Alcaraz Surprised by Djokovic's US Open First-Round Exit

Carlos Alcaraz reacted to Novak Djokovic's unexpected first-round exit from the US Open, which occurred during a match against Mariano Navone. Alcaraz, who began his own campaign with a victory over Roman Safiullin at Flushing Meadows, stated that Djokovic's loss was surprising, especially since it was Djokovic's first defeat in the opening round of this tournament.

Alcaraz noted the difficulty of progressing through a Grand Slam, emphasizing the significance of Djokovic's early exit. Although Djokovic's defeat could potentially clear a path for Alcaraz to the semi-finals, Alcaraz mentioned that he was not focused on that outcome, stating that reaching the semi-finals felt too distant.

He also discussed the physical demands of returning to best-of-five-set tennis, highlighting the adjustment required after not playing five-set matches for some time.