2023-10-30 19:03:25
The image circulated a lot on social networks on Sunday. Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, the two best players in the world, shared a training session to prepare for the Rolex Paris Masters. It’s not every day that the world No. 1 and No. 2, who have engaged in a great back-and-forth in the lead this season, share a session on the sidelines of a big event.
“The best way to prepare for this tournament was to train with the best,” smiles the Spaniard, who will face the Russian Safiullin for his entry into the competition. We talked about it before coming here. We were asking if we could train with each other sometime and it happened yesterday…and he won! I hope it’s just for practice…”
No question of sharing a few industrial secrets between two strikes. “Everyone goes at their own pace, he had his team and I had mine,” continues the Murcian. We have a very good relationship, he’s a wonderful person, I really enjoy talking with him but we don’t discuss advice, we still fight to be No. 1 and win the tournament! But we talk about something else, the circuit, I asked him how the rugby final was (Djokovic attended South Africa’s victory in the World Cup at the Stade de France on Saturday evening). At the end, we played tennis football. These are very nice moments, it’s nice to be with him off the field. »
Juan Carlos Ferrero’s protégé only has two events left (Bercy and the Turin Masters) to try to prevent the Serb from finishing a season on the throne for the 8th time. After skipping Basel last week due to pain in his left arch, the Spaniard hopes to get off to a good start and meet the Serb on Sunday in a final for the third time in 2023.
“It would be a lie to say that I am 100%,” he explains. But the year is long, demanding and at this time all the players have small problems. It’s almost normal. I still have a little pain in the sole of my foot but we will play with what we have. I came with confidence. But it’s very open because players like Sinner or Medvedev are playing at a very high level at the moment. »
The Wimbledon winner after an epic match against Djokovic will especially try to do better than during his only two appearances in Eastern Paris. After being knocked down by Gaston in the 3rd round in 2021, he had to give up against Rune in the quarterfinals last year. “We have to put the past aside,” he says. And do better this year. »
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