Alcaraz HOPES to meet Djokovic in the final

[RF-18]

Alcaraz hopes to re-ignite Djokovic rivalry with Rome final meet

Carlos Alcaraz said he hoped to re-ignite his rivalry with world number one Novak Djokovic at the Italian Open, where the pair can meet for the first time this year, if they both reach the final.

www.reuters.com

"Being in the same tournament Novak is in is great, having him here and learning from him," said Alcaraz, who begins his Rome campaign on Saturday against Albert Ramos-Vinolas.

"It's always good having the best tennis players in the world in the tournament. I hope to meet him in the final.

 

[aldeayeah]

Not very Nadal-like

 

[Razer]

So Alcaraz is sure that he will be in the final ?

That is a tight slap for people born in 90s and others of his 2000s born peer group, he is already putting himself in the final

 

[UnforcedTerror]

You can tell he smells blood and for that he's known for being Sharkitos.

 

[Benf15harp3000]

So Alcaraz is sure that he will be in the final ?

That is a tight slap for people born in 90s and others of his 2000s born peer group, he is already putting himself in the final

I mean could his half be and weaker?
Med and tsitsi while Novak has rune and jannik.
What a joke.

 

[DSH]

If Musetti instead of Tsitsipas faces Carlitos in a few more days, I wouldn't be so sure.
The Foro Italico would be a party if a local player wins the Italian Open for the first time in the Open Era.

 

[MichaelNadal]

So Alcaraz is sure that he will be in the final ?

That is a tight slap for people born in 90s and others of his 2000s born peer group, he is already putting himself in the final

Just like your hero talks, love it the same then

 

[Razer]

Just like your hero talks, love it the same then

If Alcaraz backs it then sure I have no problem appreciating it. Belief is needed to win.

 

[aldeayeah]

Alcaraz also often says that finals aren't for playing, they're for winning

So in a roundabout way, he's saying he wants to kick his ass

 

[TheNachoMan]

I like his attitude. He’s not fake or trying to portray himself as some underdog when he’s clearly not.

 

[Rattie]

Djokovic said the same

 

[dking68]

If Musetti instead of Tsitsipas faces Carlitos in a few more days, I wouldn't be so sure.
The Foro Italico would be a party if a local player wins the Italian Open for the first time in the Open Era.

I second this. I can see Carlos losing that

 

[Ray Mercer]

I’d love to see him bury Djokovic for good and retire him.

 

[duaneeo]

So Alcaraz is sure that he will be in the final ?

"I hope to meet him in the final."

#1: I'm making the final, and hope Djokovic will too.

#2: I hope both Djokovic and I make the final.

I suspect Alcaraz is saying #2.

 

[Razer]

I’d love to see him bury Djokovic for good and retire him.

I would love to see Djokovic win 10 wimbledons so that it gives you a lot of sadness ..... lol

 

[Hitman]

I’d love to see him bury Djokovic for good and retire him.

Yeah, sit back, relax and don't hold your breath, because that isn't happening just yet.

 

[jackson vile]

So he can lose

 

[Holmes]

I’d love to see him bury Djokovic for good and retire him.

Novak has already definitively surpassed Roger. We needed Carlos about 4 years ago.

 

[Tennfan123]

Sure. He has nothing to fear. Last time he played Novak he won, and that was on Clay and he's even improved since then.

 

[ElChivoEspañol]

Novak has already definitively surpassed Roger. We needed Carlos about 4 years ago.

4 years ago he wouldn’t have been a factor at all. Routine beat downs at the hand of a younger Rafa and Djokovic would’ve done no good for his obvious overinflated opinion of himself.

 

[SonnyT]

We all hope so, Carlos, that nothing fundamental is wrong with Novak, nothing's like '16-18!

 

[tennis_pro]

Yes please.

We need as many matches as possible before Djokovic becomes too old too.

 

[nolefam_2024]

I’d love to see him bury Djokovic for good and retire him.

Good

 

[nolefam_2024]

6 years back was 2017. Roger ran away from the fight on clay. It was a copout. He maintained his reputation.

Novak isn't like fed. He will gladly go on tough battles with players 10/15 years younger than him.

 

[ChaelAZ]

I like his attitude. He’s not fake or trying to portray himself as some underdog when he’s clearly not.

