Following a devastating defeat in the gold-medal match at the Paris Olympics, Carlos Alcaraz took a much-needed vacation with his loved ones. This break was essential for him to recuperate both mentally and physically before embarking on the North American hard-court swing. Now, he has returned and is ready to make a triumphant comeback! Currently, Alcaraz is in Cincinnati to participate in the Western and Southern Open. Although he reached the finals here last year, he was once again vanquished by his familiar adversary, Novak Djokovic. He graciously handed over the victory to the Serbian player, and the Spaniard is still deeply affected by that outcome. What caused his downfall in that match?
In a recent interview prior to the 2024 Cincinnati Masters, Alcaraz expressed his excitement about competing on the hard courts again and eagerly awaits the commencement of his campaign in Cincinnati. However, as he reminisced about his experiences from last year’s tournament, the 21-year-old stated that despite snatching defeat from the jaws of victory against Djokovic in the finals, he believes that loss was highly beneficial for his career. It was arguably one of the greatest matches in the history of the sport. Djokovic mounted a remarkable comeback from being a set and a break down against the then world no.1, Alcaraz. He even saved a championship point at 5/6 in the second-set tie-break to secure his record-breaking 39th ATP Masters 1000 title.
The grueling 3-hour 49-minute battle concluded with a score of 5-7, 7-6(7), 7-6(4) in favor of the Serbian player. This was one of the longest best-of-three-set finals in the history of the ATP Tour since 1990. Reflecting on the lessons he learned from that defeat, Alcaraz remarked, “At this moment, it’s not about perfecting my forehand or backhand. It’s about learning how to handle certain situations. I remember being a set and a break up, and then my level dropped a bit. It could happen again.”
He believes that’s why in certain situations it’s crucial to understand when to be more aggressive and when to be more patient. These small details can have a significant impact on the game at times. Therefore, according to Alcaraz, the focus was more on learning how to handle certain situations rather than anything else. This season, he has matured and already secured two Grand Slam championships. Now, his objective is to finish the year as the world’s number one player. However, what were Djokovic’s and Alcaraz’s reactions after that unforgettable final last year?
With temperatures reaching extreme heights and facing an opponent who refused to give up, it became an incredibly difficult challenge for Djokovic. He later described it as “one of the most challenging and thrilling matches I have ever been a part of”. From beginning to end, the match was filled with excitement. Djokovic admitted that these are the moments and matches he continues to strive for every single day. He even mentioned that Alcaraz’s determination in the 2023 Cincinnati Masters finals reminded him of his memorable encounters with Rafael Nadal.
The way they had to fight for every single point was a delight for all tennis enthusiasts. Carlitos successfully impressed the ‘Serbinator’ during that match. Alcaraz shared the same sentiment about Djokovic, stating, “It’s incredible to play against you, to share the court with you, and to learn from you.” The Spaniard acknowledged that he learned a great deal from the champion in that match and congratulated him on his success.
Photo from Carlos Alcaraz Instagram
