“We talk in lockers… Once we step on court, there are no friends” – Carlos Alcaraz on his bond with rival Novak Djokovic

Carlos Alcaraz recently talked about his rivalry and friendship with Novak Djokovic. The duo are in contention in the 2024 US Open men's singles event, having qualified for the second round.

Djokovic, the defending champion, started his campaign on Monday, August 26, against Moldova's Radu Albot. He defeated Albot 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 on the back of eight aces and six break points.

No. 3 seed Alcaraz was in business at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday, as he overcame Australian qualifier Li Tu in the first round. He faced significant resistance from Tu as the Australian converted two break points and won the second set.

But the Spaniard stood strong and clinched a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory with eight aces and seven break points.

After the win, Carlos Alcaraz reached the press room, where a journalist asked him to comment on his equation with Djokovic, as the two have formed quite a rivalry in the recent past. The youngster noted he's good friends with the 24-time Grand Slam champion off the court.

"We have a good rivalry. Every time that we step on the court, we played really high tennis. Every time that we faced against each other, it has been a really good and intense match. But we have a really good friendship off the court. We talk a lot in the lockers every time that we see each other around. With his team as well," Carlos Alcaraz.

In the following sentence, however, the 21-year-old suggested there is no harmony while competing on the court, saying:

"Once we step on the court, there are no friends here on tour, but after that, after the court, I have a really good relationship with a lot of players, and one of them is Novak."

The two have notably met seven times on the court with the Serb leading 4-3 in the head-to-head. They have already played two finals so far this season, with Carlos Alcaraz winning at Wimbledon and the Serb at the Olympics.

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Carlos Alcaraz faces Botic van de Zandschulp in US Open 2R, Novak Djokovic is up against Laslo Djere

Novak Djokovic (Getty)

Carlos Alcaraz's second-round opponent in the 2024 US Open men's singles event is Botic van de Zandschulp from the Netherlands. Alcaraz holds a 2-0 lead over Zandschulp in the head-to-head. The Dutchman defeated Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 in the first round.

Novak Djokovic, on the other hand, will take on fellow Serb Laslo Djere next. Like Alcaraz, he has a 2-0 advantage over Djere, who overcame Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff 6-7(7), 6-1, 6-7(7), 6-4, 6-2 in a thrilling first-round battle.

Notably, second seed Djokovic and third seed Alcaraz are in the opposite halves of the men's singles draw at the New York Major. Hence, the two can collide only if they make it to the final.