20-Year-Old Carlos Alcaraz Explains How His French Open Semifinal Clash with Novak Djokovic Stirred Up Intense Emotions For the First Time

The much-anticipated clash between the giants of tennis did end on a note as it was expected. As top seed Carlos Alcaraz met the Serbian tennis legend in the French Open, fans and stars alike kept themselves close to the TV screens. With Djokovic winning the first set and Alcaraz bouncing back in the second set, the fight was even. The sword of loss was hanging in the air and no one knew whom it would fall upon.

However, the match took a sharp turn when the Spanish tennis ace suffered a cramp. He didn’t get a medical timeout and struggled in the next two sets as Djokovic won in four sets, 6-3 5-7 6-1 6-1. After the match, the Spaniard talked about his feelings when he was going down the slope, after he was poised to win.

How did Carlos Alcaraz feel in the match?

As Carlos Alcaraz was on the verge of losing due to injury, Djokovic was on the verge of celebrating. This didn’t go down well with the fans. Some of them took to Twitter to express their anger and said why Djokovic is justifiably the most hated player.

Image credits – Imago

In an interview after the match, Alcaraz, however, did not show signs of disrespect for the Serb. A reporter asked him if it was the most tense game he has ever played. The Spaniard agreed that it was the most ‘tense tennis’ he has played. He said, starting with smile, “Probably. Has been really tough for me today. I have never felt something like I did today. You know, I have never felt that tension that I did in that match.”

The Spanish tennis sensation, after all, carried a burden of expectations on his young and youthful shoulders. While he was trying to halt Djokovic’s run into the final for his 23 Grand Slam dream victory, his fitness failed him. Otherwise, many analysts expected him to take forward the baton of Nadal’s dominance on the French courts.

Alcaraz on the vast experience of Djokovic

A reporter also asked the defiant Spaniard about the experience and tactics used by the 36-year-old Serb. He asked him about how after the second set defeat, the Serb chose to walk on the court, making Alcaraz wait. And also, if with more experience, Spaniard too should have left the court after the second set dominance.

Read More: ‘It’s a Shame’- 19-Year-Old Carlos Alcaraz Goes Bold as He Shuns Recurring Rafael Nadal Comparison With Confidence Post Barcelona Open Win

The World No.1 very gracefully conceded how the Serb was more experienced than him. He talked about how Djokovic has faced such situations earlier. He said, “After the second set? Well, I don’t know. I mean, he has been in that situation multiple times, more than me. So I think he has dealt better in these situations than me.”

While Carlos Alcaraz commended the Serb for his experience, the fans are aghast, thinking that rules defeated him. And of course, the luck.

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