"Novak Djokovic deserves it; all I can say is congratulations" - Carlos Alcaraz on Serb finishing as year-end World No. 1
After losing to Alexander Zverev on his ATP Finals debut on Monday, Carlos Alcaraz said that Novak Djokovic deserves to be the year-end World No. 1.
Djokovic, 36, needed only a win - or Alcaraz not going unbeaten at the ongoing ATP Finals in Turin - to confirm a record-extending eighth year-end World No. 1 finish.
On Sunday, the Serb beat Holger Rune in three sets on Sunday to confirm his year-end No. 1 ranking. That ended Alcaraz's slim hopes of overtaking Djokovic to the top spot.
After losing to Zverev, the Spaniard suggested in his post-match press conference that Djokovic has been the best player on tour in 2023:
"Well, he deserves (it)," he said. "He deserve it, for sure. I mean, he has won three Grand Slams and reached the final of the fourth one. He won two or three Masters 1000s. I mean, he deserves to end the year as No. 1."
"He has lost just five matches in the year. It's unbelievable. I hear that he said it wasn't the best year of his career. It is amazing," he added.
Alcaraz further said he would resume his quest for the top spot in 2024. He also rued his missed opportunities at the last tournament in Paris, where he lost in the second round to Roman Safiullin.
"I've been fighting for the No. 1," he said. "I had the chances in the last tournament that I've played, and I couldn't take that opportunity. All I can say is congratulations to him, the eighth time that he has the No. 1. I will fight to have the chance in the next year."
How have Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic fared in 2023?
Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have both had impressive 2023 campaigns. Alcaraz has a win-loss record of 64-11 after his loss to Zverev, while Djokovic improved to 53-5 after beating Rune a day earlier.
The two men have won six titles apiece, and collectively swept the four Grand Slam titles on offer. Djokovic won three of them (Australian Open, Roland Garros, US Open) but missed out on a calendar Grand Slam, losing the Wimbledon final to Alcaraz. His US Open triumph was an Open Era record 24th Grand Slam singles title.
The Serb also won two Masters 1000 titles (Cincinnati, Paris). Carlos Alcaraz, meanwhile, won two Masters 1000 titles (Indian Wells, Madrid) himself but lost the Cincinnati final to Novak Djokovic, squandering a championship point.
The Spaniard's 2023 season is the best of his career so far. He went 57-13 in his breakout 2022 campaign.