Novak Djokovic extended his career-long domination of Gael Monfils with a 6-3, 6-2 victory on Thursday to reach the quarter-finals of the ATP/WTA Cincinnati Open. The Serb second seed, a two-time winner in Cincinnati, won his 19th match against the French showman without a defeat.

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Novak Djokovic beats Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-2 to reach the QFs in Cincinnati and makes history as this is now the MOST LOPSIDED undefeated ATP head-to-head in the history of the Open Era. <a href="https://t.co/0ATff2ZpDN">pic.twitter.com/0ATff2ZpDN</a>
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He needed just 69 minutes to follow top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz into the last eight, the Spaniard withstanding a string of frustrating rain delays to beat Tommy Paul 7-6 (8/6), 6-7 (7/0) 6-3 and avenge a loss to the American last week.

Djokovic applied the pressure early against Monfils in the battle of 36-year-old veterans, denying the number 211 his first last-eight-place here since 2011.

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Djokovic will next take on American Taylor Fritz, who advanced after Dusan Lajovic retired with a toe injury trailing 5-0.

Djokovic broke once to claim the first set and quickly ran up a 5-0 lead in the second. He faltered while trying to serve it out, dropping his serve only to complete the contest two games later.

"Gael is one of the most athletic guys on the tour and he showed that in the first set," Djokovic said. "Every ball comes back from him. "I served well and made him play. After the first break I didn't look back and raised my level.

"I had an almost flawless second set," added Djokovic. "Hopefully I can keep it going."

<h2>Alcaraz storms past Tommy Paul</h2>

Things weren't quite so easy for Alcaraz against a player who had stunned him in the quarter-finals at Toronto last week.

Alcaraz had squandered three match points against Paul before the first of a string of rain delays that forced players off and on the court in a logistics ballet that finally ended after more than three hours.

The Spaniard held on to book a quarter-final meeting with Australian Max Purcell, a 6-4, 6-2 winner over Swiss Stan Wawrinka.

After the final rain pause, Alcaraz, up a break in the third, came out and finished off the final few points, advancing with 40 winners and 61 unforced errors.

"I really wanted to win after what happened against him last week," admitted Alcaraz, who reached his fifth Masters 1000 quarter-final this season.

Alcaraz brought out the best of his big game to tame Paul in a contest first interrupted at 4-3 in the deciding set by the weather. The top seed came back from a break down four times in the first two sets, but he couldn't put it away when he had three opportunities in the 12th game of the second set.

After the 15-minute game, Paul dominated the tiebreaker.

Alcaraz was up a break and serving at 4-3 in the third when rain stopped play for just over an hour.

Then came a stop-start scenario that saw the court dried and players warmed up only for rain to start again.

"All of the starting and stopping was not easy," Alcaraz said. "I handled the waiting well."

There was disappointment however, for third-seeded Daniil Medvedev and fourth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Alexander Zverev beat Medvedev 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 in a battle of former champions while Poland's Hubert Hurkacz beat Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-4.

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Novak Djokovic extended his career-long domination of Gael Monfils with a 6-3, 6-2 victory on Thursday to reach the quarter-finals of the ATP/WTA Cincinnati Open.

Novak Djokovic extended his career-long domination of Gael Monfils with a 6-3, 6-2 victory on Thursday to reach the quarter-finals of the ATP/WTA Cincinnati Open. The Serb second seed, a two-time winner in Cincinnati, won his 19th match against the French showman without a defeat. 19-0. Novak Djokovic beats Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-2 to reach the QFs in Cincinnati and makes history as this is now the MOST LOPSIDED undefeated ATP head-to-head in the history of the Open Era. pic.twitter.com/0ATff2ZpDN — José Morgado (@josemorgado) August 18, 2023 × He needed just 69 minutes to follow top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz into the last eight, the Spaniard withstanding a string of frustrating rain delays to beat Tommy Paul 7-6 (8/6), 6-7 (7/0) 6-3 and avenge a loss to the American last week. Djokovic applied the pressure early against Monfils in the battle of 36-year-old veterans, denying the number 211 his first last-eight-place here since 2011. ALSO READ: Messi, Magic & Miami - Football legend opens up on MLS move, life in South Florida and how happy he is here Djokovic will next take on American Taylor Fritz, who advanced after Dusan Lajovic retired with a toe injury trailing 5-0. Djokovic broke once to claim the first set and quickly ran up a 5-0 lead in the second. He faltered while trying to serve it out, dropping his serve only to complete the contest two games later. "Gael is one of the most athletic guys on the tour and he showed that in the first set," Djokovic said. "Every ball comes back from him. "I served well and made him play. After the first break I didn't look back and raised my level. "I had an almost flawless second set," added Djokovic. "Hopefully I can keep it going." Alcaraz storms past Tommy Paul Things weren't quite so easy for Alcaraz against a player who had stunned him in the quarter-finals at Toronto last week. Alcaraz had squandered three match points against Paul before the first of a string of rain delays that forced players off and on the court in a logistics ballet that finally ended after more than three hours. The Spaniard held on to book a quarter-final meeting with Australian Max Purcell, a 6-4, 6-2 winner over Swiss Stan Wawrinka. After the final rain pause, Alcaraz, up a break in the third, came out and finished off the final few points, advancing with 40 winners and 61 unforced errors. "I really wanted to win after what happened against him last week," admitted Alcaraz, who reached his fifth Masters 1000 quarter-final this season. Alcaraz brought out the best of his big game to tame Paul in a contest first interrupted at 4-3 in the deciding set by the weather. The top seed came back from a break down four times in the first two sets, but he couldn't put it away when he had three opportunities in the 12th game of the second set. After the 15-minute game, Paul dominated the tiebreaker. Alcaraz was up a break and serving at 4-3 in the third when rain stopped play for just over an hour. Then came a stop-start scenario that saw the court dried and players warmed up only for rain to start again. "All of the starting and stopping was not easy," Alcaraz said. "I handled the waiting well." There was disappointment however, for third-seeded Daniil Medvedev and fourth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas. Alexander Zverev beat Medvedev 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 in a battle of former champions while Poland's Hubert Hurkacz beat Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-4. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Djokovic enters Cincinnati Open quarters with easy win over Monfils, world no. 1 Alcaraz cruises into last 8

Frustrated world number one Carlos Alcaraz was knocked out of the ATP Toronto Masters on Friday as American Tommy Paul won 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 to end&nbsp;the Spaniard's 14-match winning streak. Top-seeded Alcaraz was unable to escape the poor form that has plagued him all week as he prepares for a US Open title defence starting in just over two weeks.

The 20-year-old muttered to himself and chastised his play during a match lasting more than two and a quarter hours.

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Paul, ranked 14th, repeated his victory over the Spaniard a year ago in the Montreal second round and now awaits a semi-final opponent from sixth seed Jannik Sinner and French showman Gael Monfils.

"I don't know if I think I have the recipe, but I played a really good match today," Paul said after notching another Canadian win over Alacraz. "I went after my shots. You can't start any points on your heels against him, he'll take advantage of it so you've really got to go after your shots early in the rally."

"Luckily I was feeling really good, playing first-strike tennis."

Alcaraz struggled early for the second straight match after barely&nbsp;escaping a third-round encounter with Hubert Hurkacz. The reigning Wimbledon and US Open champion had 27 winners and 30 unforced errors while Paul's numbers were 19 and 29. After losing serve three times in the opening set, Alcaraz recovered enough to take the second. But the Spaniard was well off his game, floating a volley wide to trail 4-2 in the final set.

Paul took quick advantage, advancing on his second match point from an Alcaraz return wide.

"I knew he would be there in the third set," Paul said, adding: "It helps to have beaten an opponent before. That attitude is important."

<h2>- Medvedev ousted -</h2>

Second-seeded Daniil Medvedev was also sent spinning out of the tournament, falling 7-6 (9/7), 7-5 to Australian Alex de Minaur. De Minaur will make his first semi-final appearance at the Masters 1000 level against unseeded Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who beat Mackenzie McDonald 6-4, 6-2.

Medvedev had won his last seven matches in Toronto, including a title run in 2021. But the 27-year-old was unable to get past the efficient game of number 18 De Minaur, who had lost four of five previous meetings with Medvedev.

"I had to play my best tennis," De Minaur, runner-up at Los Cabos last weekend, said. "It's always a complete chess match between us, we're both adaptable and can play many styles of tennis.

"He brings out the best in me, The way I played today was the best style of tennis that I could produce."

De Minaur needed more than an hour per set to prevail against the world number three.

The Aussie saved three set points in the opener and claimed the victory on his own second opportunity as Medvedev double-faulted.

Medvedev repeated his complaint about the slow speed of the balls on the tour this season, but said his own game could have been sharper.

"It was not a bad match but I definitely could have done better to win the first set," he said. "I mean, up 5-1 on the tiebreak, and then 6-4, 5-3 serving for it - I could have done better."

Davidovich Fokina advanced in 97 minutes on his third match point against Mackenzie, who beat an injury hobbled Rafael Nadal in the second round of the Australian Open in January.

The 37th-ranked Spaniard, who reached the final Monte Carlo last year, continued a strong week that saw him topple world number three Casper Ruud on Thursday.

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Frustrated world number one Carlos Alcaraz was knocked out of the ATP Toronto Masters on Friday as American Tommy Paul won 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 to end the Spaniard's 14-match winning streak.

Frustrated world number one Carlos Alcaraz was knocked out of the ATP Toronto Masters on Friday as American Tommy Paul won 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 to end the Spaniard's 14-match winning streak. Top-seeded Alcaraz was unable to escape the poor form that has plagued him all week as he prepares for a US Open title defence starting in just over two weeks. The 20-year-old muttered to himself and chastised his play during a match lasting more than two and a quarter hours. ALSO READ: OCA chief Randhir Singh predicts 'greatest ever' Asian Games in Hangzhou despite election review Paul, ranked 14th, repeated his victory over the Spaniard a year ago in the Montreal second round and now awaits a semi-final opponent from sixth seed Jannik Sinner and French showman Gael Monfils. "I don't know if I think I have the recipe, but I played a really good match today," Paul said after notching another Canadian win over Alacraz. "I went after my shots. You can't start any points on your heels against him, he'll take advantage of it so you've really got to go after your shots early in the rally." "Luckily I was feeling really good, playing first-strike tennis." Alcaraz struggled early for the second straight match after barely escaping a third-round encounter with Hubert Hurkacz. The reigning Wimbledon and US Open champion had 27 winners and 30 unforced errors while Paul's numbers were 19 and 29. After losing serve three times in the opening set, Alcaraz recovered enough to take the second. But the Spaniard was well off his game, floating a volley wide to trail 4-2 in the final set. Paul took quick advantage, advancing on his second match point from an Alcaraz return wide. "I knew he would be there in the third set," Paul said, adding: "It helps to have beaten an opponent before. That attitude is important." - Medvedev ousted - Second-seeded Daniil Medvedev was also sent spinning out of the tournament, falling 7-6 (9/7), 7-5 to Australian Alex de Minaur. De Minaur will make his first semi-final appearance at the Masters 1000 level against unseeded Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who beat Mackenzie McDonald 6-4, 6-2. Medvedev had won his last seven matches in Toronto, including a title run in 2021. But the 27-year-old was unable to get past the efficient game of number 18 De Minaur, who had lost four of five previous meetings with Medvedev. "I had to play my best tennis," De Minaur, runner-up at Los Cabos last weekend, said. "It's always a complete chess match between us, we're both adaptable and can play many styles of tennis. "He brings out the best in me, The way I played today was the best style of tennis that I could produce." De Minaur needed more than an hour per set to prevail against the world number three. The Aussie saved three set points in the opener and claimed the victory on his own second opportunity as Medvedev double-faulted. Medvedev repeated his complaint about the slow speed of the balls on the tour this season, but said his own game could have been sharper. "It was not a bad match but I definitely could have done better to win the first set," he said. "I mean, up 5-1 on the tiebreak, and then 6-4, 5-3 serving for it - I could have done better." Davidovich Fokina advanced in 97 minutes on his third match point against Mackenzie, who beat an injury hobbled Rafael Nadal in the second round of the Australian Open in January. The 37th-ranked Spaniard, who reached the final Monte Carlo last year, continued a strong week that saw him topple world number three Casper Ruud on Thursday. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

World number one Carlos Alcaraz knocked out of Toronto Masters; Daniil Medvedev also shown door

World number one Carlos Alcaraz produced a thrilling comeback to beat Hubert Hurkacz 3-6 7-6(2) 7-6(3) on Thursday and reach the quarter-finals of the Canadian Open as the Wimbledon champion continues to refine his game ahead of the upcoming U.S. Open. The swashbuckling Spaniard got off to a nightmare start as Hurkacz jumped out to a 3-0 first set lead in just six minutes en route to capturing the first set.

Trouble mounted further for Alcaraz when he was broken at the start the second but he broke back for 1-1 and from there began to pick up the pace on his forehand while the Pole's serving cooled off.

Alcaraz dominated the second set tiebreak and appeared in complete control when he whipped a sensational crosscourt forehand winner for a 5-2 lead in the decider that brought the Toronto crowd to their feet.

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But the natural showman got a little too cute in the next game, attempting back-to-back drop shots on match points that landed in the net and he was ultimately broken.

Hurkacz began to find his form again, breaking at love for 5-5 and holding to take a 6-5 advantage.

But there would be no escape from Alcaraz in the third set breaker where Hurkacz tightened up and committed some costly errors including a forehand that sailed long to deliver Alcaraz his 14th straight win.

Up next for Alcaraz is a quarter-final with one of two Americans - Tommy Paul or Marcos Giron.

Soon after the conclusion of the match, Scot Andy Murray announced that he had to pull out of his round of 16 match against Italy's Jannik Sinner with an abdominal injury.

<h2>FOKINA TOPPLES RUUD</h2>

Earlier, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina battled back from a third set deficit to beat Casper Ruud 7-6(4) 4-6 7-6(4) and deny the third seed a place in the Canadian Open quarter-finals.

Ruud was two points away from victory at 5-3 30-0 before Davidovich Fokina served his way out of trouble.

Still leading 5-4, the Norwegian had a chance to seal the match but was unable to do so, badly shanking a shot on break point to give new life to his opponent.

Both players held serve to send the contest to a tiebreak as the match crossed the three-hour mark.

Ruud dug himself into an early hole in the breaker with some tentative serving and poor forehands and Davidovich Fokina claimed the win with a drop shot.

"When I broke at 5-4, that gave me like a shot of tequila," the Spaniard said.

Up next for Davidovich Fokina is American Mackenzie McDonald, who reached his first quarter-final of a Masters 1000 tournament by dispatching Canadian Milos Raonic 6-3 6-3.

After crushing 52 aces across his first two matches, hometown hero Raonic's biggest weapon proved his undoing.

He managed just nine aces to go with six double faults, some coming at the worst possible times including on set point in the opener and a break point in the second that put McDonald up 2-0.

Despite the loss, Raonic, a former world number three who returned to the tour in June after a two-year absence due to injury, said the tournament was a positive experience.

"A lot of things to look back and be proud of. Happy with how the week went overall" he said. "I wish I could have been better on court today but you can't discredit what two years away does, right?"

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World number one Carlos Alcaraz produced a thrilling comeback to beat Hubert Hurkacz 3-6 7-6(2) 7-6(3) on Thursday and reach the quarter-finals of the Canadian Open as the Wimbledon champion continues to refine his game ahead of the upcoming U.

World number one Carlos Alcaraz produced a thrilling comeback to beat Hubert Hurkacz 3-6 7-6(2) 7-6(3) on Thursday and reach the quarter-finals of the Canadian Open as the Wimbledon champion continues to refine his game ahead of the upcoming U.S. Open. The swashbuckling Spaniard got off to a nightmare start as Hurkacz jumped out to a 3-0 first set lead in just six minutes en route to capturing the first set. Trouble mounted further for Alcaraz when he was broken at the start the second but he broke back for 1-1 and from there began to pick up the pace on his forehand while the Pole's serving cooled off. Alcaraz dominated the second set tiebreak and appeared in complete control when he whipped a sensational crosscourt forehand winner for a 5-2 lead in the decider that brought the Toronto crowd to their feet. ALSO READ: Trouble mounts for FC Barcelona as Ilkay Gundogan among several players yet to be registered with La Liga But the natural showman got a little too cute in the next game, attempting back-to-back drop shots on match points that landed in the net and he was ultimately broken. Hurkacz began to find his form again, breaking at love for 5-5 and holding to take a 6-5 advantage. But there would be no escape from Alcaraz in the third set breaker where Hurkacz tightened up and committed some costly errors including a forehand that sailed long to deliver Alcaraz his 14th straight win. Up next for Alcaraz is a quarter-final with one of two Americans - Tommy Paul or Marcos Giron. Soon after the conclusion of the match, Scot Andy Murray announced that he had to pull out of his round of 16 match against Italy's Jannik Sinner with an abdominal injury. FOKINA TOPPLES RUUD Earlier, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina battled back from a third set deficit to beat Casper Ruud 7-6(4) 4-6 7-6(4) and deny the third seed a place in the Canadian Open quarter-finals. Ruud was two points away from victory at 5-3 30-0 before Davidovich Fokina served his way out of trouble. Still leading 5-4, the Norwegian had a chance to seal the match but was unable to do so, badly shanking a shot on break point to give new life to his opponent. Both players held serve to send the contest to a tiebreak as the match crossed the three-hour mark. Ruud dug himself into an early hole in the breaker with some tentative serving and poor forehands and Davidovich Fokina claimed the win with a drop shot. "When I broke at 5-4, that gave me like a shot of tequila," the Spaniard said. Up next for Davidovich Fokina is American Mackenzie McDonald, who reached his first quarter-final of a Masters 1000 tournament by dispatching Canadian Milos Raonic 6-3 6-3. After crushing 52 aces across his first two matches, hometown hero Raonic's biggest weapon proved his undoing. He managed just nine aces to go with six double faults, some coming at the worst possible times including on set point in the opener and a break point in the second that put McDonald up 2-0. Despite the loss, Raonic, a former world number three who returned to the tour in June after a two-year absence due to injury, said the tournament was a positive experience. "A lot of things to look back and be proud of. Happy with how the week went overall" he said. "I wish I could have been better on court today but you can't discredit what two years away does, right?" WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Canadian Open 2023: Carlos Alcaraz comes from behind to beat Hubert Hurkacz, seals quarters berth

Andy Murray said he hopes world number one Carlos Alcaraz can follow his instincts and continue playing&nbsp;tennis&nbsp;with freedom and fearlessness, even if that approach appears a bit 'kamikaze'&nbsp;at times. Murray predicted two years ago that the reigning U.S. Open and Wimbledon champion was destined for success, and this week the former world number one said there was more to the 20-year-old's game than his power and technical ability.

"The thing that I love about watching him is the freedom that he plays with, and part of that is youth, I think. I just hope he doesn't lose that," Murray said on the ATP website during the Canadian Open. "Sometimes it looks a little bit kamikaze, but he just is totally instinctive. And I love that." Three-time Grand Slam champion Murray said he was convinced Alcaraz would have a glittering career after a conversation with the Spaniard's coach Juan Carlos Ferrero when the youngster was still outside the top 50 in the world.

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"I asked Ferrero, 'Does he love&nbsp;tennis? Does he work hard?'," Murray said, adding that former world number one Ferrero assured him Alcaraz was "really good with that stuff". "That was enough for me, having seen his game and hearing from his coach and someone who knows what hard work is like that he was going to go on potentially to have a great career."

