{"id":48081,"date":"2024-01-15T07:41:07","date_gmt":"2024-01-15T07:41:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/alcaraz-wants-djokovic-final-at-australian-open-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2024-01-15T07:41:07","modified_gmt":"2024-01-15T07:41:07","slug":"alcaraz-wants-djokovic-final-at-australian-open-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/alcaraz-wants-djokovic-final-at-australian-open-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Alcaraz wants Djokovic final at Australian Open | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nMELBOURNE:
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Carlos Alcaraz would like nothing better than to take the title away from Novak Djokovic<\/a> in the final of the Australian Open in two week\u2019s time, the Spaniard said on the eve of the start of the year\u2019s first Grand Slam.<\/p>\n

The 20-year-old said Djokovic\u2019s record of 10 wins from 10 Melbourne Park finals made the prospect of landing his first Australian Open title by beating the Serb on Rod Laver Arena all the more appealing.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s an extra motivation for me. I\u2019m an ambitious guy. I always want to play against the best players in the world to see what is my level,\u201d Alcaraz told reporters on Saturday.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cObviously it\u2019s a good test, playing against him in the tournament where he\u2019s almost unbeaten. I\u2019m looking to reach the final and hopefully playing a final against him. It would be great obviously.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cBut, yeah, knowing those stats, it\u2019s an extra motivation, for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

As first and second seed, Djokovic and Alcaraz<\/a> would meet in the final on Jan. 28 if neither was knocked out in an earlier round.<\/p>\n

As tempting as that prospect would be for tennis fans, it would require a marked improvement for Alcaraz, who has never made it past the third round in his two visits to Melbourne.<\/p>\n

He missed last year\u2019s tournament with a hamstring injury as Djokovic won his 10th title to take back the number one ranking from his younger rival.<\/p>\n

Alcaraz has travelled to Australia without coach Juan Carlos Ferrero and decided not to play any warm-up events.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cI think I\u2019m a guy who doesn\u2019t need so much competition before a big tournament,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cObviously (it) always helps (but) I think I\u2019m prepared to do a good things here in the Grand Slam.\u201d<\/p>\n

Confidence oozed from Alcaraz during his news conference as he discussed how he and the likes of Holger Rune and Jannik Sinner were forming the basis of a \u201cnew generation\u201d.<\/p>\n

Crucially, Alcaraz is the only one of the trio who has won a Grand Slam after his 2022 U.S. Open triumph and his victory over Djokovic in last year\u2019s Wimbledon final.<\/p>\n

While accepting that there was still plenty to work on, Alcaraz said he had a good feeling about what the new season would bring.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cOn the court, off the court. I think everybody can be better. Everybody can improve their things. I\u2019m not perfect, so I have to improve a lot of things on the court and off the court, as well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cI think this year, it\u2019s going to be a good one,\u201d he added with a smile.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n