Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz played an intense practice set at the ATP Finals in Turin, which the Serbian star won quite resoundingly.
Djokovic and Alcaraz have been the ATP's most dominant duo this season winning the joint-most titles in 2023. Djokovic swept three of the four Grand Slams, the fourth time in his career he's managed to accomplish this feat, while Alcaraz won a maiden Wimbledon.
Their grip on the Masters was not quite tight, but they accounted for nearly half of the titles won at that level. The Serbian became the first man to win 40 Masters 1000s during his record-breaking run in Paris-Bercy. Djokovic also famously won the Cincinnati Masters beating Alcaraz in an epic final.
Alcaraz, for his part, took home titles in Indian Wells and Madrid. The battle for the year-end No. 1 was hotly contested throughout an absorbing season. Djokovic eventually withstood the Spaniard's challenge and comfortably sealed his spot at the summit for a record eighth time on Sunday.
And ahead of the ATP Finals, it was imperative that the players get to share the courts and practice against each other in a series of sessions to build fitness and acclimatize to the conditions. Djokovic and Alcaraz have forged one of the most intriguing and entertaining rivalries in the past 18 months.
And that has been transmitted to the practice court too. The two of them have practiced together at least three times before this, most notably at the Paris Masters a fortnight ago. On Friday, they were given the luxury of testing out the main court inside the Pala Alpitour in Turin.
Just like their frenetic rivalry, rallies in the practice session were intense and played at breakneck speed. One high-quality point had its own highlight reel on Tennis TV, in which Alcaraz played a short tweener in the middle of the court before Djokovic finished off the point with a backhand winner.
The practice set which began at noon on Friday was eventually won by Djokovic and quite handsomely, 6-1. Djokovic and Alcaraz have been drawn into opposite groups at the tournament and can only meet in the semifinal or final.
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