Both Murray and Alcaraz are in action in Toronto this week as they gear up for the U.S. Open, which begins on Aug. 28.

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Andy Murray said he hopes world number one Carlos Alcaraz can follow his instincts and continue playing tennis with freedom and fearlessness, even if that approach appears a bit 'kamikaze' at times.

Andy Murray said he hopes world number one Carlos Alcaraz can follow his instincts and continue playing tennis with freedom and fearlessness, even if that approach appears a bit 'kamikaze' at times. Murray predicted two years ago that the reigning U.S. Open and Wimbledon champion was destined for success, and this week the former world number one said there was more to the 20-year-old's game than his power and technical ability. "The thing that I love about watching him is the freedom that he plays with, and part of that is youth, I think. I just hope he doesn't lose that," Murray said on the ATP website during the Canadian Open. "Sometimes it looks a little bit kamikaze, but he just is totally instinctive. And I love that." Three-time Grand Slam champion Murray said he was convinced Alcaraz would have a glittering career after a conversation with the Spaniard's coach Juan Carlos Ferrero when the youngster was still outside the top 50 in the world. Also read: Tennis: Caroline Wozniacki comeback halted by Marketa Vondrousova at WTA Montreal Open "I asked Ferrero, 'Does he love tennis? Does he work hard?'," Murray said, adding that former world number one Ferrero assured him Alcaraz was "really good with that stuff". "That was enough for me, having seen his game and hearing from his coach and someone who knows what hard work is like that he was going to go on potentially to have a great career." Both Murray and Alcaraz are in action in Toronto this week as they gear up for the U.S. Open, which begins on Aug. 28. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Tennis: Andy Murray hopes instinctive Carlos Alcaraz does not ditch 'Kamikaze' approach

World number two Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the ATP Toronto Masters due to fatigue, Tennis Canada said on Sunday.

The announcement comes a week after the 23-time Grand Slam champion from Serbia fell to Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in the final at Wimbledon.

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His withdrawal deprives the US Open tune-up tournament that starts on August 7 of a four-time champion.

"I have always enjoyed my time in Canada, but after speaking with my team, we believe this is the right decision to take," Djokovic said in a statement released by Tennis Canada.

"I would like to thank Karl Hale, the Tournament Director, for understanding this decision. I really hope I can return to Canada and Toronto in the coming years to play in front of great fans there."

Alcaraz denied Djokovic a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon title last week, handing him his first defeat on the All England Club's Centre Court in 10 years.

The Spaniard's victory also ended 36-year-old Djokovic's chance of a calendar Grand Slam after his triumphs at the Australian Open and French Open took his tally of major titles to a men's record 23.

Wimbledon quarter-finalist Christopher Eubanks will now gain automatic entry into the Toronto main draw.

The American defeated fifth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas and 12th-seeded Cameron Norrie en route to the last eight at Wimbledon.

Hale acknowledged that Djokovic, who won the Canadian title in 2007, 2011, 2012 and 2016, would be missed.

"Of course, we're disappointed that Novak won't be playing at the National Bank Open this year," Hale said in a statement. "He's an incredible player and one we know our fans were eager to watch at Sobeys Stadium.

"He will be missed but we still have a long list of sensational players confirmed for this year’s event, including 41 of the top 42 players in the world."

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World number two Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the ATP Toronto Masters due to fatigue, Tennis Canada said on Sunday. The announcement comes a week after the 23-time Grand Slam champion from Serbia fell to Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in the final at Wimbledon.

World number two Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the ATP Toronto Masters due to fatigue, Tennis Canada said on Sunday. The announcement comes a week after the 23-time Grand Slam champion from Serbia fell to Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in the final at Wimbledon. Also Read: Captain Marquinhos hopes for PSG to end 'dispute' with Kylian Mbappe and welcome French striker with open arms His withdrawal deprives the US Open tune-up tournament that starts on August 7 of a four-time champion. "I have always enjoyed my time in Canada, but after speaking with my team, we believe this is the right decision to take," Djokovic said in a statement released by Tennis Canada. "I would like to thank Karl Hale, the Tournament Director, for understanding this decision. I really hope I can return to Canada and Toronto in the coming years to play in front of great fans there." Alcaraz denied Djokovic a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon title last week, handing him his first defeat on the All England Club's Centre Court in 10 years. The Spaniard's victory also ended 36-year-old Djokovic's chance of a calendar Grand Slam after his triumphs at the Australian Open and French Open took his tally of major titles to a men's record 23. Wimbledon quarter-finalist Christopher Eubanks will now gain automatic entry into the Toronto main draw. The American defeated fifth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas and 12th-seeded Cameron Norrie en route to the last eight at Wimbledon. Hale acknowledged that Djokovic, who won the Canadian title in 2007, 2011, 2012 and 2016, would be missed. "Of course, we're disappointed that Novak won't be playing at the National Bank Open this year," Hale said in a statement. "He's an incredible player and one we know our fans were eager to watch at Sobeys Stadium. "He will be missed but we still have a long list of sensational players confirmed for this year’s event, including 41 of the top 42 players in the world." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Tennis: Novak Djokovic withdraws from Toronto ATP Masters

We love patterns, don't we? An orderly arrangement of past tempts the dreamiest among us. It gives a certain structure to everyday chaos and helps us make sense of the world, whether real or imaginary.&nbsp;

In the world of sports, where results are largely binary (victory or defeat), such an arrangement of affairs is quite alluring. And in the world of tennis, the romanticism appears far more pronounced.

The simple game of tossing the ball above a net has millions of die-hard fans across the globe. And it has a rich history dating back to 1800s so there's much fodder for both appreciation and analysis.

Generations of tennis fans have had their heroes. The elderly swear by Bjon Borg, Stafan Edberg, and Martina Navratilova. A bit younger ones chant Pete Sampras, Angre Agassi, Matina Hingis and others. Millennials mostly fawn around Roger Federer, Raphael Nadel, Novac Djokovic and more.

But now, Gen Z and the crazy world of tennis fans of all ages may have found their new hero.&nbsp;

Carlos Alcaraz Garcia is not even in his mid-twenties. He is already world number 1, the youngest to ascend that throne at 20. And he is making major waves. His victory at Wimbledon just a few days ago saw him overpower the formidable Djokovic, a gritty 36-year-old champion, who is showing no sign of slowing down.

<img alt="Djokovic" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5acac9f5-af2d-453a-a5f0-71437e42980b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_33P88NU.jpg" />

(Image: AFP)

The final was definitely not easy for Alcaraz. He lost the first set but clawed back later. The back-and-forth between the two ace players did result in Alcaraz prevailing. And it was a well-deserved victory.

Djokovic, for all his mastery and swift presence on court, appeared baffled, more than once, by Alcaraz's drop shots. Among the highlights of Alcaraz's&nbsp;gameplay in the Wimbledon finals this year was his&nbsp;ability to change the shot at the very last moment. Djokovic did not have an answer to this.

<img alt="Djokovic" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7fbaab17-bcc6-4060-a948-7132c8b76bb3" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_33P97Y2.jpg" />

(Image: AFP)

A tennis match may appear to us laymen to be all about&nbsp; tossing around of a ball. But for pro-players, it is also a mental game that requires careful study of the opponent, right during the match.

Before a player attempts a shot, there are some indications in his body language that give the opponent a hint about where the ball would land in his own court.&nbsp;

This is why we often see players make predictive movements to place themselves in the right positions even before their opponent has hit the ball.

In his arsenal, Alcaraz appeared to have a trick. He appeared to position himself as if to give a 'false signal' about his next shot, and then quickly attempt a different one altogether. This last millisecond change requires&nbsp; skill and physical fitness of another level.

<img alt="Alcaraz" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bc3375cb-c1e3-42dc-86ab-b0e4fd929195" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_33P96AL.jpg" />

More often than not, during the Wimbledon final this time, Alcaraz was able to 'fool' Djokovic. It was not a testament to Djokovic's lack of skill but to Alcaraz's mastery. Djokovic fell for it several times. The match was not a one-way affair of course but in the end, the young Spaniard trumped the defending champion, Djokovic.&nbsp;

The skill and mastery of Alcaraz and the way he has risen through the rank at the age of just 20, is definitely indicating, at this time, that we are entering a new era in world tennis. With Federer retired, RaFa probably following suit in next few years, there appears&nbsp;to be a vacuum for an absolute champion at the very top. Djokovic has been there for a long while but in spite of his grit, his fitness, we can safely say that he would retire in a few years.

<img alt="Djokovic" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ad7f5aa1-dd48-44c3-8a6f-49eca6fe6dbf" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_33P97WJ.jpg" />

Alcaraz seems primed to fill the power vacuum for an absolute champion who would simply dominate his generation of players. Roger Federer was such a man in his absolute prime. Pete Sampras was such a man in his heydays. Steffi Graf was such a champion when she reigned supreme. And then there was Serena Williams.

It's not a matter of winning just a few championships.&nbsp;It's about absolute domination that is era-defining. Alcaraz seems poised to take up the mantle if he continues the same way.

<img alt="Alcaraz" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="77c944ea-8cd4-443a-801f-1908ae147454" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_33P67KG.jpg" />

Of course, there's Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud, Taylor Fritz and more still spinning their magic, but given how things are at the moment, it doesn't quite appear that any of them can become the undisputable, reigning champion that would make all of us take his victory for granted.

The search for the podium isn't finished but. For every Sampras, there was an Agassi. For every Federer, there was a Nadal. Steffi Graf had a formidable challenger in Monica Seles who often upset her designs at winning a grand slam.&nbsp;

There is something about a challenger to the absolute king (or queen) that makes us root for him. The underdog always has a certain appeal. He calls to that urge within all of us that makes us take those impossible shots at a seemingly distant and unachievable bulls-eye. Hope is a potent thing and a challenger is always full of it.

We may be witnessing a time when old pages are being turned for new chapters in the world of tennis. As the old guard gradually takes a step back, Alcaraz seems in a prime position to craft the new era in his name.

Who will challenge him enough to make him challenge himself? That is yet to be decided. The search begins...

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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&nbsp;

We love patterns, don't we? An orderly arrangement of past tempts the dreamiest among us. It gives a certain structure to everyday chaos and helps us make sense of the world, whether real or imaginary.

We love patterns, don't we? An orderly arrangement of past tempts the dreamiest among us. It gives a certain structure to everyday chaos and helps us make sense of the world, whether real or imaginary. In the world of sports, where results are largely binary (victory or defeat), such an arrangement of affairs is quite alluring. And in the world of tennis, the romanticism appears far more pronounced. The simple game of tossing the ball above a net has millions of die-hard fans across the globe. And it has a rich history dating back to 1800s so there's much fodder for both appreciation and analysis. Generations of tennis fans have had their heroes. The elderly swear by Bjon Borg, Stafan Edberg, and Martina Navratilova. A bit younger ones chant Pete Sampras, Angre Agassi, Matina Hingis and others. Millennials mostly fawn around Roger Federer, Raphael Nadel, Novac Djokovic and more. But now, Gen Z and the crazy world of tennis fans of all ages may have found their new hero. Carlos Alcaraz Garcia is not even in his mid-twenties. He is already world number 1, the youngest to ascend that throne at 20. And he is making major waves. His victory at Wimbledon just a few days ago saw him overpower the formidable Djokovic, a gritty 36-year-old champion, who is showing no sign of slowing down. (Image: AFP) The final was definitely not easy for Alcaraz. He lost the first set but clawed back later. The back-and-forth between the two ace players did result in Alcaraz prevailing. And it was a well-deserved victory. Djokovic, for all his mastery and swift presence on court, appeared baffled, more than once, by Alcaraz's drop shots. Among the highlights of Alcaraz's gameplay in the Wimbledon finals this year was his ability to change the shot at the very last moment. Djokovic did not have an answer to this. (Image: AFP) A tennis match may appear to us laymen to be all about tossing around of a ball. But for pro-players, it is also a mental game that requires careful study of the opponent, right during the match. Before a player attempts a shot, there are some indications in his body language that give the opponent a hint about where the ball would land in his own court. This is why we often see players make predictive movements to place themselves in the right positions even before their opponent has hit the ball. In his arsenal, Alcaraz appeared to have a trick. He appeared to position himself as if to give a 'false signal' about his next shot, and then quickly attempt a different one altogether. This last millisecond change requires skill and physical fitness of another level. More often than not, during the Wimbledon final this time, Alcaraz was able to 'fool' Djokovic. It was not a testament to Djokovic's lack of skill but to Alcaraz's mastery. Djokovic fell for it several times. The match was not a one-way affair of course but in the end, the young Spaniard trumped the defending champion, Djokovic. The skill and mastery of Alcaraz and the way he has risen through the rank at the age of just 20, is definitely indicating, at this time, that we are entering a new era in world tennis. With Federer retired, RaFa probably following suit in next few years, there appears to be a vacuum for an absolute champion at the very top. Djokovic has been there for a long while but in spite of his grit, his fitness, we can safely say that he would retire in a few years. Alcaraz seems primed to fill the power vacuum for an absolute champion who would simply dominate his generation of players. Roger Federer was such a man in his absolute prime. Pete Sampras was such a man in his heydays. Steffi Graf was such a champion when she reigned supreme. And then there was Serena Williams. It's not a matter of winning just a few championships. It's about absolute domination that is era-defining. Alcaraz seems poised to take up the mantle if he continues the same way. Of course, there's Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud, Taylor Fritz and more still spinning their magic, but given how things are at the moment, it doesn't quite appear that any of them can become the undisputable, reigning champion that would make all of us take his victory for granted. The search for the podium isn't finished but. For every Sampras, there was an Agassi. For every Federer, there was a Nadal. Steffi Graf had a formidable challenger in Monica Seles who often upset her designs at winning a grand slam. There is something about a challenger to the absolute king (or queen) that makes us root for him. The underdog always has a certain appeal. He calls to that urge within all of us that makes us take those impossible shots at a seemingly distant and unachievable bulls-eye. Hope is a potent thing and a challenger is always full of it. We may be witnessing a time when old pages are being turned for new chapters in the world of tennis. As the old guard gradually takes a step back, Alcaraz seems in a prime position to craft the new era in his name. Who will challenge him enough to make him challenge himself? That is yet to be decided. The search begins... (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Alcaraz era has begun in tennis, search for worthy adversary starts now

History at Wimbledon 2023! 
 
Carlos Alcaraz has beaten Novak Djokovic in a five-set thriller (1-6, 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4) in the Men's Wimbledon 2023 final to win his maiden grass court Grand Slam.

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A new name. A new reign. 🇪🇸<a href="https://twitter.com/carlosalcaraz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@carlosalcaraz</a>, your 2023 Gentlemen's Singles champion<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wimbledon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wimbledon</a> <a href="https://t.co/3KNlRTOPhx">pic.twitter.com/3KNlRTOPhx</a>
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) <a href="https://twitter.com/Wimbledon/status/1680636396548005896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Number one-seeded player Carlos Alcaraz has stunned the Tennis world by beating the Grand Slam leader and veteran Novak Djokovic in one of the most intense Wimbledon Finals in a long time.

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The Spanish sensation has done it 🇪🇸<a href="https://twitter.com/carlosalcaraz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@carlosalcaraz</a> triumphs over Novak Djokovic, 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 in an all-time classic<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wimbledon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wimbledon</a> <a href="https://t.co/sPGLXr2k99">pic.twitter.com/sPGLXr2k99</a>
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) <a href="https://twitter.com/Wimbledon/status/1680636846752055298?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The Spaniard brought his A-game in the big finale after going down 1-6 in the first set ruthlessly.

The second set resumed with both players winning each other's serve and delivering some of the most gorgeous-looking forehand and backhand shots. After an energetic half-n-hour, it all boiled down to the tie-breaker - something Djokovic was a master of.&nbsp;

However, lesser he knew what is about to come.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/harry-maguire-pens-heartfelt-note-after-ten-hag-strips-england-defender-of-manchester-united-captaincy-616275">Harry Maguire pens heartfelt note after Ten Hag strips England defender of Manchester United captaincy</a>

Alcaraz, who didn't look like dropping his shoulders any time during the match, brought it down to 6-6, only for him to produce a magical effort to outclass Novak and beat him in the tie-breaker - which clearly hasn't been done in Wimbledon 2023.

It was the beginning of something special.

Upbeat Alcaraz tired the veteran, and by the time the fifth game of the third set arrived, the world didn't know how to react as it lasted for 26 minutes and involved 13 deuces.

Much to everyone's surprise, Alcaraz came on top and took the 4-1 lead. It was about time before he made light work of Novak's craft and beat him convincingly 6-1 to take a 2-1 lead in the clash of Titans at the Centre Court.

Just when it looked like Alcaraz was on a winning spree in this match, Djokovic returned at the right time and won the fourth set with relative ease. 
The match, just like how it meant to be, reached the fifth and final set.&nbsp;

Alcaraz made the most of his young legs and kept himself in the game by covering each inch of the ground in the final set. Some of his forehand shots were outstanding, and so was his grit and hunger to stand tall against perhaps the greatest ever.

His biggest moment was perhaps serving for the Championship as he held his nerves and won his maiden Wimbledon title.

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History at Wimbledon 2023! Carlos Alcaraz has beaten Novak Djokovic in a five-set thriller (1-6, 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4) in the Men's Wimbledon 2023 final to win his maiden grass court Grand Slam.

History at Wimbledon 2023! Carlos Alcaraz has beaten Novak Djokovic in a five-set thriller (1-6, 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4) in the Men's Wimbledon 2023 final to win his maiden grass court Grand Slam. A new name. A new reign. 🇪🇸@carlosalcaraz, your 2023 Gentlemen's Singles champion#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/3KNlRTOPhx — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 16, 2023 × Number one-seeded player Carlos Alcaraz has stunned the Tennis world by beating the Grand Slam leader and veteran Novak Djokovic in one of the most intense Wimbledon Finals in a long time. The Spanish sensation has done it 🇪🇸@carlosalcaraz triumphs over Novak Djokovic, 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 in an all-time classic#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/sPGLXr2k99 — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 16, 2023 × The Spaniard brought his A-game in the big finale after going down 1-6 in the first set ruthlessly. The second set resumed with both players winning each other's serve and delivering some of the most gorgeous-looking forehand and backhand shots. After an energetic half-n-hour, it all boiled down to the tie-breaker - something Djokovic was a master of. However, lesser he knew what is about to come. ALSO READ: Harry Maguire pens heartfelt note after Ten Hag strips England defender of Manchester United captaincy Alcaraz, who didn't look like dropping his shoulders any time during the match, brought it down to 6-6, only for him to produce a magical effort to outclass Novak and beat him in the tie-breaker - which clearly hasn't been done in Wimbledon 2023. It was the beginning of something special. Upbeat Alcaraz tired the veteran, and by the time the fifth game of the third set arrived, the world didn't know how to react as it lasted for 26 minutes and involved 13 deuces. Much to everyone's surprise, Alcaraz came on top and took the 4-1 lead. It was about time before he made light work of Novak's craft and beat him convincingly 6-1 to take a 2-1 lead in the clash of Titans at the Centre Court. Just when it looked like Alcaraz was on a winning spree in this match, Djokovic returned at the right time and won the fourth set with relative ease. The match, just like how it meant to be, reached the fifth and final set. Alcaraz made the most of his young legs and kept himself in the game by covering each inch of the ground in the final set. Some of his forehand shots were outstanding, and so was his grit and hunger to stand tall against perhaps the greatest ever. His biggest moment was perhaps serving for the Championship as he held his nerves and won his maiden Wimbledon title. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Carlos Alcaraz stuns Grand Slam leader Novak Djokovic in a five-set thriller to lift maiden Wimbledon title

Spain sensation Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic, one of the greatest tennis players of all time, in the Wimbledon Final on Sunday. With this, Djokovic's dream of winning the 24th Grand Slam also remained incomplete. Wishes poured in for the young sensation who stunned Djokovic with his swift hand movement. Wishes are pouring in from all corners for the amazing Carlos Alcaraz. Joining the list is cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who is known for his love for the game.&nbsp;

<h2>Sachin Tendulkar will 'follow Carlos' career for the next 10-12 years’</h2>

Sachin Tendulkar posted a tweet appreciating Alcaraz's stupendous performance in the final against the 23-time Grand Slam winner. Sharing his thoughts on the match, Tendulkar praised the two before lifting Alcaraz to the spot. Sachin tweeted, "What a wonderful final to watch! Excellent tennis by both of these athletes! We are witnessing the rise of the next tennis superstar of tennis. I will follow Carlos' career for the next 10-12 years like I did with Roger Federer. Many congratulations Carlos Alcaraz.”

