Alcaraz Opens Up About Increased Use Of Serve & Volley Against Djokovic In Cincinnati
ATP
Carlos Alcaraz has explained why he decided to use the serve and volley tactic regularly during his Cincinnati Masters final defeat against Novak Djokovic.
Alcaraz and Djokovic played out an electric final in Cincinnati, and the Serbian player eventually edged the Spaniard across three sets. Throughout the contest, the world number one employed the attacking strategy of serve and volley to try and catch Djokovic off guard.
But, Alcaraz didn't just use the approach casually in the match and he used it to maximum effect by saving match points in the third set. When asked about his decision to employ the serve and volley tactic, especially more so in the decisive third set, Alcaraz said it sometimes works better than rallying from the baseline when energy levels are decreasing.
"It's something I feel comfortable playing, serve and volley, sometimes. Of course, in that moment I was seeing that from the baseline, for me it's even tougher to win a point. So I decide to do serve and volley. My coach told me the same from the stands. Go to the net. Go to the net."
"I was seeing that it's working, so I decide to do more often in the third set 'cause, as I said, physically I was in the limit."
However, the world number one also explained that there is a balance between using the serve and volley instinctively and deploying it at the right moment. Alcaraz told reporters that it is an approach that he feels comfortable with, but the timing has to be correct to use it effectively.
"I feel comfortable. In that tough moment, you have to do what you feel comfortable. I think, yeah, I do a pretty well volleys game. Yeah, I decided to do it. It works, thanks God."
"Yeah, we put the match into a tiebreak. Yeah, have been good in that moment, in that moment that works."
