Alcaraz promises Novak Djokovic a fierce challenge in 2024: “We’re here to stop him”

Speaking at an exhibition in Mexico City, the Spaniard discussed what he expect from his duel with Novak Djokovic next season

Chryslene Caillaud / Panoramic

Carole Bouchard

November 29, 2023

A little more and you’d think Carlos Alcaraz was thinking about Novak Djokovic from morning till night. He could no doubt discuss the matter with the Serb, who has spent years thinking about Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

On the sidelines of an exhibition in Mexico City, where he was due to take on American Tommy Paul on Wednesday, the new Spanish star promised to do everything in his power to ruin Djokovic’s lofty ambitions next season. “Djokovic said he was ready to win the four Grand Slams and Olympic gold, but we’re here to stop him,” he told the local media.

Tennis Majors

Jannik Sinner’s victory in the Davis Cup may well have been part of that revolt. In any case, Alcaraz has no intention of letting himself be taken for a ride next season, no doubt also motivated by an end to the season that fell far short of his expectations.

“The first part of my season was spectacular, but after Wimbledon I went through a slightly negative period,” explained Alcaraz. “But I think that’s normal and that I need to learn from these situations.”

As for those who might have begun to doubt his ability to dominate the tour, Alcaraz also had a retort for them, suggesting “get your TV set ready, and follow (him) in 2024, because it’s going to be a year full of energy and good times: we’re going to train and fight so that the year is at the same level or even better than this year.”