 2,500 points up for grabs at the Paris event and the ATP Finals in Turin, Alcaraz could still find a way to get past Djokovic and claim the prestigious year-end No 1 ranking for the second successive year.
Yet Djokovic has confirmed his drive to succeed remains high in a year when he has won three Grand Slam titles, taking his career total to 24.
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“Of course my greatest motivation is still love for the game. I really like competing. So as simple as that,” he said.
“Then I always have goals, and to win another Slam, to be No. 1 again, to finish the year as No. 1. Those are let’s say the big goals.
“Of course, next year is the Olympic Games. I really want to do well in Olympic Games, represent my country. Davis Cup is something that still gives me a lot of inspiration.
“Of course any tournament where I play, I want to win, no doubt. But the big goals are the ones that I mentioned. So I think it’s important to have clarity, to have goals and ambitions and move towards them.
“I try to be always the better version of myself the next week comparing to the week before.
“Overall if I have to see things from a general perspective, what I learned as a player is that in a way the lesson that I have already learned, but it’s good to always go through it again, is that consistency is the key, sticking to the routines, and things that make you a better player and improving. Improvement is a constant process.
“So there is no stagnation and relying on what has served you well before the year before or the week before is going to serve you this week. At least in my mentality and approach, that’s not the case.”
