Rising tennis star Carlos Alcaraz has declared Novak Djokovic the “smartest” player on the circuit, citing his unparalleled knowledge of the game.
Alcaraz’s High Praise for Djokovic
After a tough four-set victory over Jan-Lennard Struff on Centre Court, Carlos Alcaraz didn’t hesitate when asked about the most intelligent player in tennis. His answer was definitive: Novak Djokovic.
“Right now, I think Novak Djokovic is the guy who is the smartest, the smartest on court,” Alcaraz stated. “The player who has the most knowledge of tennis, I think it’s Novak without a doubt.”
Why Djokovic is “The Smartest”
Alcaraz elaborated on his reasoning, pointing to Djokovic’s extensive career and vast experience. He believes that Djokovic’s long tenure on court, combined with the countless matches he has played and watched, has given him an unmatched understanding of the game.
“With his experience, with everything he has lived on a tennis court and has watched a lot of matches in his career, I think he has the most knowledge of tennis,” Alcaraz explained, highlighting the depth of Djokovic’s expertise.
Off-Court Conversations: More Than Just Tennis
Despite his admiration for Djokovic’s tennis intellect, Alcaraz revealed an interesting detail about their interactions. Surprisingly, their conversations rarely revolve around tennis strategies or matches.
“I’ve talked with Novak many, many times,” Alcaraz confirmed. “But we have never talked about tennis, about matches, whatever. I prefer to talk with him other things, about life, not about tennis, to be honest.”
Alcaraz enjoys observing Djokovic’s game and practice routines, learning from what he sees rather than directly asking questions. He loves watching Djokovic play and practice, soaking in insights about his movement and style from a distance.
Alcaraz’s Own Game: Battling the Serve
While discussing Djokovic’s prowess, Alcaraz also reflected on his own performance. He has been grappling with his first-serve percentage in the tournament, a recurring challenge.
Although his first serve improved to 65% against Tarvet in the second round, it dipped to 58% in his recent match against Struff. Despite this, he managed to win 73% of his first-serve points and an improved 62% on his second serve against Struff.
“I knew at the beginning that it was going to be really difficult,” Alcaraz said of his match against Struff, acknowledging his opponent’s strong grass-court game. “I’m just really pleased about everything that I have done today.”
- Carlos Alcaraz believes Novak Djokovic is the “smartest” and most knowledgeable player in tennis.
- Alcaraz attributes Djokovic’s vast knowledge to his extensive experience and countless matches.
- Despite frequent interactions, Alcaraz and Djokovic do not discuss tennis strategies.
- Alcaraz prefers to learn from Djokovic by observing his play and practice routines.
- Alcaraz has been working to improve his first-serve percentage during the tournament.
Alcaraz’s comments underscore the respect top players have for each other’s unique strengths, both on and off the court.
