Djokovic has not considered Alcaraz as a rival
"Carlos Alcaraz has been dealing with injuries for almost half a year, but he is getting back in shape," Djokovic said at a press conference in Serbia on February 22. The 35-year-old tennis player thinks that Alcaraz matures early, but needs more experience.
Djokovic does not consider Alcaraz a great rival, but dedicates this phrase to Nadal. He said: "Technically, Alcaraz is all-round on all courts. But I don't see him as a rival, that person has to be Nadal. Alcaraz has had a Grand Slam and is number one in the world, his future. very bright. But the rivalry between me and Nadal over the years cannot be erased just because someone has played so well in the last year and a half."
Last month's Australian Open title helped Djokovic equal Nadal's record of 22 Grand Slams. He is the best player this season, with a 12-match winning streak and two titles. Djokovic will travel to Dubai today to prepare for the ATP 500 Dubai Championship starting February 27.
Nadal has struggled with injuries, losing consecutively since pulling out of the Wimbledon semi-finals last year. At the Australian Open, "King of Clay" lost the second round because of a recurrence of abdominal muscle injury. Nadal has not announced his next tournament, after withdrawing from the Qatar Open and Dubai Championship respectively.
Alcaraz also recently returned from injury, winning the Argentine Open title last week. He started off well this week, beating Mateus Alves 6-4, 6-4 in the opening match of the Rio Open - the ATP 500 tournament in which Alcaraz is the defending champion.
Another top player who has just returned from injury is Alexander Zverev. But the former world number three has not regained form when losing the opening match of the Qatar Open to Andy Murray with a score of 6-7(5), 2-6. The third seed of this award, Daniil Medvedev, still maintained his high form, winning tickets to the quarterfinals when he defeated Liam Broady 6-4, 6-3. Medvedev just won the Rotterdam Open last week.
