"The World No. 1 right now is the true No. 1" - Tennis fans react to Carlos Alcaraz's comments about Novak Djokovic taking top spot from him
Carlos Alcaraz recently reflected on losing the No. 1 spot in the ATP rankings to Novak Djokovic.
A title run at the Australian Open saw Djokovic edge past the young Spaniard in the rankings. Alcaraz could do nothing to stop that, as he had withdrawn from the tournament owing to an injury.
During an interview ahead of the ATP event in Buenos Aires, Alcaraz expressed regret over the Serb "taking" the No. 1 spot from him.
"It was really hard to miss Australia. It was difficult to watch it on TV and see Djokovic take #1 from me. It was clear that #1 was going to be taken from me sooner or later, that was going to be difficult to keep it all the time. Now the goal is to get it back," he stated.
Reacting to Alcaraz's words, several fans opined that the 19-year-old did not deserve the top spot anyway. One fan claimed that Alcaraz only became World No. 1 last year because Djokovic was banned from taking part in various tournaments.
"I have respect for Alcaraz but he became World No1 because Djokovic was barred from so many tournaments!! The whole time Alcaraz was No1 fans, ex players & so many commentators all said Djokovic is still the best player in the world!! The World No1 right now is the true No1!!," the fan said.
I have respect for Alcaraz but he became World No1 because Djokovic was barred from so many tournaments!!
The whole time Alcaraz was No1 fans, ex players & so many commentators all said Djokovic is still the best player in the world!!
The World No1 right now is the true No1!! twitter.com/marioboc17/sta…
Another fan acknowledged Alcaraz's spirit to fight back for the top spot. However, they maintained that the Spanish player would never have been No. 1 if it weren't for the "unprecedented circumstances" that unfolded last year.
"I appreciate his "I need to get back to #1" attitude but you have to least acknowledge that you wouldn't have been #1 to begin with if it weren't for said unprecedented circumstances," their tweet read.
Djokovic had to sit and watch on TV while everyone else competed for 10,000 points more than him
I appreciate his "I need to get back to #1" attitude but you have to least acknowledge that you wouldn't have been #1 to begin with if it weren't for said unprecedented circumstances twitter.com/marioboc17/sta…
The Serb earned back what was "rightfully his," stated another user.
"Djokovic took back what was rightfully his. Let’s face it - Carlos would never have been number 1 yet had Novak been denied 10000 points last year!!" the user opined.
Djokovic took back what was rightfully his. Let’s face it - Carlos would never have been number 1 yet had Novak been denied 10000 points last year!!
It took steel from Novak to get it back
Let’s see if Carlos has any of that steel himself twitter.com/marioboc17/sta…
Here are a few other fan reactions:
Just think how difficult it was Novak watching other players go up the rankings when he should always have remained at No 1, had he not been banned from so many events or having his Wimbledon title points taken.
Wish Carlos the best but the current no 1 in Tennis is undisputed. twitter.com/marioboc17/sta…
@marioboc17 Fine. But let's set the record straight: he got to #1 also thanks to the absence of Novak and the not-assigned Wimbledon points
Tbh if not politics you wouldn't get to no1 in the first place with that number of points. twitter.com/marioboc17/sta…
@marioboc17 “…Djokovic take number one from me.” Lol.
@marioboc17 This kid was never a #1. He got there by political games that are so far away from our sport. He should not be carried away by the #1 he was given to, and not really earned on the tennis court. This is dangerous for a young athlete.
@marioboc17 Not taken from you…it was taken from him! He’s just rightfully back at number 1.
@marioboc17 "That was going to be difficult to keep… " Really did you think so Carlos? Even harder to keep when you really didn't earn it from the guy you took it from… With all due respect, the right guy has it back and it will be his for a while I would think 🤔
Carlos Alcaraz has the aggression of Djokovic, says Spaniard's coach Juan Carlos Ferrero
Carlos Alcaraz's coach Juan Carlos Ferrero feels that the Spaniard has the aggression of Novak Djokovic when it comes to playing his shots.
Speaking to Clay Tenis, Ferrero compared the playing style of Alcaraz to the Big 3. He stated that Alcaraz has the net play of Federer, the mentality of Nadal and the aggressive game style of Djokovic.
"On a mental level he is a good player who is growing in that aspect, on a competitive level he is very good, on a stroke level he has that aggression of Djokovic, that approach to the net of Roger and mentally, obviously, Rafa. If you want to compare them with the three, I would go that way," he opined.
Carlos Alcaraz will next be in action at the ATP 250 event in Buenos Aires, where he will face off against Laslo Djere in the Round of 16 on Wednesday (February 15).