Novak Djokovic’s draw for US Open 2023: Round 1: 🇫🇷Muller Round 2: 🇪🇸Zapata Miralles Round 3: 🇷🇸Djere Round 4: 🇨🇦 Auger-Aliassime/🇦🇷 Cerundolo Quarterfinal: 🇬🇷 Tsitsipas/🇺🇸Fritz Semifinal: 🇩🇰Rune/🇳🇴 Ruud Final: 🇪🇸Alcaraz/🇷🇺Medvedev
Novak Djokovic was reluctant to talk about a highly anticipated potential final between himself and Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open, saying it would be "disrespectful" to other players.
It is no secret that 23-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic is ultimately aiming for his 24th title in New York at the last major of the year. Therefore, many fans are already discussing the exciting possibility of another clash with world No. 1 Alcaraz in the US Open final.
The two players have already locked horns in two thrilling finals in recent months. In July, the Spaniard defeated seven-time champion Djokovic at Wimbledon in a five-set battle, ending the Serb's four-year-long winning streak and claiming the second major title of his young career.
However, Djokovic got his revenge in an equally exhilarating final at the Cincinnati Open last week where he ousted Alcaraz in the longest Best of Three ATP Masters 1000 final in history, lasting a grueling three hours and 49 minutes.
However, Djokovic has said that he is reluctant to discuss a possible final at Flushing Meadows when he has yet to play his opening match at the Slam.
"Again, tennis is such sport where, for example, in a tournament like Cincinnati [Open], you play five matches in five days. You can't really be thinking about what happens in three or four days. You're just thinking about the next day, your next opponent," he said.
The 36-year-old added that he thinks it is 'disrespectful' to the next opponent to talk about progressing past them.
"I think it's also in a way disrespectful to your next opponent if you're already thinking about your finals matchup. Even though I've had tremendous success, maybe you could argue that I could already start thinking about later phases and stages in the tournament, but that kind of mindset never really resonated with me," he continued.
Nevertheless, he still said that he does plan ahead during tournaments in order to help him prepare for the tougher matchups.
"I wouldn't say specifically. I mean, depends if there is a potential matchup coming closer, then yes, I would be probably thinking a bit more working on certain tactical implementations on the court, practice court, that I could use against him in my favor," he explained.
Novak Djokovic’s draw for US Open 2023: Round 1: 🇫🇷Muller Round 2: 🇪🇸Zapata Miralles Round 3: 🇷🇸Djere Round 4: 🇨🇦 Auger-Aliassime/🇦🇷 Cerundolo Quarterfinal: 🇬🇷 Tsitsipas/🇺🇸Fritz Semifinal: 🇩🇰Rune/🇳🇴 Ruud Final: 🇪🇸Alcaraz/🇷🇺Medvedev