By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Monday, July 3, 2023
Dealing with Novak Djokovic on Roland Garros’ crimson clay was a punishing studying expertise for Carlos Alcaraz.
The 36-year-old Djokovic broke the 20-year-old Alcaraz’s legs down inflicting the Spanish phenom to cramp in his 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 semifinal conquest.
Aiming for a rematch with seven-time Wimbledon winner Djokovic at The Championships, Alcaraz mentioned the only hardest activity of going through Djokovic is dealing with the relentless stress he imposes over best-of-five units.
“The stress. I might say the stress that [Djokovic] put to everybody,” Alcaraz instructed the media in his pre-Wimbledon presser. “You already know, not solely to me, to everybody to play at their finest about three hours in a Grand Slam. I am speaking concerning the Grand Slam.
“I’ve to cope with that, however is one thing that I actually need it. I hope to play a remaining right here in opposition to him. However for me, this in all probability is the hardest factor going through Novak.”
The reigning US Open champion mentioned Djokovic is much more devastating on grass as a result of he does all the things proper.
“[Djokovic] do the issues actually, very easy,” Alcaraz mentioned. “He strikes rather well. He hits the ball rather well, actually clearly. He has clear shot.
“It is a mixture of all the things. I might say he does not do something incorrect. He all the time make very easy all the things. It is actually powerful to seek out some weak point on his recreation.”
Cameron Norrie, who took a set off Djokovic within the 2022 Wimbledon semifinals, mentioned the Serbian’s capacity to reply from all areas of the court docket makes opponents press much more.
“He is all the time ending higher and higher because the matches go on. I feel over 5 units, it is clearly actually powerful to beat him,” Norrie mentioned of Djokovic. “You find yourself overplaying a bit of bit at occasions. He makes you hit such powerful pictures, even form of simple shot balls, he makes you are feeling like it’s a must to go for the proper one.
“You possibly can be taught loads from matches like that and taking part in with him. He performs at such a excessive degree. A whole lot of respect for him, particularly on this floor.”
So how will Alcaraz, who defeated Alex de Minaur to seize his maiden grass-court title at Queen’s Membership final month, problem Djokovic, who has not misplaced a Centre Courtroom match in a decade?
Alcaraz goals to amp up his aggression on the SW19 lawns.
“I all the time say that I attempt to play aggressive on a regular basis. I feel my type, it is all the time to play aggressive,” Alcaraz mentioned. “I feel that is a very powerful factor right here on grass: to be aggressive, to attempt to go to the online, making an attempt to hit huge pictures.
“Coming right here to Wimbledon with numerous confidence, pondering that I can do outcomes right here. However clearly for me the primary favourite is Djokovic. That is clearly.
“However my expectations are excessive. I feel I can put the stress on the opposite gamers, even Djokovic as effectively. However all I can say is I really feel with numerous confidence and I really feel able to do good issues right here.”
Photograph credit score: Mutua Madrid Open
#Hardest #Dealing with #Djokovic