World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz said on Tuesday that challenging Novak Djokovic in the Grand Slam semi-finals, in this case at Roland-Garros on Friday, is “a dream come true”. “It’s amazing to play a Grand Slam semi-final against Novak (Djokovic). I’ve seen him millions of times in semi-finals and Grand Slam finals, winning titles. I remember many matches of Rafa (Nadal) and Djokovic, says Alcaraz. It’s something I’ve always dreamed of. When I watched these matches, I said to myself: one day, it will be me. This day has arrived. It’s a dream come true.”
“I’m not going to say that I’m the best, but I feel like one of the best with the level that I show, considers the young Spaniard, who became the youngest world N.1 in history last September in stride. of his first Grand Slam title at the US Open. I feel very comfortable in the game, with a lot of confidence, tennistically, physically and mentally, I feel very good, and I play great tennis.
But Djokovic is “one of the best players in the history of tennis. It will be his 45th Grand Slam semi-final, this number says it all, his experience, the tennis he plays, (the fact that) he is a rock physically too, lists Carlitos. It’s going to be a very demanding match, very difficult, I know that, but I’m going to try to forget all that it represents and play the tennis I’m playing at the moment.
“He always has room, I don’t think he won’t keep up with my pace, but rather that I’m going to have to keep up with the level of demand he imposes at each point. We have all seen the invincible Djokovic. I will try to dominate, to show my game, but I play against Djokovic, which will make it very complicated, ”he continues.
One thing is certain, blocking the road to Djokovic to prevent him from overtaking Nadal in the number of Grand Slam titles does not occupy the mind of Alcaraz.
“It’s something I don’t think about,” he smiles. I’m not here to meddle” in that, “I’m doing it for myself, for no one else, I want to win more Grand Slams, that’s all I care about.”