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What a fantastic final to watch! Excellent tennis by both these athletes! 
 
We’re witnessing the rise of the next superstar of tennis. I’ll be following Carlos’ career for the next 10-12 years just like I did with <a href="https://twitter.com/rogerfederer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Rogerfederer</a>. 
 
Many congratulations <a href="https://twitter.com/carlosalcaraz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@carlosalcaraz</a>!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wimbledon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wimbledon</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZUDjohh3Li">pic.twitter.com/ZUDjohh3Li</a>
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) <a href="https://twitter.com/sachin_rt/status/1680636802624004096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wimbledon-2023-novak-djokovic-breaks-down-while-speaking-after-losing-to-carlos-alcaraz-in-final-watch-616401">Wimbledon 2023: Novak Djokovic breaks down while speaking after losing to Carlos Alcaraz in final - WATCH</a>

<h2>Sachin Tendulkar lauds Djokovic's mental toughness</h2>

Sachin also shared a post for Novak Djokovic. He lauded Djokovic's mental toughness, which the Serb clearly displayed throughout the encounter. After losing the second and third sets, Djokovic showed signs of a comeback and won the fourth set to push the match into a fifth-set decider.

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Mental toughness = Novak Djokovic 
 
Despite having issues with his body, the mind continues to push him forward. What a player!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wimbledon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wimbledon</a> <a href="https://t.co/FeHzW92xNE">pic.twitter.com/FeHzW92xNE</a>
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) <a href="https://twitter.com/sachin_rt/status/1680627175362543617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Rafael Nadal’s post for Carlos</h2>

Rafael Nadal — the legendary Tennis ace — said, “Congratulations, Carlos Alcaraz. You have given us immense joy today and I am sure that our pioneer in Spanish tennis, Manolo Santana, has also been cheering wherever he is, such as Wimbledon whom you have joined today. A very strong hug and enjoy the moment, Champion!!!”

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Enhorabuena <a href="https://twitter.com/carlosalcaraz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@carlosalcaraz</a> . Nos has dado una alegría inmensa hoy y seguro que nuestro pionero en el tenis español, Manolo Santana, también ha estado animando allá dónde esté como de Wimbledon al que hoy te has unido. 
Un abrazo muy fuerte y a disfrutar del momento ¡¡¡Campeón!!!… <a href="https://t.co/y0j2GowX3O">pic.twitter.com/y0j2GowX3O</a>
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) <a href="https://twitter.com/RafaelNadal/status/1680639579664048128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/carlos-alcaraz-stuns-grand-slam-leader-novak-djokovic-in-a-five-set-thriller-to-lift-maiden-wimbledon-title-616286">Carlos Alcaraz stuns Grand Slam leader Novak Djokovic in a five-set thriller to lift maiden Wimbledon title</a>

<h2>What happened in the game?</h2>

It was a fierce competition between the two players in the final. Djokovic won the first set by 6-1. Alcaraz made a tremendous comeback in the second set as it was tied at 6-6 at one stage. Alcaraz won the tiebreaker. In the third set as well, the 20-year-old defeated Djokovic by 6-1. In the fourth set, Djokovic made a comeback and won 6-3. Djokovic was trailing by 2-0 at one point in the fourth set. He then fought back and won 6–3. Lastly, Alcaraz gave his best performance in the fifth and last set and won by 6-4.

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Spain sensation Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic, one of the greatest tennis players of all time, in the Wimbledon Final on Sunday. With this, Djokovic's dream of winning the 24th Grand Slam also remained incomplete.

Spain sensation Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic, one of the greatest tennis players of all time, in the Wimbledon Final on Sunday. With this, Djokovic's dream of winning the 24th Grand Slam also remained incomplete. Wishes poured in for the young sensation who stunned Djokovic with his swift hand movement. Wishes are pouring in from all corners for the amazing Carlos Alcaraz. Joining the list is cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who is known for his love for the game. Sachin Tendulkar will 'follow Carlos' career for the next 10-12 years’ Sachin Tendulkar posted a tweet appreciating Alcaraz's stupendous performance in the final against the 23-time Grand Slam winner. Sharing his thoughts on the match, Tendulkar praised the two before lifting Alcaraz to the spot. Sachin tweeted, "What a wonderful final to watch! Excellent tennis by both of these athletes! We are witnessing the rise of the next tennis superstar of tennis. I will follow Carlos' career for the next 10-12 years like I did with Roger Federer. Many congratulations Carlos Alcaraz.” What a fantastic final to watch! Excellent tennis by both these athletes! We’re witnessing the rise of the next superstar of tennis. I’ll be following Carlos’ career for the next 10-12 years just like I did with @Rogerfederer. Many congratulations @carlosalcaraz!#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/ZUDjohh3Li — Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 16, 2023 × Also read: Wimbledon 2023: Novak Djokovic breaks down while speaking after losing to Carlos Alcaraz in final - WATCH Sachin Tendulkar lauds Djokovic's mental toughness Sachin also shared a post for Novak Djokovic. He lauded Djokovic's mental toughness, which the Serb clearly displayed throughout the encounter. After losing the second and third sets, Djokovic showed signs of a comeback and won the fourth set to push the match into a fifth-set decider. Mental toughness = Novak Djokovic Despite having issues with his body, the mind continues to push him forward. What a player!#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/FeHzW92xNE — Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 16, 2023 × Rafael Nadal’s post for Carlos Rafael Nadal — the legendary Tennis ace — said, “Congratulations, Carlos Alcaraz. You have given us immense joy today and I am sure that our pioneer in Spanish tennis, Manolo Santana, has also been cheering wherever he is, such as Wimbledon whom you have joined today. A very strong hug and enjoy the moment, Champion!!!” Enhorabuena @carlosalcaraz . Nos has dado una alegría inmensa hoy y seguro que nuestro pionero en el tenis español, Manolo Santana, también ha estado animando allá dónde esté como de Wimbledon al que hoy te has unido. Un abrazo muy fuerte y a disfrutar del momento ¡¡¡Campeón!!!… pic.twitter.com/y0j2GowX3O — Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) July 16, 2023 × Also read: Carlos Alcaraz stuns Grand Slam leader Novak Djokovic in a five-set thriller to lift maiden Wimbledon title What happened in the game? It was a fierce competition between the two players in the final. Djokovic won the first set by 6-1. Alcaraz made a tremendous comeback in the second set as it was tied at 6-6 at one stage. Alcaraz won the tiebreaker. In the third set as well, the 20-year-old defeated Djokovic by 6-1. In the fourth set, Djokovic made a comeback and won 6-3. Djokovic was trailing by 2-0 at one point in the fourth set. He then fought back and won 6–3. Lastly, Alcaraz gave his best performance in the fifth and last set and won by 6-4. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Wimbledon 2023: Sachin Tendulkar lauds Carlos Alcaraz's historic win against Novak Djokovic

World number 1 Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic in an epic 5-set final to win his maiden Wimbledon title. The Spaniard also broke the 34-victory streak of the world number 2.

World number 1 Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic in an epic 5-set final to win his maiden Wimbledon title. The Spaniard also broke the 34-victory streak of the world number 2. He defeated the seven-time winner 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 ending the Serbian legend's reign on the Centre Court. It was the first Wimbledon title for Spanish youngster Alcaraz, playing only his 12th match at the championships. This was his second Grand Slam in tennis, having won the US Open last year. Following his heroics at the Wimbledon, athletes from all across the globe congratulated Alcaraz. From Sachin Tendulkar and Shubman Gill to Tennis legends Rafael Nadal and opponent Novak Djokovic reacted to Carlos Alcaraz’s historic moment. Also read: Wimbledon 2023: Sachin Tendulkar lauds Carlos Alcaraz's historic win against Novak Djokovic View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wimbledon (@wimbledon) × Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic congratulate Carlos Alcaraz Novak Djokovic's dream of winning the 24th Grand Slam may not have come true but the Tennis great showed sportsman spirit both on and off the field. He congratulated Carlos on winning the maiden title and said that he totally deserves to win the Grand Slam. "What a quality at the end of the match when you had to serve it out. Carlos! You deserve it. You came up with some big plays in the big situation and you absolutely deserve it. Amazing," said Djokovic. While talking about his experience at the Wimbledon 2024 final, the Tennis great said that one never likes to lose matches like these but when all the emotions are settled, he’ll be very grateful. Another tennis legend Rafael Nadal was the quickest to congratulate Carlos. “Congratulations Carlos. You have given us immense joy today and surely our pioneer in Spanish tennis, Manolo Santana, has also been cheering wherever he is as a member of Wimbledon whom you have joined today. A very strong hug and enjoy the moment, Champion!!!” Nadal wrote in an Instagram post. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rafa Nadal (@rafaelnadal) × Also read: Wimbledon 2023: Novak Djokovic breaks down while speaking after losing to Carlos Alcaraz in final - WATCH Indian cricketers react to Carlos Alcaraz’s maiden title Popularly known as the God of Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar also reacted to Carlo’s maiden title win at Wimbledon. While calling him the next superstar of Tennis, Sachin mentioned that he’ll follow Carlos’ career for the next 10-12 years just like he did with Roger Federer. What a fantastic final to watch! Excellent tennis by both these athletes! We’re witnessing the rise of the next superstar of tennis. I’ll be following Carlos’ career for the next 10-12 years just like I did with @Rogerfederer. Many congratulations @carlosalcaraz!#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/ZUDjohh3Li — Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 16, 2023 × Ravichandran Ashwin, the number one Test bowler in the world, also congratulated Carlos. The bowler wrote many congratulations to the Spanish youngster. He also posted claps and trophy emoticons with his tweet. Alcaraz👏👏🏆🏆 #Wimbeldon — Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) July 16, 2023 × Indian opener Shubman Gill also posted an Instagram story, cheering for Carlos along with his teammates Mohammed Siraj and Navdeep Saini. All these cricketers are currently in Barbados for the second Test against host West Indies. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Sachin Tendulkar to Rafael Nadal, world reacts to Carlos Alcaraz’s maiden Wimbledon win

IN PICS| Boos, protest and change of guard: Top moments of Wimbledon 2023

Wimbledon 2023 final saw Novak Djokovic losing in five sets, a rare sight for tennis fans. 20-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz beat the defending champion 1-6, 7(8)-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 to win his maiden All England title and probably mark the start of a new era in world of tennis.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony after getting the runner-up trophy, Djokovic admitted that Alcaraz deserved to win the title with the quality of game he showed, when asked to reflect on the loss.

"Good afternoon, everyone. Not so good for me (laughs) but for Carlos. I have to start with praises to Carlos and his team. Amazing show. You showed great skills when you had to serve out, amazing. You deserved to win (not verbatim)," said Djokovic.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/carlos-alcaraz-stuns-grand-slam-leader-novak-djokovic-in-a-five-set-thriller-to-lift-maiden-wimbledon-title-616286">Carlos Alcaraz stuns Grand Slam leader Novak Djokovic in a five-set thriller to lift maiden Wimbledon title</a>

"I thought I'd have trouble with you on hard court and not so much on the grass court but now it's a different story. The way you adapted to the surface, despite playing just a couple times before heading into the Wimbledon, great stuff. Congratulations to you and your team (not verbatim)," added the seven-time Wimbledon champion.&nbsp;

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Classy words from the seven-time champion. 
 
An emotional Novak Djokovic speaks after his <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wimbledon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wimbledon</a> final defeat to Carlos Alcaraz... <a href="https://t.co/Lvg980Sbn8">pic.twitter.com/Lvg980Sbn8</a>
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Djokovic went on to call his loss as 'Even Steven', saying that he's won some matches he shouldn't have.

"As for me, you never like to lose matches like these. When the emotions settle down, I'd have to be still grateful because I've been blessed with many close matches in my career, including against Roger (Federer) in 2019. May be I should have lost couple of close matches so this even Steven (not verbatim)," said Novak.

Djokovic, notably, has already won two grand slams this year - Australia Open and French Open.&nbsp;

"I'll be tomorrow morning, not so much today," he said when asked if he's proud to be in the third grand slam final of the year. "Tough one to swallow when you are so close, but again these are the moments we work for every day - to be able to play at biggest stages in the most important tournaments. I have been blessed with so many important matches in my career, this is just another one in the history for me. I lost to a better player and have to congratulate him and move on."

Djokovic's family, his wife and his son, were in attendance and the star got emotional while acknowledging their support.

"Nice to see my son still there and smiling (sobs).." said Djokovic before signing off.

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Wimbledon 2023 final saw Novak Djokovic losing in five sets, a rare sight for tennis fans. 20-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz beat the defending champion 1-6, 7(8)-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 to win his maiden All England title and probably mark the start of a new era in world of tennis.

Wimbledon 2023 final saw Novak Djokovic losing in five sets, a rare sight for tennis fans. 20-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz beat the defending champion 1-6, 7(8)-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 to win his maiden All England title and probably mark the start of a new era in world of tennis. Speaking at the presentation ceremony after getting the runner-up trophy, Djokovic admitted that Alcaraz deserved to win the title with the quality of game he showed, when asked to reflect on the loss. "Good afternoon, everyone. Not so good for me (laughs) but for Carlos. I have to start with praises to Carlos and his team. Amazing show. You showed great skills when you had to serve out, amazing. You deserved to win (not verbatim)," said Djokovic. Also Read: Carlos Alcaraz stuns Grand Slam leader Novak Djokovic in a five-set thriller to lift maiden Wimbledon title "I thought I'd have trouble with you on hard court and not so much on the grass court but now it's a different story. The way you adapted to the surface, despite playing just a couple times before heading into the Wimbledon, great stuff. Congratulations to you and your team (not verbatim)," added the seven-time Wimbledon champion. Classy words from the seven-time champion. An emotional Novak Djokovic speaks after his #Wimbledon final defeat to Carlos Alcaraz... pic.twitter.com/Lvg980Sbn8 — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 16, 2023 × Djokovic went on to call his loss as 'Even Steven', saying that he's won some matches he shouldn't have. "As for me, you never like to lose matches like these. When the emotions settle down, I'd have to be still grateful because I've been blessed with many close matches in my career, including against Roger (Federer) in 2019. May be I should have lost couple of close matches so this even Steven (not verbatim)," said Novak. Djokovic, notably, has already won two grand slams this year - Australia Open and French Open. "I'll be tomorrow morning, not so much today," he said when asked if he's proud to be in the third grand slam final of the year. "Tough one to swallow when you are so close, but again these are the moments we work for every day - to be able to play at biggest stages in the most important tournaments. I have been blessed with so many important matches in my career, this is just another one in the history for me. I lost to a better player and have to congratulate him and move on." Djokovic's family, his wife and his son, were in attendance and the star got emotional while acknowledging their support. "Nice to see my son still there and smiling (sobs).." said Djokovic before signing off. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Wimbledon 2023: Novak Djokovic breaks down while speaking after losing to Carlos Alcaraz in final - WATCH

Carlos Alcaraz will have a day with destiny after he beat Russian Daniil Medvedev in the second semifinal of the Wimbledon Championships on Friday, July 14. The Spaniard had an easy outing in the last-four contest as he got the better of former US Open Champion Medvedev in a one-sided contest by 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. He will now face Novak Djokovic in the final on Sunday with the Serbian chasing a record 24th Grand Slam title.

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Rate that <a href="https://twitter.com/carlosalcaraz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CarlosAlcaraz</a> performance out of 10 👇<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wimbledon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wimbledon</a> <a href="https://t.co/o1fz6qzdvM">pic.twitter.com/o1fz6qzdvM</a>
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<h2>Alcaraz runs riot</h2>

Coming into the contest both Alcaraz and Medvedev were expected to give a tough fight to each other, however, the contest turned out to be a one-sided affair. The 20-year-old Spaniard broke Medvedev on six occasions in the contest while also playing the backhand with perfection. There were 19 unforced errors by the 2021 US Open champion and only had 59 percent of his first serves in as Alcaraz exploited his opponent’s weakness.

This is Alcaraz’s second Grand Slam final having reached the final of the US Open where he emerged victorious by beating Casper Ruud in the final. He could become the first Spanish player to win Wimbledon since Rafael Nadal in 2010. On the hand, with Medvedev’s exit, there will be no repeat of the 2021 US Open final where Djokovic was beaten in the final.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wi-vs-ind-he-is-ready-to-play-tests-in-australia-and-england-ishant-heaps-praise-on-yashasvi-jaiswal-615574">WI vs IND: 'He is ready to play Tests in Australia and England' - Ishant heaps praise on Yashasvi Jaiswal</a>

<h2>Novak awaits in the final</h2>

Novak Djokovic has moved a step closer to his 24th Grand Slam title after he outclassed Italian Jannik Sineer 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 in the semifinal of the Wimbledon Championships 2023 on Friday, July 14. The Serbian was at his fluent best and faced little resistance against the Italian which will now see him face the winner of Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev in Sunday’s final at the Center Court. Djokovic has only dropped two sets on his way to the final and will look to join Margaret Court for most singles Grand Slam titles won.

The defending champion has not lost at the Championships since 2017 and booked his ninth final in London. He has enjoyed a stellar run at the tournament, having last lost at the Center Court in the 2013 final against Andy Murray. Sinner was no closer to Djokovic and his experience in the tournament after he was caught a flight in front of the 23-time Grand Slam champion.

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Carlos Alcaraz will have a day with destiny after he beat Russian Daniil Medvedev in the second semifinal of the Wimbledon Championships on Friday, July 14. The Spaniard had an easy outing in the last-four contest as he got the better of former US Open Champion Medvedev in a one-sided contest by 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.

