FILE PHOTO: Tennis – ATP Masters 1000 – Madrid Open – Caja Magica, Madrid, Spain – May 7, 2022 Carlos Alcaraz Garfia of Spain shakes hands with Novak Djokovic of Serbia after winning the REUTERS/Isabel semi-final Infantes
ROME—World number one Novak Djokovic says Carlos Alcaraz is beatable on clay and one of the top contenders for the French Open.
Alcaraz has won clay-court titles in a row in Barcelona and Madrid after starting an injury-laden season with the title in Buenos Aires and is poised to overtake Djokovic for the top spot after the tournament. The Italian Open is underway.
Rafa Nadal, a 14-time champion at Roland Garros, has been dealing with a hip injury he sustained at the Australian Open in January and there are growing concerns that the Spaniard could quit. missed the Grand Slam in Paris.
Djokovic, 35, told reporters in Rome that Alcaraz deserves the number one spot.
“He will be number one after this tournament whatever happens. Well deserved,” he added. “He played very impressive tennis, a great level. He is the player to beat on this surface, no doubt.
“Of course, that depends on whether Nadal is in the French Open or not. But Alcaraz is one of the top favorites without any awkwardness.”
Djokovic, who skipped the US hardcourt match because he hasn’t been vaccinated against COVID-19, said he hopes to rekindle his rivalry with US Open champion Alcaraz with a potential final in Rome.
“We only met once last year in Madrid,” said Djokovic, who lost that match in three sets. “If we had a chance to face each other here, it would be the final. I think we both want to play in the final.”
The 22-time Grand Slam champion, who battled Tomas Martin Etcheverry later on Friday, said he has overcome a right elbow problem that kept him out of Madrid.
“It’s all good. There’s always something here and there that bothers you at this level. That’s normal,” Djokovic said.
“When you’re not 25 anymore, I guess you’re going to experience that a little bit more than you used to. It takes a little more time to recover.”
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