New York, September 1: Reigning US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz described Novak Djokovic’s shocking first-round exit from the tournament as a “major surprise.” After a four-month hiatus, Alcaraz returned to the tennis court, defeating Roman Safiullin to secure his spot in the second round.
Djokovic’s campaign ended abruptly when he lost to Mariano Navone in a five-set match. This defeat also dashed hopes for a potential semifinal showdown between Alcaraz and Djokovic.
Reflecting on the unexpected turn of events, Alcaraz noted that he watched the dramatic final stages of Djokovic’s match before contemplating its significance.
After his victory over Safiullin, Alcaraz remarked on Djokovic’s match, saying, “I watched the fifth set. This is the first time Novak has lost in the first round of this tournament, so it’s quite surprising. For a player like Novak to exit in the first round is astonishing. However, every round in a Grand Slam is challenging. You have to win from the first ball to the last. He was in my draw, but that was in the semifinals. For me, the semifinals feel far away, so I just try to move forward round by round.”
With Djokovic’s exit, Alcaraz’s path to the semifinals has changed significantly.
Alcaraz had been sidelined since April due to a right wrist injury. He admitted to feeling a strange kind of nervousness upon returning to the court.
He shared, “It was a tough day for me. But it was also a beautiful day. I was really nervous at the start, thinking, ‘I can do this, I will compete again.’ I was more nervous than usual, but I was just happy because my goal here is to compete, enjoy, and see how my body reacts after the matches.”
Leave a Comment