The world quantity two, Carlos Alcaraz, defeated Novak Djokovic regardless of dropping the primary set within the Tennis Cup to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a Saudi Arabian exhibition match.
The match noticed the game’s greatest two energetic gamers conflict within the Kingdom Area in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as the town continues its mega week of sport after internet hosting a blockbuster boxing occasion on Saturday, December 23.
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Djokovic appeared to be in sharper kind within the early exchanges within the rematch of the 2023 Wimbledon remaining, regardless of Alcaraz‘s fast begin however the Asturian did not go down with out a combat as he received the second set earlier than profitable the third to get an enormous increase of confidence forward of the resumption of the ATP Tour.
The primary set
It might be the maverick Spaniard who would draw first blood by breaking the skilled Serbian within the opening sport of the competition, however Djokovic did not take lengthy to interrupt again.
His infamous psychological energy shone by way of as he saved three break factors at 4-3 to resolve the future of the set, which he closed out by profitable the next two video games to win the primary set 6-4 after a double-fault from Alcaraz.
Novak Djokovic of Serbia in motion in opposition to Carlos Alcaraz of SpainEFE
The second set
The second set started as the primary did, with the youthful participant breaking Djokovic‘s serve within the second sport. Nevertheless, it did not observe the identical sample as Alcaraz received the fourth sport to say a dominant 3-1 lead.
From there, the set did not have a lot drama as each gamers held their video games however couldn’t break the opposite and Alcaraz levelled the affairs by profitable with the identical margin he misplaced the earlier set, 6-4.
The third set
Djokovic managed to keep away from being damaged within the opening sport of the third set however equally, Alcaraz managed to keep away from the identical factor within the second sport as they remained even stevens with one another within the early exchanges.
Nevertheless, it could be the older man who blinked first as Djokovic had two save two break factors within the third sport. He managed to succeed as soon as however faltered within the second as Alcaraz took the lead earlier than extending to a 3-1 benefit.
The decisive second got here within the ninth sport of the set as Alcaraz broke Djokovic as soon as once more leaving him only one sport away from victory, which he duly transformed by profitable the final sport of the night time after racing right into a 40-0 lead.
