Challenge from Carlos Alcaraz is 'extra motivation' for Novak Djokovic, their rivalry is great for tennis: Alex Corretja
The constant pressure from Carlos Alcaraz will only motivate Novak Djokovic to consolidate his place as the world No. 1, believes Spanish tennis great Alex Corretja. The former player used the example of the Big 3 era to suggest that World No. 1 Djokovic will be inspired by the challenge from second-ranked Alcaraz to keep improving and stay focused.
A former World No. 2, Corretja is excited to see how the rivalry between Djokovic and the Spanish teenage superstar pans out. The two players are currently separated by only 200 points at the top of the ATP rankings.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion is expected to extend his lead at the Dubai Tennis Championships this week. Alcaraz, meanwhile, will look to close the gap and regain the No. 1 ranking, with Djokovic's Indian Wells and Miami participation in doubt.
With the challenge from Alcaraz expected to be relentless, Djokovic would welcome the same and keep working to improve his game, feels Corretja.
"I think it is nice, once you are there at the top of the rankings, to have someone pushing you. That makes you improve all the time and that makes you learn," Alex Corretja told Eurosport. "I think for him, it is something that is extra motivation because you need to know how to keep finding ways of improving your game," the former player added.
Corretja feels that Djokovic and Alcaraz's rivalry is beneficial to tennis in general, much like the incredible Big 3 rivalry between Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer that only elevated the three tennis legends. He added:
"This (Djokovic vs Alcaraz) is great for tennis, and it is great for them because, at the end of the day, the reason why Rafa, Roger and Novak were so good was because they were in the same era, and they needed to improve."
"Novak Djokovic may break most of records in men's and women's tennis" - Alex Corretja
Apart from constantly improving to maintain his place atop the the rankings, Alex Corretja believes Novak Djokovic will also keep targeting the biggest records in the game. The 35-year-old broken Steffi Graf's all-time record for most career weeks as world No. 1 (377) on Monday (February 27).
First up on the Belgrade native's mind will be to break a tie with Rafael Nadal and become the holder of the all-time men's singles Grand Slam record.
"I believe he is thinking 'okay, now I will chase this record; now I would like to go for one more major to see if I can pass Rafa," Corretja said on the same.
Eventually, Djokovic will break most of the biggest all-time records across the men's and women's circuits, Corretja opined.
"It is a challenging situation, and it is something to get motivated with when you are going on court again and again and playing in different tournaments. So I think Novak may go on and break most of the records in men's and women's tennis."
The ten-time Australian Open champion recently recognized the competition with Carlos Alcaraz. He also admitted that fellow 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal remains his biggest rival, given their legendary 59-match rivalry, which the Serb leads 30-29.