Carlos Alcaraz was comforted by Novak Djokovic after he struggled throughout their match at the French Open and lost in four sets.
A highly anticipated matchup between Djokovic and Alcaraz occurred in the 2023 Roland Garros semifinal on Friday, June 9. The Serbian started off strong and won the opening set, but Alcaraz fought back to win the second set and tie the match.
Towards the start of the third set, Alcaraz began to get cramps in his right calf as the fight gained momentum. In order to receive medical attention, he forfeited a break point. He then took another medical timeout.
Djokovic easily won the match on Court Philippe-Chatrier in three hours and 23 minutes by scores of 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1. In his on-court interview with Alex Corretja, Djokovic reserved high admiration for Alcaraz and expressed disappointment at witnessing the Spaniard struggle physically.
Novak commented: “First and foremost, I have to say tough luck for Carlos. Obviously, at this level, the last thing you want is cramps and physical problems in the late stages of the Grand Slam. I feel for him. I feel sorry. I hope you can recover and he can come back very soon.
It’s tough, obviously for him not to know whether he should retire the match or finish the match the way he did. Congratulations to him for fighting spirit and hanging in all the way to the last point. Respect for that, great respect,” he said.
Djokovic at the French Open, ranking, and results in 2023
WWLWWWWWWW Now ranked no.3, the Serbian has managed to achieve a compiled 26-4 win-loss record in 2023. Djokovic is participating at the French Open where he conquered the world no.114 Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-3 6-2 7-61, the world no.83 Marton Fucsovics 7-62 6-0 6-3, the world no.34 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 7-64 7-65 6-2, the world no.94 Juan Pablo Varillas 6-3 6-2 6-2, the world no.11 Karen Khachanov 4-6 7-60 6-2 6-4 and the world no.1 Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 5-7 6-1 6-1.
The Serbian clinched 2 titles in 2023 in Adelaide and Australian Open.
Djokovic won 93 titles in his career: 50 on hard courts, 18 on clay courts, 17 on indoor courts and 8 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Djokovic is scheduled to play next at the Wimbledon (Wimbledon). He will start the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 3rd of July.
Carlos Alcaraz in 2023
WWWWWWWWWW At the moment ranked no.1, Alcaraz played his last match on the 9th of June when he capitulated to world no.3 Novak Djokovic 6-3 5-7 6-1 6-1 in the semifinal of the French Open (draw).
Currently, during this year the Spaniard has an overall 35-4 match record. Alcaraz conquered 4 titles in 2023 in Buenos Aires, Indian Wells, Barcelona and Madrid. Carlos was the runner-up in Rio de Janeiro.
He is also scheduled to play in Wimbledon (Wimbledon). The main draw will start on the 3rd of July.
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz faced off just on 2 occasions. Their current head to head is 1-1. Before, the last time they locked horns, Novak Djokovic won 6-3 5-7 6-1 6-1 in the semifinal in Paris (French Open) on the 9th of June 2023.
You can see them in action in the following highlights.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjbWqtnAbxY
