Novak Djokovic may have shot himself in the foot ahead of Carlos Alcaraz US Open battle
Novak Djokovic could once again face Carlos Alcaraz in a big final as the pair are primed for a showdown at the US Open.
Novak Djokovic has been told that defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the Cincinnati Open final could be just what the Spaniard needs to beat him in a potential US Open showdown. As the top two seeds in New York, the pair are on a collision course to meet in a final for the third tournament in a row. And Alex Corretja believes the Cincinnati defeat was the “perfect lesson” for the world No 1.
Djokovic recently got revenge over Alcaraz after losing to the Spaniard in the Wimbledon final - his first defeat on Centre Court in a decade. The world No 2 was struggling in the heat as he trailed by a set and a break in Sunday’s Cincinnati final before storming back to win 5-7 7-6(7) 7-6(4) in almost four hours.
But Alex Corretja believes that losing the match may have been the best thing for the 20-year-old, who will now have all the tools he needs to defeat Djokovic if they meet again in the final of the US Open. “I don't think it should affect him because for him it's a perfect final,” the former world No 2 told Eurosport.
Corretja also pointed out that Alcaraz was able to defeat Djokovic at Wimbledon just weeks after losing a tough match against the 36-year-old in the semi-final of the French Open. And he could well follow the same path in New York after a narrow defeat in Cincinnati.
“It's a perfect lesson moment, he learned from RG [Roland Garros] semi-final and then he did unbelievable at Wimbledon,” he added. “Now, this is another final with where he knows how to be there with Novak. So I don't think he should go thinking any bad feelings, especially [given] he's going into the tournament where he won last year.
“He already won another Major, which may help him to understand that he can do it again." With Alcaraz and Djokovic going into Flushing Meadows as the top two seeds, they can only meet in the final.
And the retired Spanish player thought that any meeting between the two would always become a big battle. Corretja continued: “I think every time they play they start knowing each other a little bit better. I think for both it's good. I think for Carlos because he's going to know how to deal in this important moment, which I think Novak he's been through many, many, many times befo
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“They know that is going to be a big battle all the time. They know it’s going to be very important to take the chances they've got because if not, maybe in the future, they won't have those chances.”
Corretja also warned both men that they would have to be at 100 per cent if they did meet in the championship match at the US Open. “And for Carlos, it's very important also to adjust of the game of Novak, because many times when he's aggressive, he dictates and maybe the other opponents, they cannot handle it. But against Novak, he knows he needs to go for one more shot because no-one can defend and can push the ball very deep into the court [like him],” he explained.
“And for Novak also it’s knowing how Carlos’s forehand is coming, how he can run, how he can defend, but also how he can attack. I think that they're learning that is going to be huge. And it always is going to be tough if one of them doesn't play 100 per cent they will fail because if they play 99 per cent, it’s not going to be enough.”