Agree. I think mentally it is exactly what he needs to be over the top players, and EXACTLY what has been missing in these nextgen up to this point. He isn't under any pressure since these are all first steps in his career so might as well face them head on. Will have plenty of time to play the udnerdog as expectation and pressure grow.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Agree. I think mentally it is exactly what he needs to be over the top players, and EXACTLY what has been missing in these nextgen up to this point. He isn't under any pressure since these are all first steps in his career so might as well face them head on. Will have plenty of time to play the udnerdog as expectation and pressure grow.

This dig was directly at Nadal and no next gen.


Next gen don't underestimate themselves. They think they are already better than big 3 in their weird little worlds until they get beaten again and again.

I am sure this dig was for how Nadal used to underestimate himself.

 

[ElChivoEspañol]

Agree. I think mentally it is exactly what he needs to be over the top players, and EXACTLY what has been missing in these nextgen up to this point. He isn't under any pressure since these are all first steps in his career so might as well face them head on. Will have plenty of time to play the udnerdog as expectation and pressure grow.

Now ask yourself who would dare talking himself up when you have the big 3 winning everything?

Little Carlos had to wait for Nadal to be out for 5 months with an injury and Djokovic to be struggling with an elbow issue to hype himself up and talk up a storm.

Pleaseeeee spare me the laugh.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Now ask yourself who would dare talking himself up when you have the big 3 winning everything?

Little Carlos had to wait for Nadal to be out for 5 months with an injury and Djokovic to be struggling with an elbow issue to hype himself up and talk up a storm.

Pleaseeeee spare me the laugh.

Yeah because last year he was 19 years old. He is not a eternal waiter like Andy Murray who had to wait for all big 3 to be injured to grab that world number 1. He got it early.
No one expects Alcaraz to be more dominant under 20 except very few delusional Rafans.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Rafans shouldn't even talk. The same year that Carlito benefitted from non Djokovic USOpen, their Nadal literally got luckiest shot ever when Novak was deported. They shouldn't talk about waiting.
Nadal had to wait for what 13 years to win another AO.

 

[ElChivoEspañol]

Lol what is this dude even talking about? I was replying to a hypothetical and here comes the cultist bringing up his “persecuted” idol to the discussion.

 

[Razer]

Yeah because last year he was 19 years old. He is not a eternal waiter like Andy Murray who had to wait for all big 3 to be injured to grab that world number 1. He got it early.
No one expects Alcaraz to be more dominant under 20 except very few delusional Rafans.

What @ElChivoEspañol means to say is that if we are saying targeting Big 3 then we should do it when they are at their peak/in their prime, like Novak said in 06-07 that he would bring down Fedal, that is a bold statement and he backed it, thats why he himself is on 22 slams, but Alcaraz today is facing nadal+novak who are too old and on fumes, he enjoys a 16-17 years age advantage over them. Thats like a 30 year old guy walking in the park and picking on 60-70 year old people and saying "hey grandpa, get out of here before I beat you up ".. something like that .... it might not be statement that most people will appreciate.

 

[nolefam_2024]

What @ElChivoEspañol means to say is that if we are saying targeting Big 3 then we should do it when they are at their peak/in their prime, like Novak said in 06-07 that he would bring down Fedal, that is a bold statement and he backed it, thats why he himself is on 22 slams, but Alcaraz today is facing nadal+novak who are too old and on fumes, he enjoys a 16-17 years age advantage over them. Thats like a 30 year old guy walking in the park and picking on 60-70 year old people and saying "hey grandpa, get out of here before I beat you up ".. something like that .... it might not be statement that most people will appreciate.

That really made me laugh. Thank you.

 

[Omega_7000]

"I hope to meet him in the final."

#1: I'm making the final, and hope Djokovic will too.

#2: I hope both Djokovic and I make the final.

I suspect Alcaraz is saying #2.

It's amazing how ********* are desperately trying to tarnish Alcaraz's reputation!

 

[Deleted member 798069]

Would be so funny if Alcaraz loses the RG Final in straight sets, which he most likely will if he reaches it.... almost lost to Tiafoe at the US Open and old-man-Cilic at the US Open and then skipped the AO because Rune broke Alcaraz's body (or mind?) at Paris Masters....

 

[NeutralFan]

So Alcaraz is sure that he will be in the final ?

That is a tight slap for people born in 90s and others of his 2000s born peer group, he is already putting himself in the final

It's natural for him to expect himself in the final since he's the man in red hot form.

 

[abmk]

Now ask yourself who would dare talking himself up when you have the big 3 winning everything?

Little Carlos had to wait for Nadal to be out for 5 months with an injury and Djokovic to be struggling with an elbow issue to hype himself up and talk up a storm.

