Over the past 10 months, the duality of the ATP tour has been exasperating. Two exceptional players have pieced together dominant runs across multiple surfaces, clearly distinguishing themselves from the rest of the field, trading the No 1 ranking back and forth. And yet, in this same period, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz have avoided each other the entire way.
Since he rediscovered his killer instinct, Djokovic’s results have read like a vintage season even on the eve of his 36th birthday. Djokovic has compiled a 43-5 record in individual events since losing to Rafael Nadal in the French Open quarter-finals last year. He has won Wimbledon and the Australian Open among six titles in total.
As Djokovic re-established his high standards, a new star blazed his own path. Alcaraz won the US Open last year and ended one of the all-time great breakout seasons by becoming the first men’s teenage world No 1. This year, he is 29-2. The 20-year-old now has four Masters 1000 titles, a grand slam and 10 titles overall having started 2022 with one to his name.
Not only have the pair failed to meet since Alcaraz beat Nadal and Djokovic back-to-back en route to winning the Madrid Open last May, but they have barely even competed in the same big tournaments together. While Djokovic was barred from the United States as Alcaraz won the US Open and Indian Wells, Alcaraz was injured while Djokovic swept up the ATP Finals and Australian Open. A year ago, Alcaraz skipped Rome after his Madrid heroics, and Djokovic won the title. This year Djokovic’s elbow injury ruled him out of Madrid as Alcaraz clinched the title.
Finally, men’s tennis’s long-distance rivalry is coming together. This week’s Italian Open will mark the first time in 2023 that the two best men’s players in the world have entered the same tournament. Rome will also represent a shift within those dynamics: Djokovic leads Alcaraz by just five points in the ATP rankings. By merely stepping on to the court on Saturday, Alcaraz will gain 10 points and leapfrog Djokovic, the defending champion, retaking to the world No 1 ranking.
“It is strange that we haven’t been in the same draw since the beginning of the season,” said Djokovic on Thursday. “Due to the circumstances on both sides, that didn’t happen. I mean, he’s going to be No 1 after this tournament whatever happens. Deservedly so. He’s been playing some very impressive tennis, a great level. He’s the player to beat on this surface, no doubt.”
Alcaraz’s run this year has been even more remarkable considering it has come immediately after a three-month injury layoff. The remainder of the clay season will test his stamina and durability even more than his ability. The Spaniard has played a lot of tennis over the past few months, and after two weeks in Madrid, he faces another two weeks in Rome while also trying to preserve his energy for the French Open.
“Of course, it depends if Nadal is going to play in French Open or not. But Alcaraz is one of the top favourites without any dilemma,” said Djokovic. “He’s been playing fantastic tennis. We faced each other only once last year in Madrid. If we get a chance to face each other here, it would be in the final. I think we would both love to play in the final.”
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Djokovic arrives in Rome with work to do ahead of the French Open. After missing the Indian Wells and Miami double due to not being able to enter the US as an unvaccinated visitor, he lost a dire match to Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti in the third round of Monte Carlo. Afterwards Djokovic, normally a fluid speaker, was seething. He responded with staccato answers and cut his press conference short.
A week later, Djokovic was defeated by his fellow Serb Dusan Lajovic in Banja Luka. Djokovic promptly withdrew from the Madrid Open with an elbow injury. After a number of training sessions in Rome, however, he says he is feeling well.
“It’s all good,” said Djokovic. “There’s always some things here and there that bother you at this level. It’s normal. Also when you’re not 25 any more, I guess you experience that a bit more than what used to be the case. It takes a little bit more time to recover. But I feel good. I miss competition. I love playing in Rome.”
Ten arduous days and many tough opponents stand between a potential second meeting of Alcaraz and Djokovic. They will start as the clear favourites in their respective halves of the draw, but whether they face each other in Rome or not, it is only a matter of time before they stare each other down again.
