Carlos Alcaraz has conceded that his is not on the same level as Novak Djokovic on Indoor Hardcourts after his latest defeat against the Serbian in the semifinals of year-end championships in Turin.
The World No. 2 admitted that he has to improve a lot of things to equate with Djokovic’s level while claiming that he will study this match and forget his other matches with the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
Alcaraz lost 3-6, 2-6 to Djokovic in the semifinals of the ATP Finals in Turin after the legendary Serbian displayed a tennis clinic on Saturday. The 2-time major winner made a positive start but was unable to covert two bps at 15-40 in the opening game of the match but couldn’t seize the opportunity. He was then broken by Djokovic after an error-induced game at 3-4.
The Serbian looked in full command thereafter and looked to almost decimate the 20-year-old’s game in the second set to maintain as he held his serve and broke Spaniard’s serve twice to clinch a victory.
Alcaraz was making his debut at the ATP Finals after having missed the 2022 edition because of the injury despite his qualification. The Murcian defeated Russians Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev to book a place in the final four after losing to Alexander Zverev in the round-robin stage.
In his post-match press conference, Alcaraz discussed the challenge of facing imperious Djokovic while admitting his indoor game needs attention.
“Well, he’s really, really tough. He plays the same level during the whole match. The shot quality he has is unbelievable. He plays really, really deep. It’s really difficult to take advantage from that. Once again, he has shown why he’s the best player in the world,” assessed the Spaniard.
“Well, for me it has been difficult to realize the result of the match. It was 15, 20 minutes after the match that I was a little bit down. I feel like I am not in his level in indoor court obviously. I’ve played great matches in Wimbledon, in Cincinnati, in Roland Garros. I felt in that match that I’m in the level.
“Once we step on the court, indoor court, I feel like I have to practice more, I have to be better player. Obviously he has more experience than me playing in these tournaments, in these courts. But he’s unbelievable. It’s not about just serving against him. He has a great return game. Unbelievable, I’m going to say.
“As I said, he push you to a limit in every ball, every shot. Probably I played great points, but it was like one great point, then three, four points just mistakes. First ball went out, something like that. Against a player like Novak, you cannot do that.”
The 2023 Wimbledon champion also vowed to use the defeat in his preparations for the 2024 season, but said that he will not focus on his previous breakthrough wins against the 36-year-old tennis maestro.
“Well, this match help me a lot coming into the pre-season. Right now I know all the things I have to improve if I want to be there, if I want to beat the best player in the world,” explained Alcaraz.
“With Juan Carlos, we have to talk about the pre-season, what we have to practice, what we have to do. Obviously I’ll rewatch the match to see my weakness, just to improve it and be a better player.
“I will forget all the matches that I played against him, the Wimbledon final, the Cincinnati, Roland Garros, and I’m going to focus on this match because I felt like I have to improve a lot of things if I want to stay at his level. That’s what I going to think in the pre-season.”