Pleaseeeee spare me the laugh.

when past prime big 3 are winning everything, that's a sign of weakness.
Very good players who actually have the ability would be beating them atleast close to 50%. except the 89-99 born generations are pathetic. So that didn't happen.
Alcaraz just turned 20 and he has more ability than anyone born after delpo. So maybe less bitterness would help.

 

[weakera]

Not very Nadal-like

Nadal would have been literally salivating to meet this version of Djokovic on clay. I mean he has bageled in-form Djokovic on clay lol

 

[abmk]

6 years back was 2017. Roger ran away from the fight on clay. It was a copout. He maintained his reputation.

Novak isn't like fed. He will gladly go on tough battles with players 10/15 years younger than him.

Nope. In 2017, fed was advised by his medical team not to play on clay. which is why he skipped.
2018 was when he skipped it on his own.

He came back to play on clay in 2019. Even played in 2021.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Nadal would have been literally salivating to meet this version of Djokovic on clay. I mean he has bageled in-form Djokovic on clay lol

Gotta love Rafa

 

[weakera]

Gotta love Rafa

#JustRafaThings

 

[Genie Of the Bank]

I’d love to see him bury Djokovic for good and retire him.

 

[weakera]

This could be peak Djokovic lego hair

 

[Genie Of the Bank]

This could be peak Djokovic lego hair

Probably the best in your face haircut, my favorite was young Novak - Brus Li haircut.

 

[Rattie]

So Carlos says he hopes to meet Novak in the final, resulting in a thread triggering outrage from some. Meanwhile Djokovic also says he hopes to meet Alcaraz in the final, and it doesn’t warrant a mention, let alone it’s own thread.

 

[Mike Sams]

4 years ago he wouldn’t have been a factor at all. Routine beat downs at the hand of a younger Rafa and Djokovic would’ve done no good for his obvious overinflated opinion of himself.

Yes. He obviously has an overinflated opinion of himself despite having won so many titles to date...and before his 20th birthday!
You must be extremely bitter to be calling this guy overrated. The guy is winning titles and beating the best in the world on the way.

 

[Mike Sams]

Nadal would have been literally salivating to meet this version of Djokovic on clay. I mean he has bageled in-form Djokovic on clay lol

Nadal doesn't fear anyone on clay or anywhere else. He lives for the challenge when he's fully healthy. Even against Djokovic in an AO Final. Nadal would still try to fight him tooth and nail if he's fit and ready. We're seeing that same fire from Carlos Alcaraz.

 

[Mike Sams]

Now ask yourself who would dare talking himself up when you have the big 3 winning everything?

Little Carlos had to wait for Nadal to be out for 5 months with an injury and Djokovic to be struggling with an elbow issue to hype himself up and talk up a storm.

Pleaseeeee spare me the laugh.

Carlos already beat both Nadal and Djokovic last year in Madrid. He proved that he's capable. He didn't wait for anything.

 

[Mike Sams]

Would be so funny if Alcaraz loses the RG Final in straight sets, which he most likely will if he reaches it.... almost lost to Tiafoe at the US Open and old-man-Cilic at the US Open and then skipped the AO because Rune broke Alcaraz's body (or mind?) at Paris Masters....

Who won the US Open last year? It wasn't Rune. He's too busy losing to Andrey Rublev

 

[weakera]

Nadal doesn't fear anyone on clay or anywhere else. He lives for the challenge when he's fully healthy. Even against Djokovic in an AO Final. Nadal would still try to fight him tooth and nail if he's fit and ready. We're seeing that same fire from Carlos Alcaraz.

I agree that Alcaraz would want to face anyone but in these circumstances it just rings a little hollow because Djokovic is not what he once was on clay or anywhere really

 

[Mike Sams]

What @ElChivoEspañol means to say is that if we are saying targeting Big 3 then we should do it when they are at their peak/in their prime, like Novak said in 06-07 that he would bring down Fedal, that is a bold statement and he backed it, thats why he himself is on 22 slams, but Alcaraz today is facing nadal+novak who are too old and on fumes, he enjoys a 16-17 years age advantage over them. Thats like a 30 year old guy walking in the park and picking on 60-70 year old people and saying "hey grandpa, get out of here before I beat you up ".. something like that .... it might not be statement that most people will appreciate.

Old people get replaced by young people everywhere, always.
In sports and in life.
I'm not sure I'd refer to Djokovic as a grandpa just yet considering he won the AO back in January.