World primary Carlos Alcaraz says he’s a “lucky guy” to have a high participant like Novak Djokovic on tour and is trying ahead to the Serb’s return to the Australian Open subsequent month.
Djokovic missed two of the 4 Grand Slams in 2022 – in Melbourne and New York – as a result of he was not vaccinated towards Covid-19 however will probably be allowed to enter Australia for the 2023 version.
Alcaraz, 19, took full benefit of 35-year-old Djokovic’s absence on the US Open as he stormed to a maiden Grand Slam triumph and have become the youngest-ever ATP No.1 within the course of.
The Spaniard assures he’s glad, although, that Djokovic will be capable to compete at Melbourne Park, relishing the prospect of doubtless going through off with the 21-time main champion, who has received the Australian Open a document 9 instances.
“Tennis is better having the best players in the world, and for the fans as well it’s good to see a tournament with the best players,” Alcaraz informed reporters in Abu Dhabi, the place he’s set to participate within the Mubadala World Tennis Championship exhibition occasion.
“Talking for me, I want to see Novak play in every tournament. I always said that if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best player in the world. I’m a lucky guy to have Djokovic on the tour.”
Alcaraz revealed he has “almost 100 percent” recovered from an belly harm that pressured him to retire from his Paris Masters quarterfinal towards Holger Rune final month and dominated him out of his final two occasions of the 2022 season – the ATP Finals and Davis Cup Finals.
“I feel good finally. I had a month to recover well the ab and right now I feel almost 100 percent. I have been training normally this past week and I’m feeling great,” stated the Murcia native.
Hunted man
Alcaraz will contest two matches in Abu Dhabi on Saturday and Sunday and isn’t scheduled to play any official tournaments forward of the Australian Open, which kicks off on January 16.
The Spanish teenager acknowledges he would be the hunted man on tour subsequent season and informed Arab News in a current interview that he’s able to lose his No.1 rating, however will struggle laborious to get it again.
“Of course having a target on my back from everyone is going to be a little bit different for me this year and I have to be prepared for that,” Alcaraz stated on Friday.
“I’m going to try to finish 2023 at the same position as right now. It’s going to be a long year but of course I’m going to enjoy.”
Alcaraz received his solely assembly with Djokovic within the semifinal of the Madrid Masters this yr, having additionally dispatched Rafael Nadal on the way in which to changing into the youngest winner of the title.
The Spaniard received 5 of his six ATP Tour singles titles in 2022, together with the US Open and two Masters 1000s.
Alcaraz is anticipating this upcoming marketing campaign to be his hardest but, including it will likely be “very open” with many gamers able to contending on the large occasions.
It is a sentiment additionally shared by world quantity 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas, who stated in Abu Dhabi the return of Djokovic in Australia will drive everybody to up their recreation.
“The competition is going to be higher. Mr. Djokovic will be starting the season straight from the Australian Open, so there are not going to be any shortcuts anymore,” stated the Greek.