By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday August 20, 2023
23-time Novak Djokovic has made a habit of recognizing – and overcoming – challenges over the course of his legendary career. For years he target Big Three brethren Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, and eventually overcame both at the top of the Grand Slam totem pole.
Today he casts his glance toward generation next, and the rising phenom Carlos Alcaraz.
On Sunday Djokovic will battle Alcaraz for the fourth time, and the third time in the last three months, for the title at the Western and Southern Open. Djokovic says facing the World No.1 is exactly the preparation he needs to prepare for the 2023 US Open.
“I guess it's the ultimate challenge at the moment for me,” he said on Saturday after edging Alexander Zverev to reach a record 57th Masters 1000 final. “We faced each other in the last three events. Roland Garros, clay. Wimbledon, grass. Now hard court. It's going to be the first encounter on a hard court.
Djokovic, who lost to Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final in five sets, owns a 1-2 lifetime record against the 20-year-old from Murcia, Spain.
“It's a very good test prior to US Open,” he said. “Obviously different conditions. Here best-of-three, US Open best-of-five. It's still facing the top, top player of the world now who is in form. It's the biggest challenge I could get, so I'm looking forward to it. Now it's the best way to prepare for New York.”