Novak Djokovic acknowledges new World No 1 Carlos Alcaraz

US Open
Novak Djokovic is No 1

Novak Djokovic has offered his congratulations to Carlos Alcaraz after the Spanish teenager won his first Grand Slam and became the youngest World No 1 in the history of the rankings.

Djokovic missed the US Open as, for the second time this year, a Grand Slam entry was denied him on the grounds that he could not enter a country.

Nobody has spent more weeks at No 1 than Djokovic, and he appears to hold the young Spaniard in high esteem.

In a message published on social media, Djokovic wrote: “Enhorabuena Carlos. Congratulations Carlito for your first Grand Slam. Amazing performance.”

Earlier this season Alcaraz won his first meeting with Djokovic in Madrid, in the process also becoming the first man to defeat Nadal and the Serb in back-to-back matches on clay.

Djokovic also gave plaudits to Casper Ruud who has fallen one match short of a Grand Slam title twice this year.

Ruud put in a vastly improved performance in his second Slam final having been overwhelmed by Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros.

“Congratulations also to Casper Ruud for [the] fantastic season he is having,” Djokovic wrote.

Djokovic was bitterly disappointed to miss out on taking part in the US Open after his Australian Open ordeal but some in his camp believe that the events of 2022 might just extend the former World No 1’s career

Goran Djokovic, Novak’s uncle told Ksenija Pavlovic McAteer: “This year was not easy for Novak, but he keeps pressing forward. I am sure that after everything he endured, he will come out stronger.

“Novak is his own person. He knows who he is. Novak knows what he wants.

“The ordeal he went through this year in Australia only extended his career. Instead of maybe retiring from tennis in three or four years, his career has been extended for five, or six years. He is resting his body.”

Djokovic’s uncle also revealed that American authorities did not respond to the Wimbledon champions’ request for an exemption to the rules for entry into the US imposed by the government and the CDC.

Instead, Djokovic had to remain home and watch the US Open from afar.

While he did not give up more ground to Rafael Nadal in the all-time Slams race, Djokovic did cede a good chunk of points and slid to seventh on the ATP Rankings after the tournament.

It is unclear at this stage when Djokovic will return to the ATP Tour, but he is scheduled to appear in the Laver Cup team event.

The next two months are dominated by the European indoor swing and the remodelled Asian section of the tour.

READ MORE: Young stars Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek leading the way

Carlos Alcaraz Novak Djokovic

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