Alcaraz wants a duel with Djokovic in Miami: “They are the matches that attract public to tennis” | ATP Tour

Miami

Alcaraz wants to measure Djokovic in Miami: “They are the parties that attract public to tennis”

The Spanish debuts on Friday against David Goffin

March 19, 2025

For the third tournament in the year, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have fallen into the same part of the painting. After the crossing between the two in Australia, and the duel that could be in the quarterfinals of Indian Wells, the Spanish and the Serbian have come out the same side in the Miami Open presented by Itaú. The happiest to face before the final is the Murcian, a lover of his rivalry with the most times champion of male tournaments of Grand Slam.

“We are on the same side of the painting, hopefully he can reach the semifinals and me too,” he said on Wednesday in his first media attention in the second 1000 masters of the year. “As I said before, these are the games that attract public to tennis because I think that every time we have played it is fun to see.”

Measuring ‘Nole’ would be an invaluable reward that Alcaraz would not want to get lost, especially for so many people interested in making themselves.

“I am very happy to be one of the players who make people begin to play tennis and want to see tennis games for the first time. It is what I try to do, have a style or type of tennis that people like. I play not only for me and my people, also so that the public entertains. It makes me happy to be a player who contributes to tennis in that sense.”

That is why since the tournament played at the Hard Rock Stadium came out, he is looking forward to another clash with Djokovic. It would be the ninth time they face, and the first in Miami. But at the same time that he dreams of reactivating the Lexus ATP Headtohead between them, which leads the Serbian 5-3 since January in Australia, Alcaraz has focused on its hard path, which includes debut before the Belgian David Goffin, with whom he has a 1-1 record.

“In the end this is a 1000 Masters. There are still many rounds ahead to think about semifinals. And from the second round there are already very funny games to see and very complicated to play. We will see how the tournament takes place and the days. The truth is that if you want to win the tournament you have to win the best players like Djokovic. We will try to be in that position,” said the Miami champion in 2022.

The current No. 3 of the world has arguments to believe in a new deep race in Miami, even despite its defeat in Indian Wells semifinals against the eventual Jack Draper champion. The great level of the British, which debuted on Monday at the Top 10 thanks to its first 1000 Masters title, minimized the reasons for reproaching something for the result.

💥 Look who prepares in Miami! 💥@Carlosalcaraz | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/TGmPMeOmJv

– ATP Tour en Español (@atppour_es) March 18, 2025

“His tennis is very high now. He has put at each point a lot of quality. For me the most important thing is that he has grown physically. For his mind it is key that because now his trust is even higher. In Indian Wells he played a great tennis. He mentally is to play at the highest level during a whole game. I think that makes a hard opponent.”

The defeat in California is already forgotten. And his trust seems to be in the right place before pursuing in Miami his title No. 18 in the ATP Tour, and the sixth at the ATP Masters 1000 level.

“I am happy with the year I have. I have won a tournament of four that I have played (in Rotterdam),” explains Alcaraz. “I think there are good results, good level and good rhythm despite some defeats that have hurt me. But I am happy because I am improving. I am maturing, I am going along a good path. And this is the path I have to continue carrying. Things will come well, or I have hope of it.”