The Spaniard qualified for the semifinals after beating in three sets tsitsipas
“As long as Novak is here, he’s always going to be the favorite.“He said after the game.
The Spanish Carlos Alcaraz appointed the Serb Novak Djokovic as favorite for the semifinal that will face them on Friday in Roland Garros.
“I always take Novak as a favourite, it’s not for throwing balls out or for taking pressure off me, but he’s the favorite. He has two titles here and if he doesn’t have more it’s because he has collided with the best in history on clay, if he didn’t have more. As long as Novak is here, he’s always going to be the favorite.“, he said after defeating the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals.
The Spanish recalled that Djokovic will play his 45th Grand Slam semifinal and for him it will be the second, he considered that he is “one of the best in history”, that “experience is on his side” and that “he is playing at a high level, it is difficult to find holes, he is a rock”.
“It will be a demanding, difficult match, you have to try to forget what it is and play the tennis that I have been doing“, he commented.
Despite the fact that he is displaying a great game, Alcaraz affirmed that the Serb is expected to force him to a higher level.
“I don’t think about whether he is going to keep up with me, I think that I am the one who will have to put up with the demand that he puts on each point. We have all seen the level that he is giving, he is almost invincible, we cannot say that he is going to loosen up”, said the Spaniard, who predicted “an even match” in which he will try to “dominate”.
“I won’t say I’m the best, but I’m one of the best. For the level that I am showing. I feel comfortable on the court, with a lot of tennis and mental confidence. I have been playing great tennis,” she said.
alcaraz He considered it “incredible” that he is going to face one of his idols at Roland Garros, whom he saw so many times as a child face Rafael Nadal.
“I’ve seen him millions of times and seeing me here now is a dream come true. I saw him against Rafa and said to myself: ‘one day I’ll be there’. That day has come”.
The world number 1 assured that against Tsitsipas he had “one of the best matches” of his career, although he regretted the downturn he had at the end of the fourth set, from which he will try to learn lessons for the future.
“At this level, if you lose concentration a bit, they will put you up to your neck in water“, he analyzed.