Novak Djokovic secured another big win over Carlos Alcaraz as the Olympic champion came out on top in a pre-US Open exhibition match. Both players featured in the Stars of the Open event to kickstart the final Grand Slam of the year.
Stars of the Open sees former US Open champions and fans’ favourites meet at Flushing Meadows. Djokovic and Alcaraz clashed in a glitzy doubles match on Arthur Ashe.
Both were paired alongside legendary former players. Djokovic was partnered with John McEnroe and defeated Alcaraz, who was teamed up with Andre Agassi.
All four players were mic’d up, giving fans an opportunity to hear the dialogue between both sets of teams. Djokovic and McEnroe were 10-8 winners, leaving the Serb dreaming of a similar scalp over Alcaraz once the US Open gets underway next Wednesday.
An Olympic triumph over Alcaraz left Djokovic hailing the greatest achievement of his sporting career. That is despite the 37-year-old becoming the most decorated tennis player of the Grand Slam era with 24 titles.
“Everything that I felt in that moment when I won really surpassed everything I thought or hoped that it would,” Djokovic said. “I thought that carrying the flag at the opening ceremony (in London) was the best feeling ever until I experienced this today.
“And being on that court with the Serbian flag raising, singing the Serbian anthem, with the gold around my neck, I think nothing can beat that in terms of professional sport. It definitely stands out as the biggest sporting achievement I had.”
That success might have given Djokovic the confidence he needs to defeat Alcaraz and claim a quarter of a century of Grand Slams next month. He suffered defeats against Alcaraz in successive Wimbledon finals and his last title came at last year’s US Open.
Alcaraz blamed the pressure of trying to win a gold medal for Spain in his defeat and will likely be back to his best for the US Open. He said afterwards: “I think I put more pressure on myself because I was playing for Spain, for the Spaniards. I felt that I let the Spanish people down by not winning the gold.”
Djokovic may hope to avoid another Grand Slam final showdown with Alcaraz. But the Spaniard could stand in his way as he chases a 25th major title.