Carlos Alcaraz will have a day with destiny after he beat Russian Daniil Medvedev in the second semifinal of the Wimbledon Championships on Friday, July 14. The Spaniard had an easy outing in the last-four contest as he got the better of former US Open Champion Medvedev in a one-sided contest by 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. He will now face Novak Djokovic in the final on Sunday with the Serbian chasing a record 24th Grand Slam title. Rate that @CarlosAlcaraz performance out of 10 👇#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/o1fz6qzdvM — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 14, 2023 × Alcaraz runs riot Coming into the contest both Alcaraz and Medvedev were expected to give a tough fight to each other, however, the contest turned out to be a one-sided affair. The 20-year-old Spaniard broke Medvedev on six occasions in the contest while also playing the backhand with perfection. There were 19 unforced errors by the 2021 US Open champion and only had 59 percent of his first serves in as Alcaraz exploited his opponent’s weakness. This is Alcaraz’s second Grand Slam final having reached the final of the US Open where he emerged victorious by beating Casper Ruud in the final. He could become the first Spanish player to win Wimbledon since Rafael Nadal in 2010. On the hand, with Medvedev’s exit, there will be no repeat of the 2021 US Open final where Djokovic was beaten in the final. ALSO READ | WI vs IND: 'He is ready to play Tests in Australia and England' - Ishant heaps praise on Yashasvi Jaiswal Novak awaits in the final Novak Djokovic has moved a step closer to his 24th Grand Slam title after he outclassed Italian Jannik Sineer 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 in the semifinal of the Wimbledon Championships 2023 on Friday, July 14. The Serbian was at his fluent best and faced little resistance against the Italian which will now see him face the winner of Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev in Sunday’s final at the Center Court. Djokovic has only dropped two sets on his way to the final and will look to join Margaret Court for most singles Grand Slam titles won. The defending champion has not lost at the Championships since 2017 and booked his ninth final in London. He has enjoyed a stellar run at the tournament, having last lost at the Center Court in the 2013 final against Andy Murray. Sinner was no closer to Djokovic and his experience in the tournament after he was caught a flight in front of the 23-time Grand Slam champion. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Wimbledon 2023: Carlos Alcaraz thumps Daniil Medvedev, to face Novak Djokovic in final on Sunday

Novak Djokovic likes nothing better than munching on Wimbledon's Centre Court turf on men's final day and after setting up what he billed as the "ultimate showdown" with Carlos Alcaraz, he now wants to gobble up a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title.

"He's very motivated. He's young. He's hungry. I'm hungry, too, so let's have a feast," joked the Serbian who has bent down to eat a handful of grass from the most famous tennis arena after each one of his seven Wimbledon triumphs.

Djokovic has made no secret of his insatiable appetite to hoard more and more records as he looks to leave every rival, especially those whose names crop up in the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) debate, in his shade.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wimbledon-2023-carlos-alcaraz-thumps-daniil-medvedev-to-clinch-final-berth-to-face-novak-djokovic-on-sunday-615756">Wimbledon 2023: Carlos Alcaraz thumps Daniil Medvedev, to face Novak Djokovic in final on Sunday</a>

For the first time in his career, Djokovic stands alone on top of the men's Grand Slam totem pole after he won the French Open last month to secure a 23rd major -- moving ahead of his great rival Rafael Nadal on the all-time winners' list. But that achievement has only fuelled the 36-year-old's burning desire.

Considering he honed his skills in a drained swimming pool converted into a makeshift tennis court while NATO was bombing Belgrade in 1999, it is not difficult to understand why winning the biggest prizes in tennis means so much to him.

"Maybe some people think that it would be a huge relief for me winning Roland Garros, being the only men's tennis player with 23 slams. It's not," Djokovic, who turned up for his news-conference wearing a forest green sweatshirt, baseball cap and watch, said ahead of contesting a record 35th major final. "It's no secret that Grand Slams are the highest priority for me, the highest goals on my priority list. Every time I start the season, I want to peak at these four tournaments.

"I feel that the job is not finished until I lift the trophy."

<h2>Men's record</h2>

Djokovic now stands one win away from equalling Roger Federer's men's record of eight Wimbledon titles and if he hoists the pineapple-topped gilded Challenge Cup on Sunday, he will draw level with Margaret Court's haul of 24 majors - an all-time record the Australian has held for 50 years.

Even at the age of 36, there is no sign that Djokovic's aura of invincibility is fading as the Serbian has won six of the last 10 slams.

Even though Alcaraz recently dethroned him from the top of the world rankings, Djokovic is still considered the man to beat and still has the power to turn opponents into nervous wrecks as the 20-year-old Spaniard discovered during their Roland Garros semi-final.

Alcaraz admitted that the stress and tension of facing Djokovic brought on the debilitating cramps that ruined his chances of winning that showdown just five weeks ago.

No doubt he would have learnt a lot of life lessons from that distressing episode, and the way Alcaraz has been playing at Wimbledon means the Serbian will face a player that John McEnroe describes as being "better than Federer, Djokovic and Nadal were at 20. This guy is amazing".

"If I win, it could be amazing for me -- not only win a Wimbledon title but do it against Novak would be super special," said U.S. Open champion Alcaraz. "I always say if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. Novak is one of them. Would be great if I'll do it."

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Novak Djokovic likes nothing better than munching on Wimbledon's Centre Court turf on men's final day and after setting up what he billed as the "ultimate showdown" with Carlos Alcaraz, he now wants to gobble up a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title.

Novak Djokovic likes nothing better than munching on Wimbledon's Centre Court turf on men's final day and after setting up what he billed as the "ultimate showdown" with Carlos Alcaraz, he now wants to gobble up a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title. "He's very motivated. He's young. He's hungry. I'm hungry, too, so let's have a feast," joked the Serbian who has bent down to eat a handful of grass from the most famous tennis arena after each one of his seven Wimbledon triumphs. Djokovic has made no secret of his insatiable appetite to hoard more and more records as he looks to leave every rival, especially those whose names crop up in the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) debate, in his shade. ALSO READ: Wimbledon 2023: Carlos Alcaraz thumps Daniil Medvedev, to face Novak Djokovic in final on Sunday For the first time in his career, Djokovic stands alone on top of the men's Grand Slam totem pole after he won the French Open last month to secure a 23rd major -- moving ahead of his great rival Rafael Nadal on the all-time winners' list. But that achievement has only fuelled the 36-year-old's burning desire. Considering he honed his skills in a drained swimming pool converted into a makeshift tennis court while NATO was bombing Belgrade in 1999, it is not difficult to understand why winning the biggest prizes in tennis means so much to him. "Maybe some people think that it would be a huge relief for me winning Roland Garros, being the only men's tennis player with 23 slams. It's not," Djokovic, who turned up for his news-conference wearing a forest green sweatshirt, baseball cap and watch, said ahead of contesting a record 35th major final. "It's no secret that Grand Slams are the highest priority for me, the highest goals on my priority list. Every time I start the season, I want to peak at these four tournaments. "I feel that the job is not finished until I lift the trophy." Men's record Djokovic now stands one win away from equalling Roger Federer's men's record of eight Wimbledon titles and if he hoists the pineapple-topped gilded Challenge Cup on Sunday, he will draw level with Margaret Court's haul of 24 majors - an all-time record the Australian has held for 50 years. Even at the age of 36, there is no sign that Djokovic's aura of invincibility is fading as the Serbian has won six of the last 10 slams. Even though Alcaraz recently dethroned him from the top of the world rankings, Djokovic is still considered the man to beat and still has the power to turn opponents into nervous wrecks as the 20-year-old Spaniard discovered during their Roland Garros semi-final. Alcaraz admitted that the stress and tension of facing Djokovic brought on the debilitating cramps that ruined his chances of winning that showdown just five weeks ago. No doubt he would have learnt a lot of life lessons from that distressing episode, and the way Alcaraz has been playing at Wimbledon means the Serbian will face a player that John McEnroe describes as being "better than Federer, Djokovic and Nadal were at 20. This guy is amazing". "If I win, it could be amazing for me -- not only win a Wimbledon title but do it against Novak would be super special," said U.S. Open champion Alcaraz. "I always say if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. Novak is one of them. Would be great if I'll do it." WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Wimbledon Final - 'I'm hungry too, so let's have a feast': Novak Djokovic ready for Carlos Alcaraz challenge

Carlos Alcaraz takes on Daniil Medvedev on Friday for a place in the Wimbledon final, where history-chasing Novak Djokovic will likely be lying in wait. The Spanish top seed has looked increasingly impressive in his surge to the last four but nobody is betting against Djokovic, who faces eighth-ranked Jannik Sinner.

<h2>Jannik Sinner (ITA x8) v Novak Djokovic (SRB x2)</h2>

Jannik Sinner will not have slept easily after last year's painful Wimbledon quarter-final defeat against Novak Djokovic. The Italian was two sets up and on the brink of a career-defining win before the Serbian gave himself a pep talk during a toilet break.

Whatever he said to himself certainly worked -- he broke early and never looked back, losing just seven games over the last three sets as he romped to victory.

Djokovic is within sight of two seismic records -- equalling Roger Federer's mark of eight men's singles titles at Wimbledon and Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 Grand Slam titles. He is not the top seed but candidly says his astonishing achievements at the All England Club make him top dog.

"Judging with the results I had in my career here, previous four occasions of Wimbledon that I won, and reaching another semi-final, I consider myself favourite," said the 36-year-old.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis-ons-jabeur-and-marketa-vondrousova-to-lock-horns-in-wimbledon-2023-final-615235">Tennis: Ons Jabeur and Marketa Vondrousova to lock horns in Wimbledon 2023 final</a>

But underdog Sinner, 21, believes he has absorbed lessons from last year's loss as he plots a monumental upset.

"Last year I played a very good match against him," he said. "I have learned about it. Hopefully I can show this also on the court. I'm going to stick with my game plan in my mind, and hopefully I can execute it in the best possible way."

<h3>Head-to-head (year, tournament, round, winner, score):</h3>

Djokovic leads 2-0

<ul>
	<li>2022&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wimbledon&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; QF&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Djokovic 5-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2</li>
	<li>2021&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Monte Carlo&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; R32&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Djokovic 6-4, 6-2</li>
</ul>

<h2>Carlos Alcaraz (ESP x1) v Daniil Medvedev (x3)</h2>

Carlos Alcaraz has looked increasingly impressive at Wimbledon -- powering past his friend Holger Rune in the last eight. The Spaniard has rattled off 10 straight wins on grass, including his title-winning run at Queen's, and is seen as the man most likely to dethrone Djokovic.

But before he can even contemplate a first final, he faces a tough task against Russian third seed Daniil Medvedev, who brushed him aside in the second round two years ago.

Alcaraz, who has rocketed up the rankings since then, described Medvedev as a "complete player".

"He's an octopus," he said. "He catches every ball. It is amazing, he's an amazing athlete."

The 20-year-old Alcaraz, who won the US Open in 2022 and beat Medvedev convincingly in the Indian Wells final earlier this year, is talking a good game.

"I think I'm playing great, a lot of confidence right now," he said. "So it's going to be a really good match I think. I going to enjoy."

Despite his high ranking, Medvedev's record at Wimbledon is modest -- his previous best run was reaching the fourth round in 2021.

The 27-year-old, who was unable to play last year due to the ban on Russian and Belarusian players, is wary of the "brutal" power of his young opponent but says he has found his rhythm on grass.

"I managed to find it so far," he said. "So hopefully I can find it for two more matches."

<h3>Head-to-head (year, tournament, round, winner, score):</h3>

Alcaraz and Medevdev level at 1-1

<ul>
	<li>2023&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Indian Wells&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Alcaraz&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 6-3, 6-2</li>
	<li>2021&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wimbledon&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; R64&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Medvedev&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 6-4, 6-1, 6-2</li>
</ul>

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Carlos Alcaraz takes on Daniil Medvedev on Friday for a place in the Wimbledon final, where history-chasing Novak Djokovic will likely be lying in wait. The Spanish top seed has looked increasingly impressive in his surge to the last four but nobody is betting against Djokovic, who faces eighth-ranked Jannik Sinner.

Carlos Alcaraz takes on Daniil Medvedev on Friday for a place in the Wimbledon final, where history-chasing Novak Djokovic will likely be lying in wait. The Spanish top seed has looked increasingly impressive in his surge to the last four but nobody is betting against Djokovic, who faces eighth-ranked Jannik Sinner. Jannik Sinner (ITA x8) v Novak Djokovic (SRB x2) Jannik Sinner will not have slept easily after last year's painful Wimbledon quarter-final defeat against Novak Djokovic. The Italian was two sets up and on the brink of a career-defining win before the Serbian gave himself a pep talk during a toilet break. Whatever he said to himself certainly worked -- he broke early and never looked back, losing just seven games over the last three sets as he romped to victory. Djokovic is within sight of two seismic records -- equalling Roger Federer's mark of eight men's singles titles at Wimbledon and Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 Grand Slam titles. He is not the top seed but candidly says his astonishing achievements at the All England Club make him top dog. "Judging with the results I had in my career here, previous four occasions of Wimbledon that I won, and reaching another semi-final, I consider myself favourite," said the 36-year-old. ALSO READ: Tennis: Ons Jabeur and Marketa Vondrousova to lock horns in Wimbledon 2023 final But underdog Sinner, 21, believes he has absorbed lessons from last year's loss as he plots a monumental upset. "Last year I played a very good match against him," he said. "I have learned about it. Hopefully I can show this also on the court. I'm going to stick with my game plan in my mind, and hopefully I can execute it in the best possible way." Head-to-head (year, tournament, round, winner, score): Djokovic leads 2-0 2022 Wimbledon QF Djokovic 5-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 2021 Monte Carlo R32 Djokovic 6-4, 6-2 Carlos Alcaraz (ESP x1) v Daniil Medvedev (x3) Carlos Alcaraz has looked increasingly impressive at Wimbledon -- powering past his friend Holger Rune in the last eight. The Spaniard has rattled off 10 straight wins on grass, including his title-winning run at Queen's, and is seen as the man most likely to dethrone Djokovic. But before he can even contemplate a first final, he faces a tough task against Russian third seed Daniil Medvedev, who brushed him aside in the second round two years ago. Alcaraz, who has rocketed up the rankings since then, described Medvedev as a "complete player". "He's an octopus," he said. "He catches every ball. It is amazing, he's an amazing athlete." The 20-year-old Alcaraz, who won the US Open in 2022 and beat Medvedev convincingly in the Indian Wells final earlier this year, is talking a good game. "I think I'm playing great, a lot of confidence right now," he said. "So it's going to be a really good match I think. I going to enjoy." Despite his high ranking, Medvedev's record at Wimbledon is modest -- his previous best run was reaching the fourth round in 2021. The 27-year-old, who was unable to play last year due to the ban on Russian and Belarusian players, is wary of the "brutal" power of his young opponent but says he has found his rhythm on grass. "I managed to find it so far," he said. "So hopefully I can find it for two more matches." Head-to-head (year, tournament, round, winner, score): Alcaraz and Medevdev level at 1-1 2023 Indian Wells F Alcaraz 6-3, 6-2 2021 Wimbledon R64 Medvedev 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Wimbledon Men's Semifinals Preview - Carlos Alcaraz vs Daniil Medvedev, Novak Djokovic vs Jannik Sinner

Carlos Alcaraz saw off Holger Rune in straight sets on Wednesday to stay on course for a Wimbledon title showdown against defending champion Novak Djokovic.

The top seed won the key moments during the quarter-final on Centre Court to progress 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, 6-4 and will play Russian third seed Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wimbledon-2023-aryna-sabalenka-beats-madison-keys-in-straight-sets-to-enter-last-four-614813">Aryna Sabalenka beats Madison Keys in straight sets to enter last four</a>

The Spaniard faced just one break point in the entire match, which he snuffed out, hitting 35 winners against 13 unforced errors.

"Honestly, it is amazing for me," said Alcaraz after beating his friend. "It's been a dream since I started playing tennis."

The US Open champion, who now has 10 straight wins on grass, was delighted with his performance against his fellow 20-year-old.

"I am playing at a great level. I didn't expect to play a great level on this surface," he said. "For me, it is crazy."

He said he found it tough at the beginning of the match, especially with Rune on the other side of the net.

"But once you get into the quarter-finals there's no friends," he added. "You have to be focused on yourself and I think I did great in that part."

There was just a single break point created in the first set, which almost inevitably went to a tie-break.

The start of the breaker was tight but Rune's double-fault gave Alcaraz a 4/3 lead and he won the next three points to take the first set.

It was a similar story in the second set until Rune dumped a forehand smash into the net in the ninth game to give the Spaniard break point.

Alcaraz made no mistake, smoking a backhand down the line to break and holding with ease to move two sets up.

He broke again in the fifth game of the third set, giving Rune a mountain to climb.

The Danish star saved one match point on his own serve but was powerless to stem the tide as Alcaraz served out to reach the last four at the All England Club for the first time.

Alcaraz is the youngest semi-finalist at Wimbledon since Djokovic in 2007.

The Serbian faces Italian eighth seed Jannik Sinner in Friday's other semi-final.

Alcaraz is aiming to become the third-youngest player to win the&nbsp;Wimbledon&nbsp;men's singles crown in the Open Era.&nbsp;

If he captures his second major at the All England Club, he is guaranteed to remain as world number one.

&nbsp;

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Carlos Alcaraz saw off Holger Rune in straight sets on Wednesday to stay on course for a Wimbledon title showdown against defending champion Novak Djokovic. The top seed won the key moments during the quarter-final on Centre Court to progress 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, 6-4 and will play Russian third seed Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals.

Carlos Alcaraz saw off Holger Rune in straight sets on Wednesday to stay on course for a Wimbledon title showdown against defending champion Novak Djokovic. The top seed won the key moments during the quarter-final on Centre Court to progress 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, 6-4 and will play Russian third seed Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals. Also Read: Aryna Sabalenka beats Madison Keys in straight sets to enter last four The Spaniard faced just one break point in the entire match, which he snuffed out, hitting 35 winners against 13 unforced errors. "Honestly, it is amazing for me," said Alcaraz after beating his friend. "It's been a dream since I started playing tennis." The US Open champion, who now has 10 straight wins on grass, was delighted with his performance against his fellow 20-year-old. "I am playing at a great level. I didn't expect to play a great level on this surface," he said. "For me, it is crazy." He said he found it tough at the beginning of the match, especially with Rune on the other side of the net. "But once you get into the quarter-finals there's no friends," he added. "You have to be focused on yourself and I think I did great in that part." There was just a single break point created in the first set, which almost inevitably went to a tie-break. The start of the breaker was tight but Rune's double-fault gave Alcaraz a 4/3 lead and he won the next three points to take the first set. It was a similar story in the second set until Rune dumped a forehand smash into the net in the ninth game to give the Spaniard break point. Alcaraz made no mistake, smoking a backhand down the line to break and holding with ease to move two sets up. He broke again in the fifth game of the third set, giving Rune a mountain to climb. The Danish star saved one match point on his own serve but was powerless to stem the tide as Alcaraz served out to reach the last four at the All England Club for the first time. Alcaraz is the youngest semi-finalist at Wimbledon since Djokovic in 2007. The Serbian faces Italian eighth seed Jannik Sinner in Friday's other semi-final. Alcaraz is aiming to become the third-youngest player to win the Wimbledon men's singles crown in the Open Era. If he captures his second major at the All England Club, he is guaranteed to remain as world number one. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Wimbledon 2023: Carlos Alcaraz beats Holger Rune in straight sets to enter semifinals

Carlos Alcaraz eased past Italian dark horse Matteo Berrettini, 3-6 6-3 6-3 6-3, on Monday (July 10) to reach the last eight of Wimbledon 2023. While he did lose the opening set, he came to his own in the following ones to dominate proceedings and move ahead in the tournament. Meanwhile, Danish player Holger Rune also lost his first set in his face-off versus Grigor Dimitrov and was pushed to a considerable extent before coming on top, 3-6, 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-4), 6-3, to reach the quarter-finals where he will now face Alcaraz.

