Novak Djokovic’s coach, Goran Ivanisevic, claims that although Carlos Alcaraz is currently the biggest opponent of Novak Djokovic, it was once Rafael Nadal.
With three of this year’s four Grand Slams, Novak Djokovic has been the best player. Now ranked first on the ATP Tour, he has a good chance of becoming the world’s top player at the end of the year.
Carlos Alcaraz is the player who could upset every aspect, but he’ll need an impressive year-end performance. This year, the Spaniard has been pretty amazing. He defeated Djokovic to win Wimbledon and established himself as his main rival.
Ivanisevic agrees with seeing Alcaraz as Djokovic’s real opponent and the player who comes closest to defeating him.
Ivanisevic expressed his thoughts during a conversation and said: “There are other good tennis players, especially Daniil Medvedev, and Novak’s big opponent could be the Italian Jannik Sinner, who also knows how to get into a crisis, but it seems that he absolutely does not suit Alcaraz, and Novak could also have problems with him.”
He added: “Although it is actually too difficult a word, and as long as the relations in men’s tennis are like this, it is difficult to see someone who could compete with Djokovic for a position in the world rankings for a long time.”
Carlos Alcaraz in 2023
Ranked world no.2, Alcaraz played his last match on the 11th of October when he surrendered to world no.17 Grigor Dimitrov 5-7 6-2 6-4 in the 4th round in Shanghai (draw).
Currently, during this year the Spaniard has a compiled 63-9 match record. Carlos has won 6 titles in 2023 in Buenos Aires, Indian Wells, Barcelona, Madrid, London and Wimbledon. Alcaraz got to the final in Rio de Janeiro and Cincinnati.
Alcaraz is scheduled to play next in Paris (Rolex Paris Masters). He will start to play the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 30th of October.
Novak Djokovic in 2023
Currently ranked no.1, Djokovic played his last match on the 15th of September when he overcame world no.26 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3 6-4 in the Rubber 2 of the Davis Cup (draw).
This season Djokovic owns a compiled 46-5 record. Novak clinched 5 titles in 2023 in Adelaide, Australian Open, French Open, Cincinnati and U.S. Open. The Serbian got to the final in Wimbledon.
Djokovic is scheduled to play next in Paris (Rolex Paris Masters). He will start the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 30th of October.
Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic faced off 4 times. Their current record is 2-2. Previously, the last time they fought against each other, Novak Djokovic won 5-7 7-6(7) 7-6(4) in the final in Cincinnati (Western & Southern Open) on the 20th of August 2023.
You can watch the highlights in the following video.
Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic |
| Embed from Getty Images |