![]() ![]() Next time that I’m gonna face Novak, I hope to be different, but the nerves will be there.”Īlcaraz still produced many magnificent points – and he won the hearts of the crowd to the extent that they booed Djokovic heartily once the contest was over. If someone says that he get into the court with no nerves playing against Novak, he lies. “Is not easy to play against Novak, you know. “I have never felt that tension that I did in that match,” he said. Later, he was surprisingly direct and honest about his own internal angst. Djokovic himself had suffered multiple physical issues in the early stages of his career, while Andy Murray famously cramped up during a five-set tussle at his first Wimbledon.įrom the very first point – a forehand that he slapped into the net-tape – Alcaraz looked as if he was feeling the pressure of the occasion. If his technique and creativity stood up brilliantly to the examination, his inexperience shone through. Yet there was a sense in New York that he was exploiting the absence of Federer (retired), Nadal (injured in the fourth round) and Djokovic (uninvited because of his rejection of the Covid vaccine).Įven if Alcaraz came into this event ranked at No1 in the world, he still needed to prove his credentials against one of the giants of the previous generation. Then we should be scared.”Īt 20, Alcaraz is hardly newo the tennis cognoscenti. He will learn how to deal with this in the future for sure. Cramping due to nervous energy and the anxiety of playing a match with this magnitude. “Just a big learning process, pretty sure every tennis player goes through this feeling. “Feel for Alcaraz,” said last year’s Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios. Meanwhile, on social media, other major tennis figures were saluting Alcaraz’s talent. “I told him at the net,” said Djokovic, “he is young, he has plenty of time left to him, he will win this tournament many times.” And yet he still exited to the acclaim of his opponent. ![]() ![]() Had Alcaraz been able to maintain the same level of effort for another hour or two, we would have been looking at a modern classic.Īs it was, his calf locked up during the third game of the third set, crippling him to the point where he could barely move. While he was moving at full tilt, this match was played at an intensity to recall the great trivalry – Djokovic/Federer/Nadal – of the last decade. It was that he had suffered a match-turning attack of cramp.Īlcaraz’s indisposition took all the vibrancy out of a previously gripping contest. It wasn’t just that he had been beaten, by a 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 scoreline. He grinned, applauded, and then encouraged the crowd to revel in Alcaraz’s creativity.ĭespite defeat Carlos Alcaraz illustrates why he is the natural heir to the Big ThreeĬarlos Alcaraz demonstrated why he is the natural heir to tennis’s Big Three as he produced one of the greatest moments of improvisation ever seen at the French Open, scooping a forehand pass for a clean winner with his back to the net.Īnd yet, despite this unforgettable trick shot – which is sure to be talked about for years – Alcaraz still cut a dejected figure as he left the stage after his semi-final against Novak Djokovic. To his credit, Djokovic recognised the specialness of the moment. He had literally been in the tramlines at the front of the court after Djokovic’s drop shot, but was still able to sprint diagonally in order to catch up with Djokovic’s lob – a clean winner against almost any player. He also has phenomenal touch – his drop shot is probably the best on the tour – and unrivalled speed off the ground. One of Alcaraz’s unique characteristics is his ability to shape the ball playfully, even when the stakes – as in this French Open semi-final – are enormous. And that’s hard enough to do without travelling at huge speed in the wrong direction, with uncertain footing, while completely unsighted. Had that ball been hit from a normal stance, while facing the net, a tennishead would have called the result an inside-in forehand winner. He was still off balance as he turned to watch the ball land just inside the court, and barely managed to avoid falling over backwards as he shook his fist in delight. Then he swivelled while in a full slide and sent his scooped forehand skidding up the line on Djokovic’s forehand side. ![]()
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