Alcaraz ready for Djokovic challenge: “I’m stronger mentally. I learned a lot”

Once it was facing Rafael Nadal on clay, or taking on Roger Federer on grass. But when Carlos Alcaraz meets Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the ATP Finals on Saturday, he’ll be taking on one of the toughest challenges in tennis.

Djokovic, back at world No 1 after a stellar year in which he won three of the four Grand Slams, at the age of 36 and took his Grand Slam tally to 24 (tied with Margaret Court), has won the season-ending ATP Finals six times in the past. One more win will break him free of a tie with Federer and Alcaraz knows the enormity of the challenge. Indoors, he is as good as anyone, if not better.

“Novak is Novak, he’s unbelievable,” Alcaraz said.

But the way the 20-year-old Spaniard – who, lest we forget, beat Djokovic to win the Wimbledon title in the summer – played against Daniil Medvedev on Friday suggests he will have his chances of upsetting the Serb and reaching the final on his debut.

Alcaraz and Djokovic have met three times in 2023, with Djokovic winning at Roland-Garros when the Spaniard cramped in a tension-filled semi-final; Alcaraz beat Djokovic to win Wimbledon in five sets and then a few weeks later, Djokovic won an instant classic in the final in Cincinnati.

“I’m stronger now compared to Paris”

Alcaraz says he’s learned a lot about himself since that day in June when his body tensed up so much he cramped, with Djokovic taking advantage to reach the final, which he went on to win.

“Probably I’m stronger mentally right now, comparing to Paris,” Alcaraz said. “I’ve spoken about dealing with the pressure, dealing with tough, tough moments. In Paris I didn’t deal with the pressure. I learned about that situation. Then came Wimbledon, came Cincinnati. It was a really, really good match.

“I think facing someone like Novak, you have to stay strong mentally and deal with the pressure that he puts on you in every ball, in every point. I think I learned a lot about that. I think I’m ready to face him tomorrow.

“Tomorrow will be the best version of Djokovic. He will try to impress me. He won six times here, he knows perfectly what he has to do to repeat that and he will bring this experience on court. He’ll play his own style and I have to try to be at this level.”

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