Carlos Alcaraz: “Novak Djokovic Played an Incredible Match”
Carlos Alcaraz: “Novak Djokovic Played an Incredible Match”
Carlos Alcaraz entered the Australian Open with hopes of adding another Grand Slam title to his collection, but his dreams were shattered by Novak Djokovic, who delivered an inspired performance.
Djokovic extended his winning record against Alcaraz in the quarterfinals, securing a victory with a score of 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. However, Djokovic himself was later defeated by Alexander Zverev in the semifinals, and Zverev went on to lose to Jannik Sinner in the final.
At just 21 years old, Alcaraz has already claimed two Wimbledon titles, along with victories at the French Open and US Open. However, the Australian Open continues to be a challenge, as he once again failed to progress beyond the quarterfinals, just like last year.
Carlos Alcaraz: “Novak Djokovic Played an Incredible Match”
Despite the setback, Alcaraz quickly shifted his focus to the Rotterdam Open, where he enters as the top seed in his tournament debut.
Speaking at a press conference before the event, Alcaraz reflected on his defeat against Djokovic:
“I really wanted to win the tournament and felt that I could, but Novak played an incredible match.”
He also acknowledged the difficulty of facing Djokovic in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam:
“It was a pretty good match. I tried to take the positives from it, and now I’m moving forward.”
Djokovic’s Injury and Alcaraz’s Condition Ahead of Rotterdam Open
Although Djokovic delivered a stellar performance against Alcaraz, he struggled in the semifinal against Zverev, where he was forced to retire after just one set due to injury.
Djokovic’s withdrawal adds to the growing list of injured players in the ATP Tour. Jannik Sinner, the reigning Australian Open champion and defending Rotterdam Open champion, has also pulled out of the upcoming event.
Meanwhile, Alcaraz faced health issues after returning from Melbourne, suffering from a cold and having to train with a nasal strip ahead of the Rotterdam Open.
Discussing his condition, Alcaraz stated:
“After returning from Australia, I spent a few days at home, but unfortunately, I caught a cold. I struggled with it a bit. I only managed to train for two days before having to take a break to recover.”
Despite his illness, Alcaraz remained optimistic about being back home:
“Spending time at home, even while being sick, is always great. It helps me mentally reset and get ready to travel again.”
With the Rotterdam Open fast approaching, can Carlos Alcaraz make a strong comeback and claim his first ATP title of 2025?
