Alcaraz and Djokovic challenge each other now for a great match worth the final and more

The 21st Century Classic aims more at a Carlos Alcaraz vs. Jannik Sinner because his age, and therefore time, works in his favor. The two youngest semifinalists (20 and 22 years old, respectively) of the ATP Finals in Turin 2023 had seven amazing encounters. There could be an eighth, on Sunday (6:00 pm), if they beat the Serbian Novak Djokovic and the Russian Daniel Medvedev respectively.

Although there is no better matchup at the moment than between the number 1 and the six-time champion today, Saturday night (9:00 pm), Novak Djokovicwith number 2 and debutant Carlos Alcaraz. Because they dominated the battle for the leadership of the campaign until the Serb endorsed it in Turin itself, taking the most and the best titles.

In one corner of the ring, the king of 24 Grand Slams, this year’s winner Australian Open, Roland Garros and US Open. He did not fill it because Carlos Alcaraz added to the 2022 US Open the Wimbledon 2023. ‘Nole’ is dethroned in the ‘Cathedral’.

Djokovic carrying the torch of the ‘Big 3’, waiting to see if Rafa Nadal will perform a new miracle on his return, and Alcaraz continues to lead the new generation, even ahead of himself sinfulfirst Italian in a ‘semi’ of the ATP Finals, and the Dane Holger Runewhich is about to come in at Novak’s expense.

Djokovic and Alcaraz They star in their fifth confrontation, the fourth on this course. The first three included tragedy (Roland Garros), epic and drama (Wimbledon and Cincinnati).

In Paris the Murcian paid for the hazing, the tension and demand constricting his body. A lesson that served to seal a heroic comeback on the London grass. At the Cincy Masters 1000 they will soon forget a final that lasted nearly four hours when it was three sets. A sporting madness.

Carlos Alcaraz vs. Novak Djokovic: 2-2

– 2023/Final Cincinnati/Dura/Djokovic 5-7, 7-6(7), 7-6(4)
– 2023/Wimbledon Final/Grass/Alcaraz 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4
– 2023/Roland Garros Semis/Ground/6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1
– 2022/Semis Madrid/Tierra/6-7(5), 7-5, 7-6(5)

The same thing they promised in their first indoor rivalry and on a very fast surface. Carlos Alcaraz lost Alexander Zverev but he regained his best version against Andrey Rublev and Daniil Medvedev. Nothing to do with the previous training session in Turin, where he lost to Djokovic 6-1 and 2-3.

Novak Djokovic He showed a lot of tennis, both in his victory over Rune and in the defeat of Sinner. He closed without a problem against the Pole Hubert Hurkaczwho took the position of a Stefanos Tsitsipas that disrupted the group, leaving their match with Rune 2-1, which officially gave the victory to the Nordic by two sets to zero, according to the regulations in such a case.

“Of Novak I hope he plays at a high level, at his best,” he explained. Alcaraz, who also feels ready to do the same on his part. “If I continue at this level, I don’t know if I can win, but I’m giving myself a chance to do it. It’s my dream to win the tournament, why not? It’s only two games, but at the same time too far ,” he says. .

The title is expensive, there is no defeat in the top-4. Djokovic is playing in his twelfth semi-final, seeking to remain alone on the title record, breaking a tie with the Swiss Roger Federer. Alcaraz made his debut, and did not give up on following in the footsteps of the historical Manolo Orantes (1976) and Alex Corretja (1998).

Being in the final is the jackpot, but success continues, because it gives 400 ranking points, and the battle for No. 1 continues immediately in January, in Australia. This represents an additional income of $1,105,000 for the best.

And with tennis players that big, marking territory always gives the next player an edge and cements one’s trajectory in the face of what’s closest. There will be a good game. Or at least it won’t leave anyone indifferent. Things will happen.

It can be seen on television at Movistar Plus+. Also streaming TennisTV. And there will be live on Mundo Deportivo website.