Carlos Alcaraz’s US Open issues laid bare after Djokovic meeting never happened

Novak Djokovic says he will 'keep going' after US Open win

The coach of Jannik Sinner has shared his thoughts on why Carlos Alcaraz was not able to build on his Wimbledon success in America at the US Open this year. The Spaniard arrived in America as US champion after beating Novak Djokovic in five dramatic sets at the All England Club, but when both players met in the final of the Cincinnati Masters, it was the Serb’s turn to take home the silverware after a 5-7, 7-6, 7-6 victory.

The world’s top two players were once again kept apart by their seedings at Flushing Meadows, but hopes of a repeat of the Wimbledon final in the US Open were dashing when Alcaraz crashed out in the semi-finals to Daniil Medvedev.

Djokovic went on to beat the Russian star in the final, clinching his fourth US Open title, while Alcaraz was left to wonder what might have been.

After his semi-final exit, the former world No. 1 claimed that he was “not mature enough to handle these kind of matches”.

But Australian Darren Cahill, who has coached Italian star Sinner up to number seven in the world rankings, dismissed Alcaraz’s claim around maturity.

Speaking on the Advantage Connors podcast (as per Tennis365), Cahill said: “He is an amazing young man, certainly very humble, very honest. He and Jannik are very alike in many many ways, that’s why they are good friends off the court as well because they do get along, they do think the same and they do want it as badly as everybody. Carlos is a bit ahead of Jannik, at the moment.

“I think what Carlos was able to achieve at Wimbledon was remarkable. Going from somebody that people were thinking ‘it will take a few years before he becomes a threat on grass’ and then twelve months later, he won the trophy, defeating Novak Djokovic in the final.

“That’s everything about how competitive Carlos is, his work, his determination, and also his maturity. He might say that he is not mature enough, but he is.”

Alcaraz’ failure to win a title on the other side of the Atlantic after his Wimbledon triumph is considered a huge frustration for the Spaniard. He was knocked out of the quarterfinals of the Canadian Open in Toronto before Djokovic reminded everyone who the top dog in tennis really is in Cincinnati.

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But Cahill believes that the only reason hell fell short in the hardcourt season is because of his efforts at Wimbledon.

Cahill added: “I think that [Wimbledon success] had a bit of a lag effect – physically and mentally – on him through the whole US summer.

“I don’t think he played great tennis in Toronto or Cincinnati, but he was just good enough to battle through some difficult situations in certainly in Cincinnati and play that amazing final against Novak. And that probably left him a little bit physically fatigued for the US Open.

“… You could tell that he was struggling a little physically in that semi-final against Medvedev. He didn’t show it, he still played every point like it was the last and he was there until the end and he made no excuses after that match. I love that about Carlos, I love the fact that he is playing tennis, tennis is lucky to have him and hopefully he stays injury free and we can have him at the top of the sport for a long, long time.”

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