I don’t think ANYTHING this week in Cincinnati can top this jaw-dropping point between Carlos Alcaraz and Cam Norrie last year 😧🥶
"I like to know that I can lose, and I can recover it at the same time": Alcaraz looking forward to next chapter of World No.1 battle with Djokovic
ATPMonday, 14 August 2023 at 21:30
Carlos Alcaraz spoke about his battle for the world No. 1 ranking alongside Novak Djokovic and his preparations for the Cincinnati Open.
His quarterfinal defeat at the hands of Tommy Paul in the Canadian Open cost him the chance to distance himself from 'Nole' in the ATP ranking points, especially considering Djokovic's absence from Toronto.
Ever since Alcaraz first reached the pinnacle of the ranking, he has been contending for the world No. 1 spot with Djokovic, resulting in a total of seven shifts between them over the past year.
“I like those battles. I like to know that I can lose, and I can recover it at the same time. Of course, you have to enjoy when the battle is against one of the legends from our sport, against Novak,”
“I feel that I'm [the] main opponent for him. For me, it's something crazy, and I'm trying to enjoy [it].”
Alcaraz has spent a total of 33 weeks at the top and has lost it on three occasions to 'Nole', who, since Alcaraz's initial rise, has managed to claim the world No. 1 position for 16 weeks.
The Spanish player acknowledges that his primary goal is to continue playing at his best and to maintain the top spot.
“You have to put goals to yourself during the season, in every tournament,”
“And for me right now the main goal is to stay in the top spot and if I lose it, try to recover it as fast as I can. It's something that helped me a lot to show my best level in the big tournaments.”
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He also commented on his surprising defeat against Tommy Paul in the quarterfinals, which marked his first tournament of the hardcourt swing after securing the title at Wimbledon:
“It wasn't a good week for me, but [I have] a lot of things to improve coming into this tournament. Looking back to last year, [I lost in the] first round [in Montreal] and then [the] quarter-finals [in Cincinnati], and then I won the US Open,” Alcaraz said.
“I have to overcome that week that I had in Toronto, try to play better here and try to do better the things that I did bad in Toronto.”
The 2-time Grand Slam champion will aim to improve upon his result from last year in Cincinnati, where he was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Cameron Norrie.
“A lot of things changed since last year. I think the tournament grew up a lot, and this is my first day here,”
“My first practice I had this morning, so I enjoyed this practice. All the fans were there enjoying the practice as well. So far I'm enjoying my time here in Cincinnati.”
The 21-year-old tennis player will play on Wednesday in the second round after receiving a bye as the first seed. Alcaraz will face the winner of the match between wild card John Isner and Jordan Thompson, who advanced from the qualifying rounds.
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