"Carlos Alcaraz is only going to improve, don't think Novak Djokovic is": Segura believes age will start to catch up with 23-time Grand Slam champion

ATP
Monday, 07 August 2023 at 07:00
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Spencer Segura commented that Carlos Alcaraz still has a lot of room for improvement and that Novak Djokovic will not continue to improve.
The former tennis player discussed the current state of the ATP tour on the Advantage Connors podcast, hosted by former world No. 1 Jimmy Connors, who was his doubles partner in the seventies.
Segura analyzed the Wimbledon final between Alcaraz and Djokovic, where the young Spanish player secured victory with a score of 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4.
"One thing I saw is there is a big age difference, okay. He has got shots nobody has. Inside the court, he can angle. Outside the court, he can float the ball. He has every shot. I think his backhand is the best shot of the two,” Segura said.
"They were having long exchanges and Djokovic pulled him out wide to his backhand and the guy from behind the baseline, I think there’s a lot of youth. With his talent and his youth, he was able just to drive the ball from way back," he added.
Segura pointed out the age difference between Djokovic and Alcaraz.
"Now he (Djokovic) is 36 years old, you don’t have those springs in your legs that this guy (Alcaraz) has. You just don’t have them and this guy is so advanced in his talent that you know when ends up winning that match, which was a very close match.
"I think from now on though, Alcaraz is only going to improve, I don’t think Djokovic is improving from here, you don’t see that," said Segura.
In addition, in the conversation, Jimmy Connors shared his thoughts on the future he expects for Alcaraz in the coming years and the imminent end of 'Nole's' career.
"We talk about this all the time, you know, he (Carlos Alcaraz) is the next generation. He’s the one who’s going to take the game to the next level because you know Federer is gone, Nadal injured… hopefully he’ll come back, he wants to play one more year. I hope that happens, and Djokovic is 35-36.
"People don’t understand what athletes get to that point of 35, 36… what they put their body through and also their mind just to play five-hour matches and to play under that kind of pressure. It takes its toll," said Connors.

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