Why Carlos Alcaraz reminded Novak Djokovic of Rafael Nadal in the 2023 Cincinnati Open final

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After winning his first Grand Slam title in 2022, Carlos Alcaraz took his game to new heights the following season.

Alcaraz won two more Masters 1000 tournaments in 2023 and reached the semi-finals of the three major events he appeared at.

The Spaniard made the final four at the French Open before clinching a maiden Wimbledon championship, beating Novak Djokovic on Centre Court to hoist the trophy.

During the North American hard-court swing, Alcaraz advanced to the final of the Cincinnati Open, where he met Djokovic once again, in a rematch that lived up to the hype.

After securing a third-set tiebreak, the Serb emerged victorious against the 20-year-old that day, and had high praise for his opponent after the match.

Novak Djokovic’s reaction to winning the 2023 Cincinnati Open final

In his press conference following the final, Djokovic said of Alcaraz’s mental strength: “It doesn’t surprise me any more.

“It was surprising me maybe, I don’t know, end of last year or beginning of this year, what he was doing, the way he won big matches, big tournaments. So impressive.

“I mean, coming out in important moments, going for it, brave. You just have to put your hat down to a guy like that, that plays so maturely, handles the pressure so well for a 20-year-old. We cannot forget how young he is. That’s something that is so impressive about him.

“I mean, each point… The feeling that I have on the court reminds me a little bit of when I was facing [Rafael] Nadal when we were at our prime of our careers. Each point is a hustle. Each point is a battle.

“You feel like you’re not going to get maybe in total five free points in the entire match. You’ve got to basically earn every single point, every single shot, regardless of the conditions. Obviously, if you play on slower conditions, slower courts, even more so.

“Here, the ball bounces quite high and pretty quick. But nevertheless, we both found a way to play a four-hour match for three sets. It doesn’t surprise me, to be honest.

“I do wish sometimes I can play, maybe in some moments slightly more aggressive. Maybe I should have.
But one thing is to analyse the game after the match, maybe think about things you could have done better.

“The other one is really being there on the court and experiencing what you’re experiencing, and trying to tactically play the correct point, especially against him, knowing that he’s going to run down every single shot.

“Amazing to be able to experience that with him on the court. All of the matches we played against each other went the distance. First match in Madrid last year, 7-6 in the third. 7-6 in the third today.

“Both Grand Slam matches, four five-setters. It just keeps getting better for the fans. For us, I don’t know if we are enjoying it so much.

“It’s definitely a challenge that we both need to embrace and accept because that’s what’s required from both of us in order to win big titles.”

Novak Djokovic’s current head-to-head record with Carlos Alcaraz

Before the 2023 Cincinnati Open final, Alcaraz led the head-to-head with Djokovic 2-1, having beaten him in Madrid in 2022, and in the Wimbledon final the following year.

After the 24-time Grand Slam champion levelled things up, he went on to beat the young star again in the semi-finals of the ATP Finals.

In 2024, the two played against each other twice, with Alcaraz winning their rematch in the final at the All England Club, and Djokovic taking the victory in the gold medal bout at the Paris Olympics.

So far this year, they have only played once, in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, which went the way of the 38-year-old.