Carlos Alcaraz has humorously acknowledged a playful exchange with Novak Djokovic regarding his newly adopted service motion, which bears a striking resemblance to that of the Serbian tennis legend. This light-hearted banter emerged during the Australian Open, where Alcaraz, the world No. 1, has been showcasing his revamped serve with great success.
The conversation began when Djokovic, upon noticing the similarity, jokingly suggested that Alcaraz should pay him a percentage of his winnings as a tribute for every ace. “As soon as I saw it, I sent him a message,” Djokovic told reporters. “I said, you know, we have to speak about the copyrights. Then when I saw him here, I told him we have to talk about a percentage of his winnings. Every ace I expect, you know, a tribute to me.”
Alcaraz’s Response and On-Court Performance
Alcaraz, who has advanced to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open for the third consecutive year, has been serving effectively with his new motion. After defeating Tommy Paul in straight sets, Alcaraz shared his perspective on the situation during an on-court interview. “Yeah, I heard that. I have the contract over there, but I haven’t seen him yet!” Alcaraz joked, eliciting laughter from the audience at Rod Laver Arena.
Reflecting on the origin of his new serve, Alcaraz explained, “It was funny because I was in the pre-season, and some videos came out with the movement. To be honest, I wasn’t worried that it was really similar to Nole’s serve. But I just woke up one day and I checked my phone, and I had Djokovic’s message like, ‘Alright, you have to pay me for the serve before the season starts’.”
The Decision Behind the Serve Change
Alcaraz’s decision to alter his service motion was a personal one, made towards the end of last year. The six-time Grand Slam champion discussed this choice, noting that it was not solely driven by his coaching team. “No, I mean, it’s been a discussion with my team, but sometimes I think it depends on my feeling, in this case,” Alcaraz said. “You could see, for example, in the backhand, I’m changing a little bit with the movement, with the racket head.”
Alcaraz elaborated on his approach to making adjustments, stating, “So I’ve been doing really small things because I just felt it that way, and I started to do it, and I think sometimes it’s the way that I’m feeling the ball, how I am comfortable with the movement of every shot. But there are some times where, of course, it’s been a discussion with my team. There are shots that I really want to improve. Okay, so we do it.”
Implications and Future Prospects
The light-hearted exchange between Alcaraz and Djokovic highlights the camaraderie and mutual respect among top-tier tennis players. While the jest about a contract may not materialize into a real agreement, it underscores the influence and inspiration players draw from one another. As Alcaraz continues to refine his game, his willingness to adapt and innovate could serve as a significant factor in maintaining his position at the top of the tennis world.
Looking ahead, Alcaraz’s performance in the Australian Open will be closely watched, as fans and analysts alike assess the impact of his new serve on his overall gameplay. The tournament provides a platform for the young Spaniard to demonstrate his growth and resilience, potentially setting the stage for further successes in the 2023 season.
