Alcaraz feels lucky that Djokovic withdrew

According to Alcaraz, with his class and experience as a seven-time champion, Djokovic will be a formidable opponent at the ATP Finals if he participates. However, the 38-year-old star withdrew citing a shoulder injury, after spending a three-hour Athens Open final with Lorenzo Musetti. With the No. 9 position in the world, the Italian tennis player received a ticket from his senior and attended a prestigious tournament at home for the first time.

"Honestly, I would rather play against Musetti. I don't want to lie ", Alcaraz shared in an interview on the sidelines of the ATP Finals on November 10.

Musetti lost to Taylor Fritz 3-6, 4-6 in the opening match of the Jimmy Connors group on the evening of November 10. A day earlier, Alcaraz started this group well when defeating Alex de Minaur 7-6, 6-2. In the second match, Alcaraz meets Fritz at 8:00 p.m. today, and Musetti plays De Minaur at 3:00 a.m. on November 12, Hanoi time.

"Djokovic plays very well on indoor hard courts, " Alcaraz added about the Serbian senior. "I lost to him in the semi-finals in 2023 even though I played pretty well. Musetti absolutely deserves to be here after an impressive year. He showed a high level and we will wait and see how he adapts. Musetti's only problem is his experience in this tournament. "

Alcaraz won six of seven meetings with Musetti. His only loss came on clay in Hamburg in 2022. With Fritz, Alcaraz won four of five matches, but his only loss came on indoor hard courts at this year's Laver Cup.

The victory in his opening match helped Alcaraz strengthen his chances of winning the year-end number one cup for the first time since 2022. He now only needs 250 more points in Turin to surpass rival Jannik. Sinner, while each ATP Finals group stage victory is worth 200 points.

In the Bjorn Borg group, defending champion Sinner maintained his destructive form by defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-5, 6-1 on the opening day, bringing his winning streak on indoor hard courts to 27. In the remaining match of the group, Alexander Zverev defeated Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6.