Alcaraz instructed of weapon towards Djokovic regardless of having ‘every part to lose’
One of Carlos Alcaraz’s rivals has claimed that he has “everything to lose” at this yr’s US Open. Casper Ruud – who misplaced to the Spaniard in final yr’s last – named Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic because the clear-cut favourites. And despite the fact that he thought the strain was on the defending champion, Ruud defined that Alcaraz had a weapon in his sport that Djokovic couldn’t match.
Alcaraz will formally get his US Open title defence underway on Tuesday as he returns to the positioning of his first Grand Slam victory. And followers can be ready to see whether or not the world No 1 and Djokovic could make it to a mouthwatering last to shut the event.
Ruud was the person who was capable of attain the ultimate final yr earlier than dropping to Alcaraz, and he thought that the Spaniard can be carrying some additional strain as he would lose the world No 1 rating to Djokovic whatever the outcome. “Carlos has everything to lose with defending 2000 [ranking] points,” the world No 5 instructed Eurosport.
“But they have been going back and forth now for around the year. It’s fun that race is on.” After Alcaraz misplaced to Djokovic within the latest Cincinnati Open last, the Serb is assured to return to world No 1 so long as he wins his first-round match.
However, Ruud believes that the battle to win one other Grand Slam title can be extra vital to each males over the US Open fortnight, with the rankings taking a again seat. He continued. “I think that it’s more important to win the slam if they could, other than to keep that number one or number two. That probably won’t make too big of a difference for them. But for sure they are the world No 1 and 2.”
The Norwegian has now misplaced a Grand Slam last to each males – Alcaraz ultimately yr’s US Open and Djokovic at this yr’s French Open. And he thought that they each had very related video games, with the 20-year-old possessing some additional pace that permit him speed up in a approach the world No 2 couldn’t.
“Carlos and Novak, they kind of play similar tennis in a way. Just there’s one thing that they do opposite,” he defined. “I mean, they have kind of all shots in the book. But Carlos maybe plays at a little higher speed in the way he can accelerate even more. But they move great. They have all shots. It’s tough to find their weaknesses.
“They both have a good drop shot. Carlos plays maybe more forehands, Novak defends from the backhand side. They’re good enough as it is on the net. They’ve got good hand skills and their returns are great. So obviously it’s always going to be a good match-up when they play each other. And you’ve seen it in the past four times that they’ve played and they have 2-2 head-to-head.”
While Ruud conceded that the highest two seeds have been the principle title favourites, he nonetheless wished to attempt to cease Alcaraz and Djokovic from reaching the ultimate. He added: “It’s always been a really, really good match. It’s a match-up that is going to be a treat for fans and who knows for how many years. When they play it’s going to be interesting and I’m one of the players who are going to try to stop them from playing again here in New York because it means that if they play, it’s in the final.
“So everyone else also wants to reach the final, but they’re now the guys who mostly fans will keep their eyes on during the tournament. And they’re the two biggest favourites for sure.”