"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
ATP
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.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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