November 19, (THEWILL) – Carlos Alcaraz admitted he is “not at the level” of Novak Djokovic on indoor hard courts after the world number one convincingly defeated him 6-3,6-2 in the semi-finals of the 2023 Nitto ATP Finals. The young Spaniard, acknowledged Djokovic’s superiority in indoor conditions following the ruthless display.
Djokovic was in sublime form, consistently hitting deep shots and giving Alcaraz few opportunities. He saved two break points in the opening game and broke serve three times himself to overpower the US Open champion. Alcaraz struggled to handle Djokovic’s relentless accuracy and intensity.
While Alcaraz played well in patches, he was unable to sustain his level against the ruthless Djokovic. The 20-year-old pointed to his lack of experience playing indoor events compared to the veteran Serbian as a key factor in the defeat. However, he views it as ideal preparation for the 2024 Australian Open.
Djokovic described his performance as one of his best this year, gaining revenge after Alcaraz beat him in the Wimbledon final. He will now face Jannik Sinner in the final after the Italian defeated Daniil Medvedev in three sets earlier on Saturday.
The 21-time Grand Slam champion, is determined to end 2023 ranked number one after missing out last month. Based on this evidence, few would bet against Djokovic achieving his goal by lifting the ATP Finals trophy on Sunday evening.
Alcaraz knows exactly what aspects of his game require improvement and will use this painful lesson during the off-season training block with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero. But for now, the teenager admitted Djokovic is playing at “another level” on indoor courts.
