Carlos Alcaraz not going to ‘worry’ after losing number one status
Carlos Alcaraz will be stepping down as No.1 on Monday, with either Novak Djokovic or Stefanos Tsitsipas dethroning him after the Australian Open final.
Alcaraz spent 20 weeks on top of men’s tennis, following his triumph at the US Open and surpassed the likes of Daniil Medvedev, Andy Roddick and Boris Becker.
The Spaniard has accepted his fate, because he is stepping down to a champion, “I’m watching what Djokovic and Tsitsipas do, but it doesn’t worry me. To take the No.1 from me there, either of them has to be champion and if it happens it will be because the one who achieves it will deserve it more than me.”
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However, Alcaraz has been frustrated over being unable to play the first major of the year, “I am watching the Australian Open from home and it is hard because I think that I am the one who could be there, but I am a positive person and I think that this break is good for me to realise some things that I could do better on the court and out of it.”
Tsitsipas beat Karen Khachanov, 7-6(2) 6-4 6(6)-7 6-3, to reach his second major final and has the chance to become the first Greek No.1 on Sunday.
“These are the moments I’ve been working hard for. To be able to play finals like this, but finals that have bigger meaning that just a final,” Tsitsipas said in his on-court interview, “It’s a Grand Slam final, I’m fighting for the No. 1 spot. It’s a childhood dream to be capturing the No.1 spot one day. I’m close. I’m happy that this opportunity comes here in Australia and not somewhere else, because this is a place of significance.”
Djokovic is someone who is a lot more familiar with being No.1, having held the title on six separate occasions for a total of 373 weeks, more than anyone else in-fact.
Having beaten Tommy Paul in straight sets, 7-5 6-1 6-2, the Serb has the chance to reach what he describes as the ‘peak’ of tennis, “Winning Grand Slams and being the No. 1 in the world are probably the two biggest peaks that you can climb as a professional tennis player.”
The final, that takes place on Rod Laver Arena on Sunday, will be the second consecutive men’s major final where the No.1 is on the line, after Alcaraz beat Casper Ruud to claim his spot at the top of the rankings in New York.
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