Yesterday's two semi-finals were uneventful, with Shelton and Sinner beating their respective opponents to advance to the semi-finals.
However, the day before yesterday, the match between Djokovic and Alcaraz was full of aftertaste. As soon as the signing table came out, this showdown was "circled" by the fans, and this game has really arrived, isn't it still tangled?
As a result, Djokovic won, and then struggled with Alcaraz missing out on the semi-finals. If Alcaraz wins, he will also lament that Djokovic "will eventually grow old......".
Now, Alcaraz's "post-match summary" is still quite emotional.
In this quarter-final, which was regarded as an unofficial final by fans, Djokovic himself sighed: I really hope this is the final! But Alcaraz looked unusually nervous as the game began. Alcaraz wasn't as relaxed and energetic as he used to be, nor was he as active as he used to be with the audience. But seeing Alcaraz's post-match interview, I realized that it was Alcaraz who wanted to be more composed.
Is this to learn from Sinner?
In fact, I prefer Alcaraz's natural true feelings.
Pre-match win rate predictions show Djokovic only slightly ahead of Alcaraz. Alcaraz won the first set after a slow start, and in this set, Djokovic was injured at the end of the set.
The 37-year-old Djokovic was battling with an injury and was visibly in pain before the painkillers took effect. But in the end he took control and won the match 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. After the game, Deyo said that he was grateful for the blessing of painkillers.
Alcaraz can't help but reflect on this game. Just like a player reviews after a game, players also "review" important matches.
Alcaraz summed up the following points when talking about the match:
The first point,Originally, he was in control of the game, but he let the opponent regain the rhythm of the game. This was the biggest mistake made in this game.
Alcaraz said:
"When you see someone who isn't in good shape, the way you're playing is different. It feels like, well, the game is going to be easier. But at the same time, you're thinking, 'Okay, I can't make a mistake. If you think about it that way, maybe you don't hit the ball the way you used to. I guess that's it. ”
To put it simply, when there is something other than yourself on the field, you should be distracted and unmoved.
However, the arena is not a battlefield after all, and it is impossible for normal people to be hurt by familiar people.
The second point,In the second set, Djokovic's movement was a bit of a problem. At this point, he should have played a little better and pushed him to the limit...... I didn't do it.
Alcaraz said:
"After that, I think he started to feel better and played at a very high level. When Djokovic plays at this level, it's really hard to find a way to deal with it. ”
The third point,Djokovic played better at the crucial points and won more crucial points.
Fourth,In the game, you should save your stamina and don't waste it needlessly.
Alcaraz said:
"There were times when I didn't save my energy, I cheered myself up, I interacted with the audience, and I shouted 'come on' 100 percent every time. In the end, the third and fourth sets may have been a little physically struggling because of this.
"I would say that in a Grand Slam, I'd rather be a little more composed."
Alcaraz explained why the game was composed and did not interact too much with the crowd.
Fifthly,Djokovic's praise for him gave him a boost of confidence.
Alcaraz said:
"I've achieved a lot in tennis, but playing against one of the greatest players in the history of the sport will help me a lot to get stronger in the future."
Alcaraz is pleased with what he has achieved and feels that he has more experience in the game. But from this competition, I learned new experiences. In fact, he can recall that the 2023 French Open against Djokovic was when he had muscle spasms in his legs. What did Djokovic do at the time?
Djokovic also said after the match that he saw Alcaraz hesitate on the baseline and seized the opportunity to win the second set.
In a duel of masters, sometimes only one or two points can change the tide of the battle.
All in all, it was a great match, beyond the level of the quarter-finals. It's only Djokovic who pulled down the ATP rankings by himself, didn't participate in the tournament at the end of last year, didn't even enter the year-end finals, and only cared about playing around wearing an Olympic gold medal...... [Laughs] [Laughs] [covers face] [covers face]