"New generation is rising, Alcaraz, Rune, myself, we are all young" - Djokovic ahead of Paris final
ATP
Novak Djokovic was in a good mood after his semi-final win at the 2022 Paris Masters. He named himself as one of the youngsters on the ATP Tour.
Djokovic has been one of the best, if not the best, players this season. He couldn't enter multiple tournaments, but the Serbian won almost every event that he played.
He's currently on a 20-match winning streak after beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semi-finals of the 2022 Paris Masters. It was a hard-fought win, as Djokovic won the match in three sets, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(4), and after the match, he was in a very good mood.
Djokovic will play against Holger Rune in the final of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in the French capital, which is why he was asked about the youngsters on the ATP Tour. When naming Rune and Carlos Alcaraz, the Serbian player also added his name to the list of youngsters.
"Yes a new generation is rising. Alcaraz, Rune, myself, we are all young, all of us."
He will play in the final of the Paris Masters for the eighth time. On the other hand, Rune will appear in such a big final for the first time in his career, and he will try to stun the 21-time Grand Slam champion.
Djokovic was also very happy to win his semi-final match against Tsitsipas. The Greek player pushed him hard, but the more experienced of the two eventually prevailed in the third-set tie-break.
"It's very sweet, obviously, when you win matches like this against one of the best players in the world. I thought I started the match very well, again, great hitting like yesterday in the quarters."
"I had chances early on in the second [twice at 30/30], I didn't break his serve. The momentum shifted, the crowd got into it. I think he elevated his level of tennis."
Djokovic and Rune have spent time practicing together a few times this year in Monaco, which is also one of the reasons why the Serbian had only words of praise for his final opponent.
"No doubt that he's the future of the sport, along with Alcaraz and some other guys. Hopefully, I can suspend his first title Masters 1000 event (smiling). We get along really well. Good friends off the court."
