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ATP Stars Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune Issued Longevity Warning With an Inimitable Novak Djokovic’s Feat- ‘Going to Take a Lot..’

Published 10/01/2023, 4:49 AM EDT

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Hate him or love him, Novak Djokovic is breaking all barriers, smashing records, and setting new standards. He is 36, unstoppable, unreachable, and undefeatable. The Serbinator holds one powerful weapon against haters – his game. While tennis pundits are focused on analyzing the present generation players and the Big 3 replacements, Djoker is clinching records and titles on a roll. Alone, he is compensating for both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Playing against the Serb requires the high functioning of every fiber in the body. Though players like Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune are trying their best to secure wins against Djoker, do they really have an edge over him? A former French professional has a perfect answer.

Tennis analyst dissects the chances of Alcaraz and Rune against Novak Djokovic

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Apart from the Spaniard and the Dane, none of the top players hold a commendable head-to-head record against the Serb. While Alcaraz and Djokvic are tied, Rune leads the head-to-head with 2 out of 3 wins against the Serb. Though playing against the World No.1 requires physical strength, the French Grand Slam champion stated it also takes mental firmness to have a season like Djokovic’s.

Former World No.7, Marion Bartoli, analyzed the difficulty levels of young guns against Djoker’s physical strength. Bartoli said, “If you will build the perfect tennis athlete, you can’t have someone better than Novak. The flexibility, the smoothness, everything moves freely.” French commentator assessed that Alcaraz and Rune should measure their moves cautiously so they won’t be prone to injuries at a young age.

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The eight singles titles winner opined that Alcaraz and Rune are surviving because of their carefully curated game; it is also why the young champions are a bit behind the 36-year-old. The former professional opined, “That’s also why Carlos and Holger got so good so early, as well. So it’s the pros and the cons from what their game styles are and the way they are built physically.” But that’s hardly all.

Bartoli concluded, “But for sure they we’ll have to watch out because if they want to last that long it’s going to take a lot out of both of their bodies.” The Frech analyst has always advocated for the 24-time Slam champion’s prowess. She accurately interpreted the World No.1’s mind after equaling Rafa’s Slams. Bartoli also ruled on why the 96 titles winner is still painted grey.

Is being a Serbian sabotaging the 24-time Slam champion’s reputation?

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The former French player dished out that if Djoker weren’t from a small European country, he would be highly recognized. Comparing the Serb against the American professionals, Bartoli revealed that Djokovic deserves more media coverage and attention than any other player. From her vantage point, the one-time Slam champion predicted Djoker’s hunger to achieve even more and obsessing over breaking records nearly two years ago.

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When Nole finally became the ATP star to have the most number of Grand Slams, Bartoli said that had he been an American, he would’ve had statues in every city. She even interpreted that Djokovic’s timing of becoming a professional turned out to be a curse. The former Top-10 player reasoned that the world already had Swiss Maestro for elegance and the King of Clay for a fighter. So, Djoker became a third party.

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Regardless of how things were and people’s perceptions about Djokovic, history remembers only numbers and records. Djokovic has both in abundance, and his numbers are only skyrocketing. Generations from now, the Serb will be remembered as the greatest and the most underrated.

WATCH THIS STORY: ‘Difficult To Compare’ – A Week After Novak Djokovic’s US Open Victory, Serena Williams’ Ex-coach Dishes Out The Ultimate Verdict On The G.O.A.T. Debate In Tennis

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Written by:

Krishna Priya

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Vadlamani Krishna Priya is a tennis writer at Essentially Sports. Pursuing her passion for storytelling, she has a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. Helped by her cousin who introduced her to the rules and regulations of the game during her childhood, Roger Federer matches became Priya's gateway to the world of tennis.
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Edited by:

Mitali Dey