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It’s time to interrupt essentially the most meaty impasse in tennis right now: World primary Novak Djokovic and world quantity two Carlos Alcaraz will conflict within the semifinals of the ATP Tour’s year-end pinnacle.
The Djokovic vs Alcaraz H2H stands all sq. at 2 apiece. When final they met, Djokovic squeezed out a 3-set masterpiece to win the 2023 Cincinnati Masters. Earlier than that, Alcaraz made off with the 2023 Wimbledon crown in a 5-set barnburner. This ATP Finals assembly within the knockout spherical of the event would be the 24-time Grand Slam champion’s newest probability to say “not but, my pal” to the 20-year-old Alcaraz.
Djokovic vs Alcaraz Preview By the Numbers
Of their 4 earlier conferences, solely this 12 months’s match at Roland Garros did not go the gap, due partly to Alcaraz cramping after profitable the primary set. Cramping is controversial, with some claiming it pertains to both poor preparation, insufficient hydration or mismanagement of nerves. Regardless of the case, Djokovic occurs to excel in all features of preparation and administration.
Final 12 months in 2022, Alcaraz eked out a win over Djokovic within the semifinals of Madrid. In these three excruciatingly shut conferences, every match has come right down to mere factors. Alcaraz gained 3 extra factors than Djokovic in that Madrid match. At Wimbledon, it was 2. Within the Cincy match, Djokovic bested Alcaraz by a paltry 5 factors. These guys are that shut in stage.
Their 4 matches to date have featured 5 tiebreakers and three units with a rating of 7-5. That’s 8 units that would have gone both method. Djokovic leads tiebreakers performed in opposition to Alcaraz 3-2, however Alcaraz has gained all 7-5 units.
Prior to now 12 months, Djokovic has been a better server, in accordance with the ATP’s metrics. Alcaraz has been the superior returner. It should be mentioned: The Serbian celebrity gained 3 Grand Slams this 12 months, whereas the Spanish sensation gained 1.
Djokovic vs Alcaraz Techniques
This would be the first assembly of Djokovic and Alcaraz indoors. It’s additionally the quickest hardcourt on which the 2 have ever performed, formally anyway. The titans of tennis are recognized to spar in apply often.
Though profitable the essential 0-4 metric nonetheless applies on this match, the defensive abilities of each gamers usually results in a ballooning of the center 5-8 shot metric. Djokovic would possibly look to intensify the aggression early in factors to see what sort of errors he can get out of Alcaraz in these circumstances.
Carlitos is the higher slider, even on exhausting courts, however Djokovic is extra versatile and agile. Each gamers personal each shot within the bag. As at all times Novak should be on excessive alert for the Alcaraz drop shot, which the Spaniard has employed this week. Nevertheless it gained’t work in addition to it did together with his win over Daniil Medvedev. Djokovic really feels comfy on the internet.
Djokovic would possibly look to punish Alcaraz’s subpar first serve if not with tempo then with depth. Conversely, the GOAT will should be considerate about his second personal serves as a result of Alcaraz can blister returns routinely in extra of 80 mph.
For Alcaraz, take into accout Djokovic has related floor stroke speeds on each wings, but it surely’s the depth and the angles which might be cruel. Entering into prolonged baseline rallies level after level just isn’t an advisable tactic. As for the place finest to serve to Novak? No person is aware of.
This ATP Finals Djokovic vs Alcaraz tilt ought to reside as much as all of the fuss and festivity, producing a satisfying ending to the tennis 12 months.
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