Carlos Alcaraz has become the first player, since Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer, to fiercely challenge Novak Djokovic for the world number one spot. But, as has happened again in Miami, where the Serb is out, the duel was played mainly from a distance until now, before the direct confrontations expected this season.
“To be the best, you have to beat the best,” Alcaraz insisted after winning the Indian Wells Masters 1000 on Sunday, a victory that allows him to rise to the top of the world hierarchy… from where he will descend for the benefit of Djokovic if he does not retain his title in Miami in the next ten days.
In California, as in Florida, the Spanish prodigy, who will turn 20 in May, took advantage of the absence of the Serb, who will be 36 in May and who continues to be prohibited from entering US territory due to his rejection of the anticovid vaccine.
The Spaniard and the Serbian have only met once, with the victory of the former in the semifinals of the Masters 1000 in Madrid almost a year ago.
Since then, not only have they not met again, but between Alcaraz’s injuries and Djokovic’s ban on entering places, they have only met twice in the same tournament since Wimbledon, where they could have met in the quarterfinals if Jannik Sinner I would not have eliminated Alcaraz in the round of 16.
During these months, the Murcian has established himself as the best in the rest of the world, rising to the top of the ATP hierarchy, winning the US Open in September, his first Grand Slam title.
– Distance fight –
Later, Djokovic took advantage of his absence to regain the lead on the tour, chaining the titles, with his 22nd Grand Slam, in Australia in January.
Once again, Djokovic could only see Alcaraz’s return to the fore this March in the United States.
Away from his main rivals, who played in the Middle East, the Spaniard prepared his return in a certain anonymity in South America, before reuniting with the elite at the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells. The whole world wondered where he was.
“I think my tennis hasn’t improved since last year. Where I’ve made progress is in my ability to manage pressure, in playing in a relaxed way. I have the impression of not feeling the pressure, of having fun,” Alcaraz said after winning the Indian Wells and before defending his title in Miami.
If his stay in California has given him confidence, it has proportionately sown doubt and concern among his rivals.
Among them is Daniil Medvedev, whose series of 19 victories was cut short by Alcaraz in 70 minutes in the Indian Wells final. And Felix Auger-Aliassime, who recognized his total impotence in the quarterfinals, when he had beaten him at the end of October in the semifinals in Basel.
– Waiting for Monte Carlo –
“It would have been necessary for my level to be exceptional to win (…) He has played like a world number one. I have never played against someone who played so aggressive, so fast and with such precision. I always felt red, in the head and physically”, acknowledged the Canadian, who clearly sees Alcaraz as the heir to the Big 3.
“He has already raised the level of demand from the other players, the general level,” he said.
Exactly what Nadal and Djokovic contributed in their time who, while Alcaraz imposes his law in the United States, refine their preparation in the clay court season.
Alcaraz and Djokovic could finally all meet in Monte Carlo (April 9-16).
And whatever happens, this battle for the throne between Djokovic and Alcaraz is going to continue for weeks as the two must defend an equal number of points during the clay-court season: they lost in the quarterfinals at Roland-Garros last year and they each won a Masters 1000 (Madrid for Alcaraz, Rome for Djokovic).
When, more than ever, head-to-heads are expected, more than ever Grand Slam tournaments stand as arbiters in the race for supremacy.
In this game, and even when it seems that he is heading towards a short or medium term retirement, Rafa Nadal will do everything possible to try to win the Roland Garros tournament for the fifteenth time in May. And recover the record for Grand Slam titles (23) alone.
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AFP