Carlos Alcaraz’s latest amazing Novak Djokovic comments saluted by a tennis legend
Carlos Alcaraz drew some attention when he claimed he thinks about his great rival Novak Djokovic every time he steps on a tennis court, but that is no bad thing in the view of a tennis legend.
Alcaraz and Djokovic have traded the world No 1 ranking over the course of 2023 and have been involved in three epic matches, with Alcaraz winning one as he prevailed in a memorable Wimbledon final.
He may only be 20, but Alcaraz has confirmed he is focused on knocking Djokovic off his perch at the top of the game as the duo game’s top two male players move toward the final month of the season.
In the build-up to this week’s Shanghai Masters, Alcaraz was asked about Djokovic and replied: “I think [about Djokovic] almost in every practice, I am not going to lie.
“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 practice. 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 practice, 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.”
Those comments sparked suggestion that Alcaraz is too focused on one rival, with his defeats in China against Jannik Sinner and Grigor Dimitrov confirming he is also vulnerable against other rivals.
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Yet 22-time Grand Slam doubles champion Pam Shriver has insisted she has no problem with Alcaraz focusing his targets on Djokovic, as she suggests that is a sign he is relishing the battle.
“I think that’s part of building a rivalry, right?” said Shriver on the Inside-In Podcast.
“I mean it’s really been special what has happened since Roland Garros because that was the semifinal that everybody wanted.
“I guess they played in Madrid the year before, but they hadn’t played in a Major. And then even though it did not end up great because of the loss of condition by Alcaraz, the first two sets were just mind-blowingly great. And then in the Wimbledon final, the same.
“So whenever you can get two great matchups late in a major that are that memorable, a rivalry is born. And I love the fact that Alcaraz just says out front, ‘I think about him (Djokovic) every day. I don’t know if he thinks of the number 23, because that would be a little intimidating.”
Shriver also reflected on Wimbledon’s decision to highlight the potential of Alcaraz and Sinner in their controversial pre-tournament poster this year, which attracted negative attention after Britain’s Andy Murray suggested the players featured were not worthy of their elevation as they are at the start of their careers.
“When you think about one of the more interesting off-court marketing things, it was the Wimbledon poster right,” added Shriver. “The rivalry poster that had Alcaraz and Sinner walking down the steps.
“A lot of people didn’t like it but maybe Wimbledon knew something certainly given how close they’re in ages and their main contrast is a little bit of their game but it’s really that personality difference that makes it fun.”
