Carlos Alcaraz said that “every part of his body cramped” and that the stress of playing a “legend” like Novak Djokovic was what ultimately put an end to his chances of winning the French Open in a thrilling semifinal on Friday. The 36-year-old Djokovic won 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 to go to the Roland Garros championship round, where he will compete for his third title and a record-breaking 23rd men’s Grand Slam victory.
Carlitos confessed: “The first and second sets were very intense. My arm cramped and then every part of my body cramped. It was really tough for me to move at the third set, and in the fourth set let’s say I had a one per cent chance.”
Then he added:
“The tension of the first set, the second set, it was really intense. Really good rallies, tough rallies, drop shots, sprints. Novak is a legend of our sport. If someone says that he goes onto the court with no nerves playing against Novak, he lies. Of course playing a semifinal of a Grand Slam, you have a lot of nerves, but even more facing Novak. That’s the truth.”
Carlos Alcaraz in 2023
WWWWWWWWWW Now the world no.1, the Spaniard 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 a compiled 35-4 match record. Alcaraz conquered 4 titles in 2023 in Buenos Aires, Indian Wells, Barcelona and Madrid. The Spaniard was the finalist in Rio de Janeiro.
He is also scheduled to play in Wimbledon (Wimbledon). The main draw will start on the 3rd of July.
Djokovic at the French Open, ranking, and results in 2023
WWLWWWWWWW Currently ranked no.3, Novak has a compiled 26-4 record in 2023. Djokovic is now competing at the French Open where he defeated 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 compete next at the Wimbledon (Wimbledon). He will begin to play the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 3rd of July.
Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic squared off only twice. Their actual record is 1-1. 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.
Carlos Alcaraz |
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