The face-off between Alcaraz and Rune is keenly awaited, being touted to be a future rivalry on the court. Their quarter-final clash is set to create history. It will be the&nbsp;first Wimbledon quarter-final in the Open Era featuring two players under 21. Thus, a lot of eyes will be on the upcoming battle.&nbsp;

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Two 20-year-olds with a lot of history will meet in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wimbledon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wimbledon</a> quarter-finals 🍿<a href="https://twitter.com/carlosalcaraz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@carlosalcaraz</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/holgerrune2003?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@holgerrune2003</a> <a href="https://t.co/aMlo8JEUNo">pic.twitter.com/aMlo8JEUNo</a>
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At 20, both Alcaraz and Rune have already made a mark in their young careers. The Spaniard created history at the 2022 US Open, becoming the youngest finalist since Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi in 1990, and won the game versus Casper Ruud in a thrilling fashion to ascend to the top of the ATP Rankings.&nbsp;In terms of head-to-head, both the young guns have one and lost a game each in two face-offs.&nbsp;

In their last face-off, at the 2022&nbsp;ATP Masters 1000 Paris, Rune came on top of Alcaraz in the quarters. Will the script remain the same this time around or will Alcaraz bounce back? Only time will tell. For now, one thing is for sure, it will be a mouth-watering clash, on Wednesday (July 12) at the Centre Court.

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Carlos Alcaraz eased past Italian dark horse Matteo Berrettini, 3-6 6-3 6-3 6-3, on Monday (July 10) to reach the last eight of Wimbledon 2023. While he did lose the opening set, he came to his own in the following ones to dominate proceedings and move ahead in the tournament.

Carlos Alcaraz eased past Italian dark horse Matteo Berrettini, 3-6 6-3 6-3 6-3, on Monday (July 10) to reach the last eight of Wimbledon 2023. While he did lose the opening set, he came to his own in the following ones to dominate proceedings and move ahead in the tournament. Meanwhile, Danish player Holger Rune also lost his first set in his face-off versus Grigor Dimitrov and was pushed to a considerable extent before coming on top, 3-6, 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-4), 6-3, to reach the quarter-finals where he will now face Alcaraz. The face-off between Alcaraz and Rune is keenly awaited, being touted to be a future rivalry on the court. Their quarter-final clash is set to create history. It will be the first Wimbledon quarter-final in the Open Era featuring two players under 21. Thus, a lot of eyes will be on the upcoming battle. Two 20-year-olds with a lot of history will meet in the #Wimbledon quarter-finals 🍿@carlosalcaraz | @holgerrune2003 pic.twitter.com/aMlo8JEUNo — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 11, 2023 × Also Read: Wimbledon 2023: 'Super Mom' Elina Svitolina upsets No.1 seed Iga Swiatek to reach semifinals At 20, both Alcaraz and Rune have already made a mark in their young careers. The Spaniard created history at the 2022 US Open, becoming the youngest finalist since Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi in 1990, and won the game versus Casper Ruud in a thrilling fashion to ascend to the top of the ATP Rankings. In terms of head-to-head, both the young guns have one and lost a game each in two face-offs. In their last face-off, at the 2022 ATP Masters 1000 Paris, Rune came on top of Alcaraz in the quarters. Will the script remain the same this time around or will Alcaraz bounce back? Only time will tell. For now, one thing is for sure, it will be a mouth-watering clash, on Wednesday (July 12) at the Centre Court. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Wimbledon 2023: Alcaraz vs Rune tie to create history, first QF in Open Era featuring two U-21 players

Carlos Alcaraz was forced to dig deep on Saturday to see off the challenge of Nicolas Jarry and reach the last 16 at Wimbledon.

The Spanish top seed, seen as the man most likely to end Novak Djokovic's long reign at the All England Club, was off-colour but still won 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 7-5.

A single break in the first set was enough for Alcaraz to edge ahead but he faltered in the second, slipping 4-1 behind.

The US Open champion clawed his way back, forcing a tie-break, but that went the way of his Chilean opponent, seeded 25th.

Alcaraz regrouped and took the third set 6-3 but the errors crept in again and he found himself in trouble at 3-0 down in the fourth.

The 20-year-old survived two break points in the following game and broke back when Jarry went long with a forehand.

He conjured a searing backhand return to break again in the 11th game and served out for the win.

"I'm really happy with the level that I played to get through this really tough match," said Alcaraz.

He added: "It was really, really close. He has great shots... I would say the key is to believe all the time and stay focused."

Alcaraz was playing his second match in two days after heavy rain earlier in the week caused a scheduling headache for tournament chiefs.

He is attempting to become the third-youngest player in the Open Era to win the Wimbledon title after Boris Becker and Bjorn Borg.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ddca-director-shyam-sharma-provides-latest-update-on-rishabh-pants-recovery-613381">DDCA director Shyam Sharma provides latest update on Rishabh Pant's recovery</a>

<h2>Aryna Sabalenka in next round</h2>

World number two Aryna Sabalenka reached the Wimbledon fourth round for the second time on Saturday with a straight-sets win over Russia's Anna Blinkova.

Australian Open champion Sabalenka, who has a chance of taking Iga Swiatek's world number-one ranking at the tournament, won 6-2, 6-3 on the back of 30 winners, including nine aces under the Court One roof.

The Belarusian will take on another Russian, 21st-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova, for a place in the quarter-finals.

Sabalenka reached the semi-finals on her last appearance at Wimbledon in 2021 but was banned last year due to Belarus's support of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

&nbsp;

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Carlos Alcaraz was forced to dig deep on Saturday to see off the challenge of Nicolas Jarry and reach the last 16 at Wimbledon. The Spanish top seed, seen as the man most likely to end Novak Djokovic's long reign at the All England Club, was off-colour but still won 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 7-5.

Carlos Alcaraz was forced to dig deep on Saturday to see off the challenge of Nicolas Jarry and reach the last 16 at Wimbledon. The Spanish top seed, seen as the man most likely to end Novak Djokovic's long reign at the All England Club, was off-colour but still won 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 7-5. A single break in the first set was enough for Alcaraz to edge ahead but he faltered in the second, slipping 4-1 behind. The US Open champion clawed his way back, forcing a tie-break, but that went the way of his Chilean opponent, seeded 25th. Alcaraz regrouped and took the third set 6-3 but the errors crept in again and he found himself in trouble at 3-0 down in the fourth. The 20-year-old survived two break points in the following game and broke back when Jarry went long with a forehand. He conjured a searing backhand return to break again in the 11th game and served out for the win. "I'm really happy with the level that I played to get through this really tough match," said Alcaraz. He added: "It was really, really close. He has great shots... I would say the key is to believe all the time and stay focused." Alcaraz was playing his second match in two days after heavy rain earlier in the week caused a scheduling headache for tournament chiefs. He is attempting to become the third-youngest player in the Open Era to win the Wimbledon title after Boris Becker and Bjorn Borg. ALSO READ | DDCA director Shyam Sharma provides latest update on Rishabh Pant's recovery Aryna Sabalenka in next round World number two Aryna Sabalenka reached the Wimbledon fourth round for the second time on Saturday with a straight-sets win over Russia's Anna Blinkova. Australian Open champion Sabalenka, who has a chance of taking Iga Swiatek's world number-one ranking at the tournament, won 6-2, 6-3 on the back of 30 winners, including nine aces under the Court One roof. The Belarusian will take on another Russian, 21st-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova, for a place in the quarter-finals. Sabalenka reached the semi-finals on her last appearance at Wimbledon in 2021 but was banned last year due to Belarus's support of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Wimbledon 2023: Carlos Alcaraz toughs it out to reach last 16; Aryna Sabalenka into fourth round

Novak Djokovic is not resting on his laurels after claiming the all-time men's record with his 23rd Grand Slam title last month and the Serbian said on Saturday that he is already eyeing number 24 at Wimbledon where he is the defending champion.

Djokovic went past Rafa Nadal's tally of 22 Slams when he won the French Open last month and, though his old Spanish rival will not be challenging for titles this year due to injury, Djokovic has no plans to put his feet up and relax.

The 36-year-old has won the last four Wimbledon crowns and is one shy of tying Roger Federer's men's record of eight titles at the All England Club. He also now sits just one Grand Slam behind Margaret Court who won a record 24.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wimbledon-2023-feliciano-lopez-hails-miracle-boy-carlos-alcaraz-touts-him-to-fill-compatriot-nadals-shoes-610843">Wimbledon 2023: Feliciano Lopez hails 'miracle boy' Carlos Alcaraz, touts him to fill compatriot Nadal's shoes</a>

"I don't feel more relaxed, to be honest. I still feel hungry for success, for more Grand Slams, more achievements in tennis," Djokovic told reporters. "As long as there's that drive, I know that I'm able to compete at the highest level. If that goes down, then I guess I'll have to face probably different circumstances and have a different approach.

"So far there's still the drive. A few days after Roland Garros, I was already thinking about preparation for grass and what needs to be done. The tennis season is such that it doesn't really give you much time to really reflect or enjoy."

Djokovic said that although he was proud of his historic achievement, life as a professional player demands that kind of mentality and intensity as he looks to win as many majors as he can before his body can take no more.

"If you really want to have a chance and have a go at more slam titles, you need to maintain that concentration and devotion," he said. "I want to try to use every Grand Slam opportunity I have at this stage where I'm feeling good in my body, feeling motivated and playing very good tennis, to try to get more."

<h2>'Alcaraz, for his age, is impressive'</h2>

Djokovic comes into Wimbledon as the second seed this year with 20-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz now world number one after his first title on grass at Queen's. However, that does not faze the Serbian.

"I think for someone his age, it's impressive, everything he (Alcaraz) is doing. With his team, of course, he's got Juan Carlos Ferrero, former world number one, in his corner who can guide him and mentor him," Djokovic said. "For me, I don't need to have Carlos or anybody else really to find that extra drive and motivation when I enter Slams because I know that I have to win seven matches to win a title.

"So, whoever I get to face across the net, it doesn't make a difference for me. I need to do what I need to do."

Djokovic will begin his Wimbledon title defence against Argentina's 67th-ranked Pedro Cachin on Monday.

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Novak Djokovic is not resting on his laurels after claiming the all-time men's record with his 23rd Grand Slam title last month and the Serbian said on Saturday that he is already eyeing number 24 at Wimbledon where he is the defending champion.

Novak Djokovic is not resting on his laurels after claiming the all-time men's record with his 23rd Grand Slam title last month and the Serbian said on Saturday that he is already eyeing number 24 at Wimbledon where he is the defending champion. Djokovic went past Rafa Nadal's tally of 22 Slams when he won the French Open last month and, though his old Spanish rival will not be challenging for titles this year due to injury, Djokovic has no plans to put his feet up and relax. The 36-year-old has won the last four Wimbledon crowns and is one shy of tying Roger Federer's men's record of eight titles at the All England Club. He also now sits just one Grand Slam behind Margaret Court who won a record 24. ALSO READ: Wimbledon 2023: Feliciano Lopez hails 'miracle boy' Carlos Alcaraz, touts him to fill compatriot Nadal's shoes "I don't feel more relaxed, to be honest. I still feel hungry for success, for more Grand Slams, more achievements in tennis," Djokovic told reporters. "As long as there's that drive, I know that I'm able to compete at the highest level. If that goes down, then I guess I'll have to face probably different circumstances and have a different approach. "So far there's still the drive. A few days after Roland Garros, I was already thinking about preparation for grass and what needs to be done. The tennis season is such that it doesn't really give you much time to really reflect or enjoy." Djokovic said that although he was proud of his historic achievement, life as a professional player demands that kind of mentality and intensity as he looks to win as many majors as he can before his body can take no more. "If you really want to have a chance and have a go at more slam titles, you need to maintain that concentration and devotion," he said. "I want to try to use every Grand Slam opportunity I have at this stage where I'm feeling good in my body, feeling motivated and playing very good tennis, to try to get more." 'Alcaraz, for his age, is impressive' Djokovic comes into Wimbledon as the second seed this year with 20-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz now world number one after his first title on grass at Queen's. However, that does not faze the Serbian. "I think for someone his age, it's impressive, everything he (Alcaraz) is doing. With his team, of course, he's got Juan Carlos Ferrero, former world number one, in his corner who can guide him and mentor him," Djokovic said. "For me, I don't need to have Carlos or anybody else really to find that extra drive and motivation when I enter Slams because I know that I have to win seven matches to win a title. "So, whoever I get to face across the net, it doesn't make a difference for me. I need to do what I need to do." Djokovic will begin his Wimbledon title defence against Argentina's 67th-ranked Pedro Cachin on Monday. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Tennis: 'Whoever I get to face, it doesn't make a difference...': Novak Djokovic on defending Wimbledon crown

Carlos Alcaraz's astonishing rise to the top of men's tennis is a sporting miracle, according to one player perfectly placed to run the rule over the Spanish phenomenon ahead of Wimbledon. Veteran Feliciano Lopez watched the rise to greatness of fellow Spaniard Rafa Nadal at close quarters.

Nadal, the currently-injured 22-time Grand Slam champion, is in the final throws of his illustrious career, but with impeccable timing, Spain has produced a player who has already shown himself capable of filling the void.

The 20-year-old Alcaraz won the Queen's Club grass-court title in scintillating fashion last week in what was only his third event on the surface -- moving the reigning U.S. Open champion back to the top of the ATP rankings. He will be seeded number one at Wimbledon and while Lopez still regards reigning champion Novak Djokovic as the favourite, he believes with Alcaraz anything is possible.

"I call him a miracle," three-time Wimbledon quarter-finalist Lopez told Reuters at his farewell event in Mallorca this week. "Spain is not a big powerful tennis country compared to others and it's crazy to see one great like Rafa about to end his career and then this kid from Murcia arrived.

"Winning a Grand Slam aged 19, being world number one. It's astonishing."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis-players-face-mental-torture-at-wimbledon-says-sports-psychologist-610741">Tennis - Players face 'mental torture' at Wimbledon, says sports psychologist</a>

Even Nadal took a while to adjust his clay court game to grass before winning the title in 2008 and 2010.

If anything, Alcaraz's style is more suited to the lawns. He has a natural sliced backhand when required, volleys confidently, can launch huge serves and as for his forehand, it will leave burn marks on the hallowed Wimbledon lawns.

Alcaraz said the biggest challenge was learning to move on grass, but he erased those worries at Queen's, winning 10 successive sets and saying he already felt like he had been playing on the surface for 10 years.

He reached the fourth round on his debut last year, losing to Jannick Sinner, but it would be a major surprise if he did not go well past that stage this year.

<h2>'Carlos will win the Wimbledon'</h2>

"I think he has the skills to be a great grass court player. He has great hands and moves really good and the movement on the grass is key. Not many players move the way he moves," Lopez added. "Before Queen's he had played only six matches on grass but he's so gifted and the gifted players can adjust quickly than the rest of the human beings."

Lopez believes Alcaraz's fearless approach will serve him well at Wimbledon.

"Of course, he will have nerves, as we saw in the French against Djokovic. But he has the ability, like the truly great players, to survive and find a way. It's not only his tennis and his physical strength, but he's brave enough to challenge the best players in the game at such a young age."

While Lopez is not entirely surprised by Alcaraz's fast transition to grass, others are.

"I never thought that Carlos Alcaraz was going to be able to get used to grass so fast," seven-time Grand Slam champions Mats Wilander told Eurosport. "For him to get this equation right seems incredible to me.

"To me, Alcaraz has already shown that he can win Wimbledon."

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Carlos Alcaraz's astonishing rise to the top of men's tennis is a sporting miracle, according to one player perfectly placed to run the rule over the Spanish phenomenon ahead of Wimbledon.

Carlos Alcaraz's astonishing rise to the top of men's tennis is a sporting miracle, according to one player perfectly placed to run the rule over the Spanish phenomenon ahead of Wimbledon. Veteran Feliciano Lopez watched the rise to greatness of fellow Spaniard Rafa Nadal at close quarters. Nadal, the currently-injured 22-time Grand Slam champion, is in the final throws of his illustrious career, but with impeccable timing, Spain has produced a player who has already shown himself capable of filling the void. The 20-year-old Alcaraz won the Queen's Club grass-court title in scintillating fashion last week in what was only his third event on the surface -- moving the reigning U.S. Open champion back to the top of the ATP rankings. He will be seeded number one at Wimbledon and while Lopez still regards reigning champion Novak Djokovic as the favourite, he believes with Alcaraz anything is possible. "I call him a miracle," three-time Wimbledon quarter-finalist Lopez told Reuters at his farewell event in Mallorca this week. "Spain is not a big powerful tennis country compared to others and it's crazy to see one great like Rafa about to end his career and then this kid from Murcia arrived. "Winning a Grand Slam aged 19, being world number one. It's astonishing." ALSO READ: Tennis - Players face 'mental torture' at Wimbledon, says sports psychologist Even Nadal took a while to adjust his clay court game to grass before winning the title in 2008 and 2010. If anything, Alcaraz's style is more suited to the lawns. He has a natural sliced backhand when required, volleys confidently, can launch huge serves and as for his forehand, it will leave burn marks on the hallowed Wimbledon lawns. Alcaraz said the biggest challenge was learning to move on grass, but he erased those worries at Queen's, winning 10 successive sets and saying he already felt like he had been playing on the surface for 10 years. He reached the fourth round on his debut last year, losing to Jannick Sinner, but it would be a major surprise if he did not go well past that stage this year. 'Carlos will win the Wimbledon' "I think he has the skills to be a great grass court player. He has great hands and moves really good and the movement on the grass is key. Not many players move the way he moves," Lopez added. "Before Queen's he had played only six matches on grass but he's so gifted and the gifted players can adjust quickly than the rest of the human beings." Lopez believes Alcaraz's fearless approach will serve him well at Wimbledon. "Of course, he will have nerves, as we saw in the French against Djokovic. But he has the ability, like the truly great players, to survive and find a way. It's not only his tennis and his physical strength, but he's brave enough to challenge the best players in the game at such a young age." While Lopez is not entirely surprised by Alcaraz's fast transition to grass, others are. "I never thought that Carlos Alcaraz was going to be able to get used to grass so fast," seven-time Grand Slam champions Mats Wilander told Eurosport. "For him to get this equation right seems incredible to me. "To me, Alcaraz has already shown that he can win Wimbledon." WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Wimbledon 2023: Feliciano Lopez hails 'miracle boy' Carlos Alcaraz, touts him to fill compatriot Nadal's shoes

Defending women's champion Elena Rybakina will face American Shelby Rogers in the opening round at Wimbledon while men's second seed Novak Djokovic will begin his title defence against Argentina's 67th-ranked Pedro Cachin.

Friday's draw at the All England Club pitched women's top seed Iga Swiatek against China's 33rd-ranked Zhu Lin, a potentially tricky first hurdle for the Pole. Second seed Aryna Sabalenka, who could not play last year because of Wimbledon's ban on Russian and Belarusian players following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, will open her campaign against Hungarian Panna Udvardy.

American veteran Venus Williams against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in one of the standout matches of the opening round while home favourite Andy Murray, bidding for an unlikely third title at the age of 36, plays British wildcard Ryan Peniston.

