‘I love that Carlos Alcaraz says he thinks about Novak Djokovic every day’, says former WTA star
Pam Shriver has revealed she loves the fact that Carlos Alcaraz has openly admitted he thinks about his rival Novak Djokovic every day.
The 22-time Grand Slam doubles champion believes what has happened since the French Open in the rivalry between the two best ATP players has been “special.”
Prior to the 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.”
Djokovic and Alcaraz are the No 1 and 2 players in world respectively and have shared the last six Grand Slam events between them – with the Serbian claiming four and the Spaniard securing two.
The 36-year-old has won three of the four majors this season, while he was beaten in five sets by Alcaraz in a thrilling Wimbledon final in July. He reclaimed top spot in the ATP Rankings from Alcaraz following his victory at the 2023 US Open in September.
Speaking on an episode of the Tennis Channel Inside-In podcast, Shriver discussed the rivalry between the 24-time Major winner and the 20-year-old star.
“Well, I think that’s part of building a rivalry, right? I mean it’s really been special what has happened since Roland Garros because that was the semi-final that everybody wanted,” said the American.
“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 every day.’ I don’t know if he thinks about the number 23, because that would be a little intimidating.”
The head-to-head between the duo is split at 2-2 – with all four encounters enthralling and featuring high-level tennis. Djokovic edged the pair’s most recent clash – a pulsating and gruelling three-set battle in the final of the Cincinnati Masters in August.
The former singles world No 3 and US Open runner-up also highlighted the key areas that Djokovic has improved in his game throughout his career.
“Look at his second serve, how much that shot’s improved last 15 years. Really for Djokovic, it’s like shoring up the forehand from early in his career, his mental game and then that second serve. And you improve those three areas as much as he has, no wonder,” added Shriver.
Shriver and Martina Navratilova formed one of the greatest doubles pairings in tennis history in the 1980s, with the pair winning the Calendar Grand Slam in 1984.
READ MORE: ‘Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer are freaks but it’s unbelievable how meticulous Novak Djokovic is’
