Carlos Alcaraz has claimed he wants to win his first Australian Open title – and return to world No.1 – by beating Novak Djokovic in the final.
The Serbian superstar is seeking an 11th victory here and is unbeaten in the first Major of the season since 2018.
World No.2 Alcaraz has won two Grand Slams – including beating Djokovic in a classic Wimbledon final – but has never got behind the third round in his two appearances Down Under. He missed last year due to injury.
Beating the world No.1 in Melbourne Park has become one of the biggest challenges in sport.
But Alcaraz, who would return to the top of the rankings by winning the title here, said: “It’s an extra motivation for me. I’m an ambitious guy. I always want to play against the best players in the world to see what my level is.
“Obviously it’s a good test, playing against him in the places or in the tournament that he’s almost unbeatable. I am looking for reaching the final and hopefully playing a final against him.
“It would be great obviously. Knowing those stats, it’s an extra motivation, for sure.”
Djokovic could not defend his title in 2022 after he was deported. His last on-court defeat here was in the 2018 fourth round here when he lost to South Korean Hyeon Chung while suffering from an elbow injury.
Alcaraz has travelled to Australia without his long-term coach Juan Carlos Ferrero after his fellow Spaniard underwent knee surgery.
He will be coached here by Samuel Lopez who helped the Wimbledon champion to win his first ever grasscourt title at Queen’s Club last season when Ferrero was also absent.
“It’s tough not being with him,” said Alcaraz, 20.
“Obviously he travel almost 100% of the tournaments. Probably he miss just one or two last year. It’s going to be difficult to approach a big tournament without him.
“I have Sam with me who is a great coach as well. He was Juan Carlos’s coac h when he was playing. I trust him. I believe in him.I think I can learn a lot from him, as well. Let’s see how it goes. As I said, I trust him 100%.”
Alcaraz added: “I’m still excited about this year. I hope it’s going to be as good as 2023. I have prepared really, really well at the start. We are going to start with this tournament. I think I did a good preparation coming to this year.
“I think right now we have to improve with the things that I didn’t do well last year, for example, and try to be better with my team and myself obviously. on the court, off the court. I think everybody can be better. Everybody can improve their things. I’m not perfect, so I have to improve a lot of things on the court and off the court, as well. I think this year, it’s going to be a good one.”
