The 2023 ATP tennis season has been electrifying, notably for the gripping rivalry between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz. Their matches have been the pinnacle of intensity and excitement this year, showcasing a dynamic clash of generations in men’s tennis.
Despite their fierce battles on the court, Djokovic holds deep respect for Alcaraz. The Serbian tennis maestro sees Alcaraz, at just 20 years old, as the epitome of a “spectacular” athlete and the future face of the sport. While acknowledging the prowess of other rising stars like Jannik Sinner and Holger Rune, Djokovic places Alcaraz at the forefront due to his well-rounded game and impressive mental strength.
“Carlos is a spectacular player. Also, a very good person, with very good values. His entire team, his family, are good people. He’s 20 years old, so he has a lot of time.”
“I’m not the only one who says this, but the future of tennis is Alcaraz, also Rune and Sinner, but especially Alcaraz because he has a very complete game. But also, he impressed me a lot with his mentality, the ability to fight with pressure. It’s very impressive for a young player.”
Alcaraz’s meteoric rise includes two Grand Slam titles (being the first man born after the 1990s to achieve this milestone) and four Masters titles. Despite Djokovic holding a 3-2 lead in their head-to-head series, Alcaraz has given him formidable challenges, solidifying his position as a future force in tennis.
Novak Djokovic’s acknowledgment of Carlos Alcaraz’s talent underscores the promising future of men’s tennis, with Alcaraz shining as a beacon of the sport’s next generation.
Carlos Alcaraz in 2023
Currently the world no.2, Alcaraz played his last match on the 18th of November when he capitulated to world no.1 Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-2 in the semifinal in the Nitto ATP Finals (draw).
This season Carlos has achieved an overall 65-12 win-loss record. The Spaniard conquered 6 titles in 2023 in Buenos Aires, Indian Wells, Barcelona, Madrid, London and Wimbledon. Alcaraz was the runner-up in Rio de Janeiro and Cincinnati.
Novak Djokovic in 2023
Now the world no.1, the Serbian played his last match on the 25th of November when he surrendered to world no.4 Jannik Sinner 6-2 2-6 7-5 in the Rubber 2 of the Davis Cup (draw).
This season Novak has an overall 56-7 match record. The Serbian conquered 7 titles in 2023 in Adelaide, Australian Open, French Open, Cincinnati, U.S. Open, Paris and the Nitto ATP Finals. Djokovic was the finalist in Wimbledon.
Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic faced off 5 times. Their actual record is 3-2 for Djokovic. Before, the last time they locked horns, Novak Djokovic won 6-3 6-2 in the semifinal in Turin (Nitto ATP Finals) on the 18th of November 2023.
You can watch the highlights in the following video.
Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic |
| Embed from Getty Images |