Carlos Alcaraz arrives on the Rolex Shanghai Masters with Novak Djokovic and World No. 1 on his thoughts.
The Spaniard is chasing a second consecutive ATP Yr-Finish No. 1 offered by Pepperstone end and trails the Serbian by 580 factors within the Pepperstone ATP Stay Race To Turin. The 20-year-old would leapfrog Djokovic and transfer into high spot if he reaches the ultimate in Shanghai.
“I believe [about Djokovic] nearly in each practise, I’m not going to lie,” Alcaraz stated when requested about catching the 36-year-old. “I prepare with a objective. I am going to the tournaments with a objective. To attempt to finish the yr as No. 1. Novak Djokovic is on my thoughts in nearly each practise. I’ve to practise my finest. I’ve to go for 100 per cent in each ball to have the ability to catch him.
“He’s 100 per cent centered. I watch his practise, his motion and the way in which he performs and trains and it’s one thing I need. He places 100 per cent in each follow and sport and it’s one thing I’m attempting in my sport.”
[ATP APP]
Alcaraz, who has lifted six trophies in 2023, is making his debut in Shanghai, having superior to the semi-finals in Beijing. The highest seed is the one participant to have earned greater than 60 tour-level wins this season, advancing to at the least the semi-finals in 12 of the 14 occasions he has performed.
Forward of his opening match in opposition to Gregoire Barrere, Alcaraz mentioned the psychological challenges of competing on the high degree.
“I at all times say that mentally is the hardest half to practise however on the similar time it’s crucial factor if you wish to be the most effective in tennis,” Alcaraz stated. “I’m attempting to work in each follow and match and study from the issues I used to be not doing nice… I wish to be the most effective so I have to have this mentality to be robust sufficient to play on the similar degree and never have ups and downs.”
Alcaraz misplaced within the semi-finals in Beijing in opposition to 22-year-old Jannik Sinner, who went on to win the trophy on the ATP 500. Sinner now leads Alcaraz 4-3 within the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head collection and it’s a rivalry the Spaniard is relishing.
“We now have rivalry,” Alcaraz stated. “I’m a man who doesn’t wish to lose in any match. Towards him it’s totally different. I really feel a distinction. Each time I beat him or lose in opposition to him is totally different. I study one thing from each match I play in opposition to him.
“It will be nice if [the rivalry] was like Rafa and Roger. It will be the dream. For ourselves and the tennis followers.”
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