To challenge Novak Djokovic in 2024, Carlos Alcaraz is getting ready for a rigorous off-season training program. With 35 days to improve his tennis and fitness, the world No. 2 will wait to compete until the Australian Open. Alcaraz’s team is working to increase his durability so he doesn’t experience any low seasons after he dealt with some physical setbacks in 2023.
However, the Spaniard had some early exits at the Shanghai and Paris Masters, which prevented him from winning another title in the second half of the season. To keep Djokovic from winning major tournaments, he is bidding to return stronger in 2024. For a 35-day intense off-season training block, Alcaraz’s team has prepared for his quest.
Alcaraz just got back from vacation, having set some goals with his physiotherapist, Alberto Lledo. Alcaraz is reportedly dedicating two and a half weeks to improving his fitness before focusing on his tennis game. This marks the start of the real work for him.
Lledo said in an interview: “On Thursday we already sent him some isometry and jogging work so that his body began to adapt to what is coming. We know that he has done things during his vacation, that he has played and had fun.”
Lledo continued: “It is key to control Carlos’s health so that we do not miss anything. Any work that is done involves injury prevention. For the first two weeks, the objective is to improve the basic physical qualities of both strength and cardio and give him the fuel that you need for the whole year. When you play tennis you don’t lose your cardiovascular level, but you do lose your strength, so you have to work on it day by day, even in the competition itself, even if it’s just in the warm-up.”
Alcaraz has already stated some of his objectives for 2024, acknowledging that he wished to guide the next generation of players in defeating Djokovic. He said: “He has shown that he is more than ready to win all four Grand Slams in 2024, but I am here to try to stop him. Me and the rest of the great players who are qualified to go and beat him.”
Carlos Alcaraz in 2023
Now ranked no.2, Carlos 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 year Carlos has a compiled 65-12 win-loss record. The Spaniard clinched 6 titles in 2023 in Buenos Aires, Indian Wells, Barcelona, Madrid, London and Wimbledon. Alcaraz was the finalist in Rio de Janeiro and Cincinnati.
Novak Djokovic in 2023
At the moment ranked no.1, Novak played his last match on the 25th of November when he was overcome by world no.4 Jannik Sinner 6-2 2-6 7-5 in the Rubber 2 of the Davis Cup (draw).
At the moment, during this season the Serbian has managed to achieve a composed 56-7 win-loss record. Novak clinched 7 titles in 2023 in Adelaide, Australian Open, French Open, Cincinnati, U.S. Open, Paris and the Nitto ATP Finals. Novak was the runner-up in Wimbledon.
Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic clashed against each other 5 times. Their head to head is 3-2 for Djokovic. Previously, the last time they competed against each other, Novak Djokovic won 6-3 6-2 in the semifinal in Turin (Nitto ATP Finals) on the 18th of November 2023.
You can see them in action in the following highlights.
Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic |
| Embed from Getty Images |