Murray could face fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in round two although first Tsitsipas must get passed former U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem who has tumbled down the rankings. American teenager Coco Gauff, who many are tipping for a long run, has a tough opener against fellow former French Open runner-up and compatriot Sofia Kenin.

Djokovic, who has won the last four men's titles at Wimbledon and is bidding to match Roger Federer's eight, is not seeded one this year having been replaced at the top of the rankings by Spain's Carlos Alcaraz.

Alcaraz, who warmed up by winning the title at Queen's Club last week, faces a tricky opener against experienced Frenchman Jeremy Chardy. Last year's runner-up Nick Kyrgios, who has hardly played this year and whose participation is in doubt because of injury, plays dangerous Belgian wildcard David Goffin in a standout first round clash.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis-polands-kamil-majchrzak-banned-for-13-months-after-failing-drug-test-610529">Also Read:&nbsp;Tennis: Poland's Kamil Majchrzak banned for 13 months after failing drug test</a>

Russian third seed Daniil Medvedev, a potential semi-final opponent for Alcaraz, returns to Wimbledon with a first round against British wildcard Arthur Fery. The projected women's quarter-finals based on seedings would see Swiatek meet seventh seed Coco Gauff while third seed Rybakina could face Tunisia's Ons Jabeur.

Swiatek is positioned to face American fourth seed Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals. The men's quarter-finals, if the seeds progress, would see Alcaraz up against Denmark's sixth seed Holger Rune with Medvedev up against Tsitsipas while in the bottom half Djokovic could face seventh-seeded Russian Andrey Rublev with fourth seed Casper Ruud potentially facing Jannik Sinner.

Djokovic, bidding for a record-extending 24th Grand Slam title, will face Cachin on Monday while Rybakina plays the traditional Tuesday Centre Court opener for women's defending champions.

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Defending women's champion Elena Rybakina will face American Shelby Rogers in the opening round at Wimbledon while men's second seed Novak Djokovic will begin his title defence against Argentina's 67th-ranked Pedro Cachin.

Defending women's champion Elena Rybakina will face American Shelby Rogers in the opening round at Wimbledon while men's second seed Novak Djokovic will begin his title defence against Argentina's 67th-ranked Pedro Cachin. Friday's draw at the All England Club pitched women's top seed Iga Swiatek against China's 33rd-ranked Zhu Lin, a potentially tricky first hurdle for the Pole. Second seed Aryna Sabalenka, who could not play last year because of Wimbledon's ban on Russian and Belarusian players following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, will open her campaign against Hungarian Panna Udvardy. American veteran Venus Williams against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in one of the standout matches of the opening round while home favourite Andy Murray, bidding for an unlikely third title at the age of 36, plays British wildcard Ryan Peniston. Murray could face fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in round two although first Tsitsipas must get passed former U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem who has tumbled down the rankings. American teenager Coco Gauff, who many are tipping for a long run, has a tough opener against fellow former French Open runner-up and compatriot Sofia Kenin. Djokovic, who has won the last four men's titles at Wimbledon and is bidding to match Roger Federer's eight, is not seeded one this year having been replaced at the top of the rankings by Spain's Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz, who warmed up by winning the title at Queen's Club last week, faces a tricky opener against experienced Frenchman Jeremy Chardy. Last year's runner-up Nick Kyrgios, who has hardly played this year and whose participation is in doubt because of injury, plays dangerous Belgian wildcard David Goffin in a standout first round clash. Also Read: Tennis: Poland's Kamil Majchrzak banned for 13 months after failing drug test Russian third seed Daniil Medvedev, a potential semi-final opponent for Alcaraz, returns to Wimbledon with a first round against British wildcard Arthur Fery. The projected women's quarter-finals based on seedings would see Swiatek meet seventh seed Coco Gauff while third seed Rybakina could face Tunisia's Ons Jabeur. Swiatek is positioned to face American fourth seed Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals. The men's quarter-finals, if the seeds progress, would see Alcaraz up against Denmark's sixth seed Holger Rune with Medvedev up against Tsitsipas while in the bottom half Djokovic could face seventh-seeded Russian Andrey Rublev with fourth seed Casper Ruud potentially facing Jannik Sinner. Djokovic, bidding for a record-extending 24th Grand Slam title, will face Cachin on Monday while Rybakina plays the traditional Tuesday Centre Court opener for women's defending champions. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Tennis: Novak Djokovic to face Pedro Cachin in Wimbledon 2023 opener, Rybakina up against Rogers

Less than a week remains for the start of the Wimbledon Championships as top seeds in the gentlemen’s division gather to clinch glory at the All England Lawn Tennis &amp; Croquet Club (AELTCC) from Monday, June 3. Top seed&nbsp;Carlos Alcaraz, Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas will be some of the names who could lift the coveted Wimbledon title in little over two weeks, but Novak Djokovic will stand as the clear favourite to clinch the Wimbledon 2023 title. The Serbian has a stellar record at the Championships and will look to stamp his authority at the All England Club next week.

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Mind-blowing <a href="https://twitter.com/DjokerNole?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DjokerNole</a> stats 🤯<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wimbledon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wimbledon</a> <a href="https://t.co/xfTbV0TiSJ">pic.twitter.com/xfTbV0TiSJ</a>
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) <a href="https://twitter.com/Wimbledon/status/1673742446897905689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Djokovic’s impressive numbers at Wimbledon</h2>

The seven-time champion could make history if he win a record 24th Grand Slam title that will see him go level with Margaret Court for most singles titles at&nbsp;24. Djokovic has an impeccable record at the All England Club and has not lost a completed match since 2016. The former world number one is currently on a run of 28 consecutive wins at Wimbledon, having last lost in 2017 at the Championships.

The 36-year-old, now in the twilight of his career, has won 86 matches at Wimbledon, more than his year’s top 20 combined (85 wins). Novak has an astonishing record at the Centre Court of Wimbledon and has not lost at the coveted stadium since his historic defeat to Andy Murray in the final of 2013.

The 23-time major winner could become just the third player in the open era to win the grass court Championships for five consecutive seasons and could join Roger Federer (2003 to 2008) and Bjorn Borg (1976 to 1980) in the elite list.

<h2>Djokovic enters Wimbledon with momentum</h2>

Novak will enter the Wimbledon Championships with momentum on his side having conquered both the Australia Open and the French Open in 2023. In 2023, the Serb has not achieved much success compared to other years but has bought his ‘A-Game’ into play whenever he has needed. Novak won the Australian Open and the French Open with ease despite facing the challenge of the finest players on the court in the form of Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud in big games. His win at the French Open also saw him become the first triple Grand Slam champion, having won all the Grand Slams on at least three occasions.

Currently, Novak is the defending champion at the three Grand Slams which include the Australia Open, French Open, and the US Open. Additionally, his long-term compatriots Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are not part of the Wimbledon this year as the former has announced his retirement while the latter is struggling with injuries and did not even participate at Roland Garros in May.

So far in 2023, Novak has won a win-loss record of 27-4 and will look to build on to his impressive numbers at Wimbledon. Interestingly, Novak has not lost a Grand Slam match since he was beaten by Rafael Nadal in June 2022. He is unbeaten in his last 21 Grand Slam matches and could extend that tally at Wimbledon this year.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wimbledon-2023-ankita-raina-indias-only-singles-player-at-event-bows-out-with-a-loss-in-qualifiers-609611">Wimbledon 2023: Ankita Raina, India’s only singles player at event, bows out with a loss in qualifiers</a>

<h2>Lack of experience with compatriots</h2>

Novak possesses impressive numbers at the Wimbledon Championships but apart from it another factor that could see him as the favourite to clinch the title is the experience of his compatriots. The current top 10 seeds at the Wimbledon Championships have a combined two Grand Slam titles in between them, 21 less than Djokovic’s tally of 23, this includes US Open triumphs of Daniil Medvedev in 2021 and Carlos Alcaraz’ in 2022.

The only other players likely to enter Wimbledon with Grand Slam titles with them include Stanislas Wawrinka (three titles) and Andy Murray (three titles). The inexperience of his compatriots could play a big role in deciding the outcome of matches as Djokovic in the past has showcased his will against the likes of Tsitsipas and Ruud.

<h2>Djokovic eyes place in history books</h2>

One factor that makes Djokovic favourite is the will to capture a place in the history books as he chases an elusive 24th Grand Slam title. Currently, Novak holds the record for most singles Grand Slam titles with 23 and a win at the All England Club will see him go past Serena Williams for most individual titles while he levels the tally of Margaret Court. A win at Wimbledon will also put him on course for an annual Grand Slam title which has not been achieved since 1969 when Rod Laver clinched the historic feat.

The Serb came close to achieving the annual Grand Slam in 2021, only before he lost the US Open final to Daniil Medvedev. If does go all the way to win the Wimbledon this year, he will become the first male player since Rod Laver to win 28 consecutive Grand Slam matches, a feat achieved in 1969.

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Less than a week remains for the start of the Wimbledon Championships as top seeds in the gentlemen’s division gather to clinch glory at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club (AELTCC) from Monday, June 3.

Less than a week remains for the start of the Wimbledon Championships as top seeds in the gentlemen’s division gather to clinch glory at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club (AELTCC) from Monday, June 3. Top seed Carlos Alcaraz, Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas will be some of the names who could lift the coveted Wimbledon title in little over two weeks, but Novak Djokovic will stand as the clear favourite to clinch the Wimbledon 2023 title. The Serbian has a stellar record at the Championships and will look to stamp his authority at the All England Club next week. Mind-blowing @DjokerNole stats 🤯#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/xfTbV0TiSJ — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 27, 2023 × Djokovic’s impressive numbers at Wimbledon The seven-time champion could make history if he win a record 24th Grand Slam title that will see him go level with Margaret Court for most singles titles at 24. Djokovic has an impeccable record at the All England Club and has not lost a completed match since 2016. The former world number one is currently on a run of 28 consecutive wins at Wimbledon, having last lost in 2017 at the Championships. The 36-year-old, now in the twilight of his career, has won 86 matches at Wimbledon, more than his year’s top 20 combined (85 wins). Novak has an astonishing record at the Centre Court of Wimbledon and has not lost at the coveted stadium since his historic defeat to Andy Murray in the final of 2013. The 23-time major winner could become just the third player in the open era to win the grass court Championships for five consecutive seasons and could join Roger Federer (2003 to 2008) and Bjorn Borg (1976 to 1980) in the elite list. Djokovic enters Wimbledon with momentum Novak will enter the Wimbledon Championships with momentum on his side having conquered both the Australia Open and the French Open in 2023. In 2023, the Serb has not achieved much success compared to other years but has bought his ‘A-Game’ into play whenever he has needed. Novak won the Australian Open and the French Open with ease despite facing the challenge of the finest players on the court in the form of Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud in big games. His win at the French Open also saw him become the first triple Grand Slam champion, having won all the Grand Slams on at least three occasions. Currently, Novak is the defending champion at the three Grand Slams which include the Australia Open, French Open, and the US Open. Additionally, his long-term compatriots Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are not part of the Wimbledon this year as the former has announced his retirement while the latter is struggling with injuries and did not even participate at Roland Garros in May. So far in 2023, Novak has won a win-loss record of 27-4 and will look to build on to his impressive numbers at Wimbledon. Interestingly, Novak has not lost a Grand Slam match since he was beaten by Rafael Nadal in June 2022. He is unbeaten in his last 21 Grand Slam matches and could extend that tally at Wimbledon this year. ALSO READ | Wimbledon 2023: Ankita Raina, India’s only singles player at event, bows out with a loss in qualifiers Lack of experience with compatriots Novak possesses impressive numbers at the Wimbledon Championships but apart from it another factor that could see him as the favourite to clinch the title is the experience of his compatriots. The current top 10 seeds at the Wimbledon Championships have a combined two Grand Slam titles in between them, 21 less than Djokovic’s tally of 23, this includes US Open triumphs of Daniil Medvedev in 2021 and Carlos Alcaraz’ in 2022. The only other players likely to enter Wimbledon with Grand Slam titles with them include Stanislas Wawrinka (three titles) and Andy Murray (three titles). The inexperience of his compatriots could play a big role in deciding the outcome of matches as Djokovic in the past has showcased his will against the likes of Tsitsipas and Ruud. Djokovic eyes place in history books One factor that makes Djokovic favourite is the will to capture a place in the history books as he chases an elusive 24th Grand Slam title. Currently, Novak holds the record for most singles Grand Slam titles with 23 and a win at the All England Club will see him go past Serena Williams for most individual titles while he levels the tally of Margaret Court. A win at Wimbledon will also put him on course for an annual Grand Slam title which has not been achieved since 1969 when Rod Laver clinched the historic feat. The Serb came close to achieving the annual Grand Slam in 2021, only before he lost the US Open final to Daniil Medvedev. If does go all the way to win the Wimbledon this year, he will become the first male player since Rod Laver to win 28 consecutive Grand Slam matches, a feat achieved in 1969. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

EXPLAINED | Why Novak Djokovic is favourite to clinch Wimbledon 2023

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz fired a Wimbledon warning as he comfortably beat Alex de Minaur 6-4 6-4 to claim the Queen's Club title on Sunday and return to world number one. In baking temperatures, the 20-year-old had too much firepower for his wily Australian opponent as he claimed his first grasscourt title in impressive fashion.

It was only Alcaraz's third tournament on grass, but the way he marched through the draw augurs well for his prospects at Wimbledon, where he will be seeded number one.

De Minaur, the first Australian to reach the London final since Lleyton Hewitt in 2006, had chances for a break of serve when leading 4-3 in the opening set but could not take them. Alcaraz then broke serve in the following game before wrapping up the set on serve.

De Minaur double-faulted to hand over a service game early in the second set and there was no way the muscular Spaniard was going to pass up the opportunity to notch his fifth title of 2023.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/american-sprinter-noah-lyles-equals-usain-bolts-career-record-in-200m-event-watch-608527">American sprinter Noah Lyles equals Usain Bolt's career record in 200m event - WATCH</a>

Alcaraz is the fourth Spanish player to win the prestigious pre-Wimbledon tournament and will now hope to emulate Rafa Nadal who triumphed at Queen's in 2008 before going on to win Wimbledon for the first time a few weeks later.

"So many legends have won here so to see my name on the trophy surrounded by great champions, it's amazing," reigning U.S. Open champion Alcaraz said on court.

While Novak Djokovic remains the favourite to retain his Wimbledon title, Alcaraz will be the top seed at the tournament, where he reached the fourth round last year.

The way he has taken to grass, winning 10 sets in succession after losing his first of the week at Queen's, should make him a serious contender at the All England Club.

"I started the week not too well, but I adapted my movement and I ended the week with a lot of energy," he said.

As well as Nadal, several other players in recent times have gone on to win Wimbledon after conquering Queen's Club, including Andy Murray in 2013 and 2016, Pete Sampras in 1995 and 1999, and Lleyton Hewitt in 2002. Boris Becker, then a teenager, also did the double in 1985 as a teenager.

Even 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal took a while to adapt his game to grass, but the speed at which Alcaraz has looked at ease on the surface is astonishing.

De Minaur is one of the craftiest lawn players in the world but he could do nothing as Alcaraz showed great lawn skills, notably an impressive sliced backhand when required and a confidence around the net.

His forehand, meanwhile, was simply devastating, regularly clocking 90mph and drawing gasps from the crowd.

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Spain's Carlos Alcaraz fired a Wimbledon warning as he comfortably beat Alex de Minaur 6-4 6-4 to claim the Queen's Club title on Sunday and return to world number one.

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz fired a Wimbledon warning as he comfortably beat Alex de Minaur 6-4 6-4 to claim the Queen's Club title on Sunday and return to world number one. In baking temperatures, the 20-year-old had too much firepower for his wily Australian opponent as he claimed his first grasscourt title in impressive fashion. It was only Alcaraz's third tournament on grass, but the way he marched through the draw augurs well for his prospects at Wimbledon, where he will be seeded number one. De Minaur, the first Australian to reach the London final since Lleyton Hewitt in 2006, had chances for a break of serve when leading 4-3 in the opening set but could not take them. Alcaraz then broke serve in the following game before wrapping up the set on serve. De Minaur double-faulted to hand over a service game early in the second set and there was no way the muscular Spaniard was going to pass up the opportunity to notch his fifth title of 2023. ALSO READ: American sprinter Noah Lyles equals Usain Bolt's career record in 200m event - WATCH Alcaraz is the fourth Spanish player to win the prestigious pre-Wimbledon tournament and will now hope to emulate Rafa Nadal who triumphed at Queen's in 2008 before going on to win Wimbledon for the first time a few weeks later. "So many legends have won here so to see my name on the trophy surrounded by great champions, it's amazing," reigning U.S. Open champion Alcaraz said on court. While Novak Djokovic remains the favourite to retain his Wimbledon title, Alcaraz will be the top seed at the tournament, where he reached the fourth round last year. The way he has taken to grass, winning 10 sets in succession after losing his first of the week at Queen's, should make him a serious contender at the All England Club. "I started the week not too well, but I adapted my movement and I ended the week with a lot of energy," he said. As well as Nadal, several other players in recent times have gone on to win Wimbledon after conquering Queen's Club, including Andy Murray in 2013 and 2016, Pete Sampras in 1995 and 1999, and Lleyton Hewitt in 2002. Boris Becker, then a teenager, also did the double in 1985 as a teenager. Even 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal took a while to adapt his game to grass, but the speed at which Alcaraz has looked at ease on the surface is astonishing. De Minaur is one of the craftiest lawn players in the world but he could do nothing as Alcaraz showed great lawn skills, notably an impressive sliced backhand when required and a confidence around the net. His forehand, meanwhile, was simply devastating, regularly clocking 90mph and drawing gasps from the crowd. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Tennis: Carlos Alcaraz wins Queen's Cup and regains number one ranking

Carlos Alcaraz moved to the brink of his first grass court title and reclaiming the world number one ranking from Novak Djokovic after sweeping aside Sebastian Korda 6-3, 6-4 to reach the final at Queen’s Club on Saturday. The Spaniard will face Australia’s Alex de Minaur, who beat second seed Holger Rune 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), in Sunday’s final.

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Playing in just the third grass court tournament of his career, Alcaraz has adapted quickly to the conditions after a tough first round clash against French lucky loser Arthur Rinderknech.

The US Open champion had to recover from a slow start as he was broken for the only time in the opening game. But Korda was let down by a number of double faults at key moments as Alcaraz broke back immediately and edged a tight first set after breaking again in the eighth game.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-learned-a-lot-from-you-as-a-player-kylian-mbappes-heartfelt-birthday-post-for-lionel-messi-608357">'I learned a lot from you as a player...': Kylian Mbappe's heartfelt birthday post for Lionel Messi</a>

The second set was more straightforward for the 20-year-old as Alcaraz broke to love in the third game and comfortably served it out.

"I'm playing great, I'm feeling great," said Alcaraz, adding that this was the best performance of his short career on the grass to date. "I'm really happy to play here in Queen's. Since the first match, I feel the love from the crowd.”

A fifth title of the year would take Alcaraz back above Djokovic, who won their battle at the French Open earlier this month, at the top of the world rankings.

De Minaur continued his fine form in London as world number six Rune was no match for the big-serving Aussie. The world number 18 ended Andy Murray’s renaissance on the grass in the first round and is eyeing a second grass court title after winning in Eastbourne in 2021.

