"I know Al-Nassr, Cristiano is playing there": Carlos Alcaraz has little understanding of Saudi Arabia prior to Djokovic exhibition
ATPWednesday, 27 December 2023 at 15:56
As of time of writing, Carlos Alcaraz will be facing off against Novak Djokovic in the Riyadh Season Tennis Cup as the two best players in the world begin their 2024 seasons with one of their only warm-ups ahead of the Australian Open.
Alcaraz though admitted in heading to Saudi Arabia that he knew little about the country barring those who are playing sports and have followed the money to the Kingdom. This includes Cristiano Ronaldo and Aymeric Laporte, footballers who Alcaraz cited as playing for Al-Nassr in Riyadh.
But he did say he wanted to improve his knowledge of the city and he will get to do just that with his latest visit. For Alcaraz, it will be his one and only chance to get any sort of match practice in. He won't play after that until the Australian Open in mid January with the Spaniard instead opting for his usual route of playing South American clay in the post Australian Open swing.
"I don't know so much about Riyadh, but it's a place everyone wants to see a little bit. All I know is the team of football: Al-Nassr. That's all I know. For example, [Aymeric] Laporte is playing there, Cristiano [Ronaldo], obviously, is playing there. So, I know a little bit of Riyadh for the team, but I would like to know Riyadh for other things as well.
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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