Alcaraz declares he wants to avoid Djokovic

10/11/2025 19:54:00 pandatv

Carlos Alcaraz admitted feeling relieved to face Lorenzo Musetti instead of Novak Djokovic at this year’s ATP Finals.

Carlos Alcaraz acknowledged feeling relieved to compete against Lorenzo Musetti rather than Novak Djokovic at this year’s ATP Finals.

The world number one from Spain started smoothly with a 7-6(5), 6-2 victory over Alex de Minaur in the group stage opener. This marked his first opening match win after two previous defeats in earlier tournaments.

Alcaraz expressed satisfaction with his performance: “The first match is always tough, but I played at a high level. After the match, I realized this was my first win on a group stage opening day.”

Alcaraz tuyên bố muốn tránh mặt Djokovic 738685 — Carlos Alcaraz got off to a strong start at this year’s ATP Finals.

Alcaraz’s next opponent is Lorenzo Musetti, who was called in last minute to replace Novak Djokovic after the Serbian player withdrew due to injury. Djokovic, aged 38, had just defeated Musetti in Athens before announcing his withdrawal. This decision allowed Musetti to make his ATP Finals debut in the Jimmy Connors group alongside Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz.

Commenting on the change, Alcaraz smiled: “Honestly, I prefer facing Lorenzo. If he is here, he deserves it. He has shown consistent form this year and achieved good results.” The Spanish player also noted that Musetti would need time to adjust as he had just traveled from Athens and hadn’t yet practiced on the Inalpi Arena court in Turin.

Meanwhile, Musetti said he found Djokovic’s withdrawal timing normal. “Novak fully complied with ATP rules. Maybe the only odd thing is that he played right before the Masters started, even though his spot was secure,” the 23-year-old said. He also revealed Djokovic informed him personally at the net after the match: “We laughed about it. I was curious all week whether he would come to Turin or not.”

The Athens tournament Djokovic participated in is owned by his family and was previously held in his hometown Belgrade. With the veteran Serbian’s withdrawal, an opportunity opened for Musetti, while Alcaraz is considered a strong contender for the ATP Finals title this year.

The young Spanish player affirmed he feels more confident than ever: “I feel ready. My goal is to finish the season with the biggest title of the year.”

Related articles