“I love being here and playing on this court in front of this amazing crowd," De Minaur said. "I am having a good week and this was my best performance of the week."

<h2>Bublik sets up Halle title clash with Rublev</h2>

Alexander Bublik eased past home hope Alexander Zverev 6-3, 7-5 to reach the final of the Halle ATP tournament on Saturday. Bublik, 26, will play his first final of the season in the Wimbledon warm-up grass-court event against Russia's Andrey Rublev who knocked out Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3, 6-4.

Kazakh Bublic won his only title last year in Montpellier against Zverev and now holds a 3-1 record against the German.

On Saturday, Bublik took less than an hour and a half to dispatch the former world number two, firing down 14 aces with a strong service game.

In the first set, he quickly took the lead with a break in the fourth game and then counted on his serve to pull through.

The two players duelled until 5-5 in the second set, when Zverev collapsed, allowing Bublik to confidently seal victory 7-5.

"The job is not finished, there is one last match," Bublik said. "I am happy but I try to stay focused. I tried to play my game and I am really happy with the win today. Playing Sascha is really tough and I was a bit lucky in the key moments. When you play against a top player like Sascha, you need all the weapons to work."

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Carlos Alcaraz moved to the brink of his first grass court title and reclaiming the world number one ranking from Novak Djokovic after sweeping aside Sebastian Korda 6-3, 6-4 to reach the final at Queen’s Club on Saturday.

Carlos Alcaraz moved to the brink of his first grass court title and reclaiming the world number one ranking from Novak Djokovic after sweeping aside Sebastian Korda 6-3, 6-4 to reach the final at Queen’s Club on Saturday. The Spaniard will face Australia’s Alex de Minaur, who beat second seed Holger Rune 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), in Sunday’s final. Not to be missed 🔥🏆👏 https://t.co/hEPc3JKmm6 — The Queen's Club (@TheQueensClub) June 24, 2023 × Playing in just the third grass court tournament of his career, Alcaraz has adapted quickly to the conditions after a tough first round clash against French lucky loser Arthur Rinderknech. The US Open champion had to recover from a slow start as he was broken for the only time in the opening game. But Korda was let down by a number of double faults at key moments as Alcaraz broke back immediately and edged a tight first set after breaking again in the eighth game. ALSO READ: 'I learned a lot from you as a player...': Kylian Mbappe's heartfelt birthday post for Lionel Messi The second set was more straightforward for the 20-year-old as Alcaraz broke to love in the third game and comfortably served it out. "I'm playing great, I'm feeling great," said Alcaraz, adding that this was the best performance of his short career on the grass to date. "I'm really happy to play here in Queen's. Since the first match, I feel the love from the crowd.” A fifth title of the year would take Alcaraz back above Djokovic, who won their battle at the French Open earlier this month, at the top of the world rankings. De Minaur continued his fine form in London as world number six Rune was no match for the big-serving Aussie. The world number 18 ended Andy Murray’s renaissance on the grass in the first round and is eyeing a second grass court title after winning in Eastbourne in 2021. “I love being here and playing on this court in front of this amazing crowd," De Minaur said. "I am having a good week and this was my best performance of the week." Bublik sets up Halle title clash with Rublev Alexander Bublik eased past home hope Alexander Zverev 6-3, 7-5 to reach the final of the Halle ATP tournament on Saturday. Bublik, 26, will play his first final of the season in the Wimbledon warm-up grass-court event against Russia's Andrey Rublev who knocked out Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3, 6-4. Kazakh Bublic won his only title last year in Montpellier against Zverev and now holds a 3-1 record against the German. On Saturday, Bublik took less than an hour and a half to dispatch the former world number two, firing down 14 aces with a strong service game. In the first set, he quickly took the lead with a break in the fourth game and then counted on his serve to pull through. The two players duelled until 5-5 in the second set, when Zverev collapsed, allowing Bublik to confidently seal victory 7-5. "The job is not finished, there is one last match," Bublik said. "I am happy but I try to stay focused. I tried to play my game and I am really happy with the win today. Playing Sascha is really tough and I was a bit lucky in the key moments. When you play against a top player like Sascha, you need all the weapons to work." WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Tennis: Carlos Alcaraz inches closer to maiden grass-court title with semis win in Queen's Club

Carlos Alcaraz remains in the hunt for his first grass court title as the world number two beat former champion Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-4 to reach the semi-finals at Queen's Club on Friday.

Alcaraz admitted earlier in the week to watching videos of Roger Federer and Andy Murray to learn how to move on the grass and appears to be finding his feet on the surface ahead of Wimbledon next month.

Since surviving a marathon first round encounter with French lucky loser Arthur Rinderknech, Alcaraz has not dropped a set to reach the last four in London.

A break in the first game was enough to win the Spaniard the first set as Dimitrov missed three chances to break back in the sixth game.

The Bulgarian, who won the Queen's title in 2014, got off to a flier in the second set as he led 3-0.

Alcaraz battled back to lead 4-3, only to give the break back for 4-4.

However, the US Open champion was gifted the chance to serve for the match when an error-strewn game from Dimitrov threw away his serve to love.

Alcaraz took full advantage to set up a semi-final clash with Sebastian Korda, who beat British number one Cameron Norrie 6-4, 7-6 (7/1).

"Grigor is a really top player in every surface, but even more here on grass, he feels the ball very well," said Alcaraz.

"I played very well since the beginning. The two matches before helped me a lot."

Second seed Holger Rune said he was fired up by Lorenzo Musetti's smashed overhead that hit the Dane in his 6-4, 7-5 quarter-final win.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ashes-2023-zak-crawley-makes-bold-prediction-for-lords-test-predicts-england-to-win-by-this-big-margin-607884">Ashes 2023: Zak Crawley makes BOLD prediction for Lord's Test, predicts England will win by THIS margin</a>

The world number six is also into his first semi-final on the grass.

"He can do what he wants," said Rune. "I mean, it's not the best thing to do, for sure. But again, it is legal. He can hit the ball where he wants to."

"It just gave me fire in the belly to beat him even more. I'm super happy to manage to beat him in two sets."

Rune faces Australia's Alex De Minaur in the last four after he beat Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

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Carlos Alcaraz remains in the hunt for his first grass court title as the world number two beat former champion Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-4 to reach the semi-finals at Queen's Club on Friday.

Carlos Alcaraz remains in the hunt for his first grass court title as the world number two beat former champion Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-4 to reach the semi-finals at Queen's Club on Friday. Alcaraz admitted earlier in the week to watching videos of Roger Federer and Andy Murray to learn how to move on the grass and appears to be finding his feet on the surface ahead of Wimbledon next month. Since surviving a marathon first round encounter with French lucky loser Arthur Rinderknech, Alcaraz has not dropped a set to reach the last four in London. A break in the first game was enough to win the Spaniard the first set as Dimitrov missed three chances to break back in the sixth game. The Bulgarian, who won the Queen's title in 2014, got off to a flier in the second set as he led 3-0. Alcaraz battled back to lead 4-3, only to give the break back for 4-4. However, the US Open champion was gifted the chance to serve for the match when an error-strewn game from Dimitrov threw away his serve to love. Alcaraz took full advantage to set up a semi-final clash with Sebastian Korda, who beat British number one Cameron Norrie 6-4, 7-6 (7/1). "Grigor is a really top player in every surface, but even more here on grass, he feels the ball very well," said Alcaraz. "I played very well since the beginning. The two matches before helped me a lot." Second seed Holger Rune said he was fired up by Lorenzo Musetti's smashed overhead that hit the Dane in his 6-4, 7-5 quarter-final win. ALSO READ | Ashes 2023: Zak Crawley makes BOLD prediction for Lord's Test, predicts England will win by THIS margin The world number six is also into his first semi-final on the grass. "He can do what he wants," said Rune. "I mean, it's not the best thing to do, for sure. But again, it is legal. He can hit the ball where he wants to." "It just gave me fire in the belly to beat him even more. I'm super happy to manage to beat him in two sets." Rune faces Australia's Alex De Minaur in the last four after he beat Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Tennis: Carlos Alcaraz powers past Grigor Dimitrov into Queen's Club semi-finals

Carlos Alcaraz makes his Queen's Club Championships debut this week and the Spaniard knows he has a lot of adjustments to make to his game if he is to be a contender at the grasscourt event and at Wimbledon next month.

Alcaraz is coming off a disappointing French Open where the 20-year-old, who had warmed up for the claycourt Grand Slam with titles in Barcelona and Madrid, suffered severe cramp during a 6-3 5-7 6-1 6-1 semi-final defeat by Novak Djokovic.

Alcaraz will be playing in only the third grasscourt tournament of his career at tour level this week and he said his practice on the surface had been limited.

"I arrived in London Saturday morning and I had my first practice on grass," he said. "I wasn't able to practice too much at home as we have no grass courts. "I need to adapt my movement and shots on the grass, but I'm really happy with the practice I have had here."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/golf-rory-mcilroy-ready-go-through-100-sundays-like-this-for-another-major-title-606063">Golf: Rory McIlroy ready go through '100 Sundays like this' for another major title</a>

Alcaraz, who reached the fourth round at Wimbledon last year before winning the U.S. Open on the hard courts of New York, said how well he moves on grass would be key.

"You need to be more careful than other surfaces," Alcaraz, who plays Arthur Fils on Tuesday, said. "The most comfortable is going to the net and playing aggressively all the time. For me it's similar to other surfaces with my style.

"There are a lot of players who slice on grass. I'm not one of them so I have to think about movement. I have to be focused on every movement and shot. "For me it's more tiring when you're moving on grass. It's totally different, so you have to be really specific."

Carlos Alcaraz makes his Queen's Club Championships debut this week and the Spaniard knows he has a lot of adjustments to make to his game if he is to be a contender at the grasscourt event and at Wimbledon next month.

Carlos Alcaraz makes his Queen's Club Championships debut this week and the Spaniard knows he has a lot of adjustments to make to his game if he is to be a contender at the grasscourt event and at Wimbledon next month. Alcaraz is coming off a disappointing French Open where the 20-year-old, who had warmed up for the claycourt Grand Slam with titles in Barcelona and Madrid, suffered severe cramp during a 6-3 5-7 6-1 6-1 semi-final defeat by Novak Djokovic. Alcaraz will be playing in only the third grasscourt tournament of his career at tour level this week and he said his practice on the surface had been limited. "I arrived in London Saturday morning and I had my first practice on grass," he said. "I wasn't able to practice too much at home as we have no grass courts. "I need to adapt my movement and shots on the grass, but I'm really happy with the practice I have had here." Also Read: Golf: Rory McIlroy ready go through '100 Sundays like this' for another major title Alcaraz, who reached the fourth round at Wimbledon last year before winning the U.S. Open on the hard courts of New York, said how well he moves on grass would be key. "You need to be more careful than other surfaces," Alcaraz, who plays Arthur Fils on Tuesday, said. "The most comfortable is going to the net and playing aggressively all the time. For me it's similar to other surfaces with my style. "There are a lot of players who slice on grass. I'm not one of them so I have to think about movement. I have to be focused on every movement and shot. "For me it's more tiring when you're moving on grass. It's totally different, so you have to be really specific."

Tennis: Wimbledon 2023 - Carlos Alcaraz hopes to quickly adapt to grass after Paris disappointment

Novak Djokovic has moved one step closer to a record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam after he got the better of number-one seed Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals of the French Open on Friday, June 9. Djokovic, a two-time champion at the Roland Garros got the better of the Spaniard by 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 at the Philippe Chatrier court. He will now face the winner of Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev in the final on Sunday where he can win his 23rd Grand Slam title.

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Never doubt Novak 💪🇷🇸<a href="https://twitter.com/DjokerNole?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DjokerNole</a> gets the better of Alcaraz 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 to reach a 34th Grand Slam final.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RolandGarros?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RolandGarros</a> <a href="https://t.co/fefJZKKMxn">pic.twitter.com/fefJZKKMxn</a>
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<h2>What happened in the contest?</h2>

The contest was well anticipated by the Paris crowd and the media around the world as the battle of the two generations. It was expected to be a tight contest, but Djokovic and his experience prevailed in the end as the Serb booked his place in the final. The former World No.1 took the lead in the contest after winning the first set 6-3.&nbsp;However, he lost his serve at the wrong time in the second set.

Alcaraz won the second set 7-5 and looked on course to give a hard time to the 22-time Grand Slam champion. Things though did not pan out perfectly for the World No.1 and he lost the consequent sets by the same score of 6-1. While there was a lot of tussle in the second set, it was the final straw for the defending US Open champion before he surrendered the match to Djokovic.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wtc-final-ricky-ponting-explains-where-india-did-go-wrong-with-their-bowling-plans-in-first-innings-602434">WTC Final: Ricky Ponting explains where India went wrong with their bowling plan in first innings</a>

<h2>Day with destiny awaits</h2>

The 36-year-old Djokovic will look to conquer his third French Open title on Sunday and could become the player with the most Grand Slam singles titles in the men’s division. Currently level with Rafael Nadal, the Serb will be presented with an opportunity to surpass the great Spaniard in his own backyard, where he is a 14-time champion. Having won the French Open in 2016 and 2021, Djokovic will be eager to add to his tally, which will also see him go level with Serena Williams for most Grand Slam singles titles. Only Margaret Court of Australia with 24 titles has won more Grand Slam singles titles than Djokovic and Williams.

Sunday’s final will be Novak’s 34th Grand Slam title, another record for most Grand Slam finals in the men’s singles division. So far in his 33 Grand Slam singles finals, the Serb has won 22 and lost 11 and will look to get the better of Casper Ruud or Alexander Zverev to reach the milestone title.

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Novak Djokovic has moved one step closer to a record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam after he got the better of number-one seed Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals of the French Open on Friday, June 9.

Novak Djokovic has moved one step closer to a record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam after he got the better of number-one seed Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals of the French Open on Friday, June 9. Djokovic, a two-time champion at the Roland Garros got the better of the Spaniard by 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 at the Philippe Chatrier court. He will now face the winner of Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev in the final on Sunday where he can win his 23rd Grand Slam title. Never doubt Novak 💪🇷🇸@DjokerNole gets the better of Alcaraz 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 to reach a 34th Grand Slam final.#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/fefJZKKMxn — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 9, 2023 × What happened in the contest? The contest was well anticipated by the Paris crowd and the media around the world as the battle of the two generations. It was expected to be a tight contest, but Djokovic and his experience prevailed in the end as the Serb booked his place in the final. The former World No.1 took the lead in the contest after winning the first set 6-3. However, he lost his serve at the wrong time in the second set. Alcaraz won the second set 7-5 and looked on course to give a hard time to the 22-time Grand Slam champion. Things though did not pan out perfectly for the World No.1 and he lost the consequent sets by the same score of 6-1. While there was a lot of tussle in the second set, it was the final straw for the defending US Open champion before he surrendered the match to Djokovic. ALSO READ | WTC Final: Ricky Ponting explains where India went wrong with their bowling plan in first innings Day with destiny awaits The 36-year-old Djokovic will look to conquer his third French Open title on Sunday and could become the player with the most Grand Slam singles titles in the men’s division. Currently level with Rafael Nadal, the Serb will be presented with an opportunity to surpass the great Spaniard in his own backyard, where he is a 14-time champion. Having won the French Open in 2016 and 2021, Djokovic will be eager to add to his tally, which will also see him go level with Serena Williams for most Grand Slam singles titles. Only Margaret Court of Australia with 24 titles has won more Grand Slam singles titles than Djokovic and Williams. Sunday’s final will be Novak’s 34th Grand Slam title, another record for most Grand Slam finals in the men’s singles division. So far in his 33 Grand Slam singles finals, the Serb has won 22 and lost 11 and will look to get the better of Casper Ruud or Alexander Zverev to reach the milestone title. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

French Open: Novak Djokovic demolishes World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz to book final berth

Carlos Alcaraz will lock horns with Novak Djokovic in a blockbuster French Open 2023 semifinal. World Number 1 Alcaraz performed exceptionally against Stefanos Tsitsipas in his last game.

Carlos Alcaraz will lock horns with Novak Djokovic in a blockbuster French Open 2023 semifinal. World Number 1 Alcaraz performed exceptionally against Stefanos Tsitsipas in his last game. Meanwhile, third-ranked Djokovic made a slow start against Karen Khachanov. However, he picked up the match once he restored parity by taking the second set in a tie-break, where he won all seven points. Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming French Open 2023 semifinal between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. We have mentioned the head-to-head stats, match details, and live-streaming details. French Open Semifinal Alcaraz vs Djokovic Match Details Date: Friday, June 9 Time: 06:15 PM IST Tournament: French Open 2023 Round: Semifinal Venue: Paris, France Category: Grand Slam Surface: Outdoor clay Prize money: €49,600,000 Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic head-to-head stats Alcaraz and Djokovic have squared off only once at the Madrid Masters. Alcaraz won his lone meeting with Djokovic in a third-set tie-break. Alcaraz and Djokovic are two of the most active players in contemporary sports. The Spaniard has a big serve, powerful groundstrokes, and moves swiftly. However, Djokovic is a counterpuncher par excellence and has succeeded on all surfaces. Among the two, Djokovic has more experience, especially on clay. Alcaraz also has a brilliant record on the surface, including seven titles. Carlos Alcaraz might have an edge in the game, as he's 25-2 on clay in 2023, while Novak Djokovic is only 10-3. Coincidentally, both men dropped one set en route to the last eight. How to watch French Open 2023 semifinals between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic Tennis fans in India can watch the French Open 2023 semifinal live on Sony TEN. The live telecast of the semifinal will start at 06:15 PM IST. The final is on June 10 at 06:30 PM IST. People in India can also enjoy the game on the Sony LIV app and website with a premium subscription. In France, France TV Sport will telecast the live matches. NBC and Tennis Channel will telecast the French Open 2023 live in the United States of America. Here is the complete list of TV channels that will telecast the French Open 2023 in the respective countries. India: Sony TEN and SonyLiv France: France TV sport, Amazon Prime Video Europe (All territories): Eurosport United Kingdom: Eurosport, discovery+ USA: NBC Sports, Peacock TV, Tennis Channel & Bally Sports Canada: RDS, TSN Latin America: ESPN Brazil: SporTV, ESPN North Africa & Middle East: beIN Sports WATCH WION LIVE HERE

French Open 2023 Semifinal: Check prize money, head-to-head & live-streaming details for Alcaraz vs Djokovic

World number one Carlos Alcaraz survived a third set wobble to cruise past fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece 6-2 6-1 7-6(5) on Tuesday and earn a spot in the French Open last four.

For almost three sets,&nbsp;Alcaraz played jaw-dropping tennis, having pulverised his opponent, who staged a brief comeback to force a tiebreak in the third.

The 20-year-old will now face third seed Novak Djokovic in a mouth-watering semi-final on Friday with the Spaniard chasing a second Grand Slam title after winning the U.S. Open crown last year and the Serbian veteran on course for a record-breaking 23rd men's singles major.

Alcaraz did not take long to put Tsitsipas under pressure, breaking him on his second service game.

The 24-year-old Greek, still searching for an elusive first Grand Slam title, could not match Alcaraz's power and precision and the Spaniard broke him to love with a sensational running forehand down the line to go 5-2 up.

He wrapped up the first set, winning 12 of the last 14 points played, but he was equally relentless in the second to break Tsitsipas in the very first game to love.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/french-open-novak-djokovic-books-semifinal-berth-after-dominant-win-against-khachanov-likely-to-face-alcaraz-601423">French Open: Novak Djokovic books semifinal berth after dominant win against Khachanov</a>

Like a bear hunting down prey, Alcaraz did not let off, forcing the Greek into the net with superb and constant drop shots or stretching him wide on his backhand.

He added another break to his rapidly growing collection to go 4-1 up and even the crowd, clearly backing Tsitsipas, could not spark a comeback as Alcaraz bagged the second set a little later with his dazed opponent double-faulting.

It was a similar story in the third as he earned a quick break and took a 5-1 lead, before he squandered three match points. Tsitsipas launched a four-game comeback but Alcaraz ended it on his fifth match point. 
 
 
 
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World number one Carlos Alcaraz survived a third set wobble to cruise past fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece 6-2 6-1 7-6(5) on Tuesday and earn a spot in the French Open last four.

World number one Carlos Alcaraz survived a third set wobble to cruise past fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece 6-2 6-1 7-6(5) on Tuesday and earn a spot in the French Open last four. For almost three sets, Alcaraz played jaw-dropping tennis, having pulverised his opponent, who staged a brief comeback to force a tiebreak in the third. The 20-year-old will now face third seed Novak Djokovic in a mouth-watering semi-final on Friday with the Spaniard chasing a second Grand Slam title after winning the U.S. Open crown last year and the Serbian veteran on course for a record-breaking 23rd men's singles major. Alcaraz did not take long to put Tsitsipas under pressure, breaking him on his second service game. The 24-year-old Greek, still searching for an elusive first Grand Slam title, could not match Alcaraz's power and precision and the Spaniard broke him to love with a sensational running forehand down the line to go 5-2 up. He wrapped up the first set, winning 12 of the last 14 points played, but he was equally relentless in the second to break Tsitsipas in the very first game to love. Also Read | French Open: Novak Djokovic books semifinal berth after dominant win against Khachanov Like a bear hunting down prey, Alcaraz did not let off, forcing the Greek into the net with superb and constant drop shots or stretching him wide on his backhand. He added another break to his rapidly growing collection to go 4-1 up and even the crowd, clearly backing Tsitsipas, could not spark a comeback as Alcaraz bagged the second set a little later with his dazed opponent double-faulting. It was a similar story in the third as he earned a quick break and took a 5-1 lead, before he squandered three match points. Tsitsipas launched a four-game comeback but Alcaraz ended it on his fifth match point. WATCH WION LIVE HERE × You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Top seed Alcaraz hunts down Tsitsipas to set up semi-final showdown with Novak Djokovic

Stefanos Tsitsipas pledged Tuesday to cut out "naps and melatonin" after admitting virtually sleepwalking into a French Open defeat by Carlos Alcaraz.

The world number five from Greece slumped to a 6-2, 6-1, 7-6 (7/5) loss against top seed Alcaraz in a disappointing quarter-final.

"One thing that I'm going to try to avoid in the future is have melatonin pills and naps before matches because it clearly doesn't seem to be working," said Tsitsipas of his pre-match routine.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/french-open-novak-djokovic-books-semifinal-berth-after-dominant-win-against-khachanov-likely-to-face-alcaraz-601423">Novak Djokovic books semifinal berth after dominant win against Khachanov</a>

Melatonin in tablet form is often taken to treat sleep disorders.

Tsitsipas, the runner-up to Novak Djokovic in Paris in 2021, only woke up to the task at hand in the eighth game of the third set on Tuesday.

He saved two match points and then another in the 10th game as he pulled back from 2-5 down to 5-5 before Alcaraz eased through the tiebreak.

It was the 20-year-old Spaniard's fifth win in as many meetings with Tsitsipas.

"The schedule has been a little bit difficult the last few days. I had some late-night sessions. Not super late, but late enough for me to kind of have my sleep schedule ruined," added Tsitsipas.

He recalled a 6-1, 6-2 loss to Djokovic at the Paris Masters in 2019 when the match played out in the same way after he had had tried to catch up on sleep.

"I feel like melatonin really likes 1 and 2," he said, referring to the set outcomes.

"It wasn't really that much fun out there in the first two sets. I felt completely off, kind of like sleeping in a way. I just wish it never happens again. It sucks."

Despite his defeat, Tsitsipas hailed US Open champion Alcaraz, who will face 22-time major winner Djokovic in a blockbuster semi-final on Friday.

However, the 24-year-old Greek said he found it impossible to pick a winner.

"One has experience; the other one has legs and moves like Speedy Gonzalez," he explained.

"One can hit huge, super big shots; and the other one prefers control over anything else, probably control and precision, to apply pressure and just make the opponent move as much as possible."

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Stefanos Tsitsipas pledged Tuesday to cut out "naps and melatonin" after admitting virtually sleepwalking into a French Open defeat by Carlos Alcaraz. The world number five from Greece slumped to a 6-2, 6-1, 7-6 (7/5) loss against top seed Alcaraz in a disappointing quarter-final.

Stefanos Tsitsipas pledged Tuesday to cut out "naps and melatonin" after admitting virtually sleepwalking into a French Open defeat by Carlos Alcaraz. The world number five from Greece slumped to a 6-2, 6-1, 7-6 (7/5) loss against top seed Alcaraz in a disappointing quarter-final. "One thing that I'm going to try to avoid in the future is have melatonin pills and naps before matches because it clearly doesn't seem to be working," said Tsitsipas of his pre-match routine. Also Read: Novak Djokovic books semifinal berth after dominant win against Khachanov Melatonin in tablet form is often taken to treat sleep disorders. Tsitsipas, the runner-up to Novak Djokovic in Paris in 2021, only woke up to the task at hand in the eighth game of the third set on Tuesday. He saved two match points and then another in the 10th game as he pulled back from 2-5 down to 5-5 before Alcaraz eased through the tiebreak. It was the 20-year-old Spaniard's fifth win in as many meetings with Tsitsipas. "The schedule has been a little bit difficult the last few days. I had some late-night sessions. Not super late, but late enough for me to kind of have my sleep schedule ruined," added Tsitsipas. He recalled a 6-1, 6-2 loss to Djokovic at the Paris Masters in 2019 when the match played out in the same way after he had had tried to catch up on sleep. "I feel like melatonin really likes 1 and 2," he said, referring to the set outcomes. "It wasn't really that much fun out there in the first two sets. I felt completely off, kind of like sleeping in a way. I just wish it never happens again. It sucks." Despite his defeat, Tsitsipas hailed US Open champion Alcaraz, who will face 22-time major winner Djokovic in a blockbuster semi-final on Friday. However, the 24-year-old Greek said he found it impossible to pick a winner. "One has experience; the other one has legs and moves like Speedy Gonzalez," he explained. "One can hit huge, super big shots; and the other one prefers control over anything else, probably control and precision, to apply pressure and just make the opponent move as much as possible." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

French Open: Stefanos Tsitsipas vows to cut ‘naps and melatonin’ after exit

The French Open 2023 is living up to expectations. As we have entered the final week, there are a plethora of big-ticket games lined-up. French Open 2021 runners-up Stefanos Tsitsipas has progressed into the last eight and is set to lock horns with current world number one Carlos Alcaraz, which promises to be an enthralling battle between the two youngsters.

Ahead of the battle, Tsitsipas spoke at length about the upcoming quarter-final face-off. It is to be noted that Alcaraz&nbsp;holds an impressive 4-0 ATP head-to-head record against the Greek player.&nbsp;However, the 24-year-old is up for the challenge this time around.&nbsp;

"The clash we've all been waiting for," said&nbsp;Tsitsipas during his press conference after a dominant straight-set&nbsp;win over Sebastian Ofner. On being asked to elaborate, Tsitsipas added: "I think I said everything I had to say. I think everyone was expecting it, weren't they? And it's here. It's game on."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis-world-number-seven-ons-jabeur-swats-aside-bernanda-pera-to-enter-french-open-quarter-finals-600844">Tennis: World number seven Ons Jabeur swats aside Bernanda Pera to enter French Open quarter-finals</a>

Since their first-ever meeting, Alcaraz has continued to climb up the ladder whereas Tsitsipas is still searching for his maiden Grand Slam title. The two locked horns in the 2021&nbsp;US Open where the Spaniard defeated Tsitsipas to become the first man&nbsp;to brush aside&nbsp;a top-three-ranked player in singles at the tournament since the inception of the ATP rankings in 1973.&nbsp;

Both Alcaraz and Tsitsipas have contrasting playing styles. The contest promises to be an engaging battle as the race for the title has intensified. Novak Djokovic, another strong contender, will also be in action on Tuesday (June 06), before the Alcaraz-Tsitsipas face-off, as he is up against Russia's&nbsp;Karen Khachanov in the quarters.&nbsp;

Alcaraz and Tsitsipas will come face-to-face later in the day.

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The French Open 2023 is living up to expectations. As we have entered the final week, there are a plethora of big-ticket games lined-up. French Open 2021 runners-up Stefanos Tsitsipas has progressed into the last eight and is set to lock horns with current world number one Carlos Alcaraz, which promises to be an enthralling battle between the two youngsters.

The French Open 2023 is living up to expectations. As we have entered the final week, there are a plethora of big-ticket games lined-up. French Open 2021 runners-up Stefanos Tsitsipas has progressed into the last eight and is set to lock horns with current world number one Carlos Alcaraz, which promises to be an enthralling battle between the two youngsters. Ahead of the battle, Tsitsipas spoke at length about the upcoming quarter-final face-off. It is to be noted that Alcaraz holds an impressive 4-0 ATP head-to-head record against the Greek player. However, the 24-year-old is up for the challenge this time around. "The clash we've all been waiting for," said Tsitsipas during his press conference after a dominant straight-set win over Sebastian Ofner. On being asked to elaborate, Tsitsipas added: "I think I said everything I had to say. I think everyone was expecting it, weren't they? And it's here. It's game on." Also Read: Tennis: World number seven Ons Jabeur swats aside Bernanda Pera to enter French Open quarter-finals Since their first-ever meeting, Alcaraz has continued to climb up the ladder whereas Tsitsipas is still searching for his maiden Grand Slam title. The two locked horns in the 2021 US Open where the Spaniard defeated Tsitsipas to become the first man to brush aside a top-three-ranked player in singles at the tournament since the inception of the ATP rankings in 1973. Both Alcaraz and Tsitsipas have contrasting playing styles. The contest promises to be an engaging battle as the race for the title has intensified. Novak Djokovic, another strong contender, will also be in action on Tuesday (June 06), before the Alcaraz-Tsitsipas face-off, as he is up against Russia's Karen Khachanov in the quarters. Alcaraz and Tsitsipas will come face-to-face later in the day. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Tennis: 'Clash we have all been waiting for' - Tsitsipas geared up for Alcaraz face-off in French Open QFs

Novak Djokovic battled into the French Open fourth round for a 14th consecutive year on Friday as Carlos Alcaraz also progressed, after women's third seed Jessica Pegula and men's seventh-ranked Andrey Rublev were dumped out of the tournament.

Djokovic has made headlines for his comments about Kosovo this week but his on-court progress has been relatively serene, reaching the second week without dropping a set.

The Serb star was made to work hard by Spanish 29th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who served for the first set and missed a set point in the second, but won 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 on Court Philippe Chatrier.

"I thought if I lost the second set we would play five hours today, but I'm proud of the performance," said Djokovic.

Two-time champion Djokovic, who has also made the French Open quarter-finals in each of the past 13 years, will take on Peru's Juan Pablo Varillas in the last 16.

The 36-year-old is hoping to break out of his tie with injured rival Rafael Nadal at the top of the men's all-time list of major winners at Roland Garros.

He is just one title behind Serena Williams' mark of 23 Slams and two adrift of Margaret Court's overall record.

Djokovic, slated to meet world number one Alcaraz in the semi-finals, has now won three of his four matches with Davidovich Fokina.

The first two sets lasted two hours and 47 minutes, as Davidovich Fokina provided a stern test of Djokovic's form.

But the world number three broke when he trailed 6-5 in the opening set before overturning a 3-1 deficit to win a tie-break.

Davidovich Fokina missed one set point to level the match before Djokovic won another breaker before being booed by the crowd for taking a medical time-out.

"That's something that I find disrespectful and I frankly don't understand that," said Djokovic, who made short work of the third set.

Alcaraz thrashed Canadian 26th seed Denis Shapovalov for the loss of just seven games in the night-session match.

The Spaniard powered to a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 victory, with the only slight blip when he trailed 4-1 in the second set.

He reeled off seven straight games after that wake-up call, though, to set up a fourth-round meeting with Italian 17th seed Lorenzo Musetti who dismantled British number one Cameron Norrie 6-1, 6-2, 6-4.

"I knew I'd have my chances in the second set to come back a bit and that's what I did," Alcaraz said.

The 20-year-old is bidding for a second straight Grand Slam title after winning the 2022 US Open and then missing this year's Australian Open through injury.

<h2>Sonego stunner</h2>

Italian Lorenzo Sonego battled back from two sets down to knock out Rublev and reach the last 16 for the second time.

The world number 48 was two points from defeat during a fourth-set tie-break but prevailed 5-7, 0-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 after three hours and 42 minutes.

Sonego will face Russian 11th seed Karen Khachanov for a possible quarter-final meeting with Djokovic.

"I played more aggressive than in the first and second sets because when he's aggressive it's tough to compete against him," he said.

Eleventh seed Khachanov ended Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis' run with an entertaining 6-4, 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) win.

Stefanos Tsitsipas continued his bid for a maiden Grand Slam title with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 win over former semi-finalist Diego Schwartzman.

The Greek fifth seed, who a blew a two-set lead to Djokovic in the 2021 final, will next play Austrian qualifier Sebastian Ofner after making the second week for a fifth straight year.

American Pegula's hopes were ended in comprehensive fashion by a 6-1, 6-3 loss to Belgian Elise Mertens.

World number three Pegula has still never passed the quarter-final stage of a Grand Slam tournament.

The former Australian Open semi-finalist will next face 2021 runner-up Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indias-1983-wc-winning-team-backs-protesting-wrestlers-urges-them-to-not-immerse-medals-in-ganges-599632">India's 1983 WC winning team backs protesting wrestlers, urges them to not immerse medals in Ganges</a>

<h2>Sabalenka 'not safe'</h2>

Aryna Sabalenka refused to do an official post-match press conference after powering into the last 16 for the first time with a straight-sets win over Kamilla Rakhimova.

The Belarusian claimed she "did not feel safe" when asked to condemn her country's support of Russia's war in Ukraine during a press conference earlier this week.

The second seed is yet to drop a set in the tournament after a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 win against world number 82 Rakhimova.

Sabalenka will face former US Open champion Sloane Stephens in the fourth round.

Russian Daria Kasatkina, a semi-finalist last year, raced past American Peyton Stearns 6-0, 6-1 in under an hour.

The ninth seed will next face Elina Svitolina on Sunday for a place in the quarter-finals.

Ukrainian Svitolina reached the fourth round on her first Grand Slam appearance since the 2022 Australian Open with a 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 win over Anna Blinkova.

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Novak Djokovic battled into the French Open fourth round for a 14th consecutive year on Friday as Carlos Alcaraz also progressed, after women's third seed Jessica Pegula and men's seventh-ranked Andrey Rublev were dumped out of the tournament.

Novak Djokovic battled into the French Open fourth round for a 14th consecutive year on Friday as Carlos Alcaraz also progressed, after women's third seed Jessica Pegula and men's seventh-ranked Andrey Rublev were dumped out of the tournament. Djokovic has made headlines for his comments about Kosovo this week but his on-court progress has been relatively serene, reaching the second week without dropping a set. The Serb star was made to work hard by Spanish 29th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who served for the first set and missed a set point in the second, but won 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 on Court Philippe Chatrier. "I thought if I lost the second set we would play five hours today, but I'm proud of the performance," said Djokovic. Two-time champion Djokovic, who has also made the French Open quarter-finals in each of the past 13 years, will take on Peru's Juan Pablo Varillas in the last 16. The 36-year-old is hoping to break out of his tie with injured rival Rafael Nadal at the top of the men's all-time list of major winners at Roland Garros. He is just one title behind Serena Williams' mark of 23 Slams and two adrift of Margaret Court's overall record. Djokovic, slated to meet world number one Alcaraz in the semi-finals, has now won three of his four matches with Davidovich Fokina. The first two sets lasted two hours and 47 minutes, as Davidovich Fokina provided a stern test of Djokovic's form. But the world number three broke when he trailed 6-5 in the opening set before overturning a 3-1 deficit to win a tie-break. Davidovich Fokina missed one set point to level the match before Djokovic won another breaker before being booed by the crowd for taking a medical time-out. "That's something that I find disrespectful and I frankly don't understand that," said Djokovic, who made short work of the third set. Alcaraz thrashed Canadian 26th seed Denis Shapovalov for the loss of just seven games in the night-session match. The Spaniard powered to a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 victory, with the only slight blip when he trailed 4-1 in the second set. He reeled off seven straight games after that wake-up call, though, to set up a fourth-round meeting with Italian 17th seed Lorenzo Musetti who dismantled British number one Cameron Norrie 6-1, 6-2, 6-4. "I knew I'd have my chances in the second set to come back a bit and that's what I did," Alcaraz said. The 20-year-old is bidding for a second straight Grand Slam title after winning the 2022 US Open and then missing this year's Australian Open through injury. Sonego stunner Italian Lorenzo Sonego battled back from two sets down to knock out Rublev and reach the last 16 for the second time. The world number 48 was two points from defeat during a fourth-set tie-break but prevailed 5-7, 0-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 after three hours and 42 minutes. Sonego will face Russian 11th seed Karen Khachanov for a possible quarter-final meeting with Djokovic. "I played more aggressive than in the first and second sets because when he's aggressive it's tough to compete against him," he said. Eleventh seed Khachanov ended Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis' run with an entertaining 6-4, 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) win. Stefanos Tsitsipas continued his bid for a maiden Grand Slam title with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 win over former semi-finalist Diego Schwartzman. The Greek fifth seed, who a blew a two-set lead to Djokovic in the 2021 final, will next play Austrian qualifier Sebastian Ofner after making the second week for a fifth straight year. American Pegula's hopes were ended in comprehensive fashion by a 6-1, 6-3 loss to Belgian Elise Mertens. World number three Pegula has still never passed the quarter-final stage of a Grand Slam tournament. The former Australian Open semi-finalist will next face 2021 runner-up Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. ALSO READ | India's 1983 WC winning team backs protesting wrestlers, urges them to not immerse medals in Ganges Sabalenka 'not safe' Aryna Sabalenka refused to do an official post-match press conference after powering into the last 16 for the first time with a straight-sets win over Kamilla Rakhimova. The Belarusian claimed she "did not feel safe" when asked to condemn her country's support of Russia's war in Ukraine during a press conference earlier this week. The second seed is yet to drop a set in the tournament after a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 win against world number 82 Rakhimova. Sabalenka will face former US Open champion Sloane Stephens in the fourth round. Russian Daria Kasatkina, a semi-finalist last year, raced past American Peyton Stearns 6-0, 6-1 in under an hour. The ninth seed will next face Elina Svitolina on Sunday for a place in the quarter-finals. Ukrainian Svitolina reached the fourth round on her first Grand Slam appearance since the 2022 Australian Open with a 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 win over Anna Blinkova. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

French Open: Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz reach last 16 as Pegula, Rublev exit

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