By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, November 9, 2025Photo credit score: Rolex Paris Masters Fb
Novak Djokovic’s withdrawal from the season-ending ATP Finals upset followers.
The Grand Slam king’s absence pleases some rivals.
World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz admitted he’d somewhat face Lorenzo Musetti, who changed Djokovic within the Jimmy Connors Group of round-robin play, than seven-time champion Djokovic in Turin.
“Properly, clearly somebody like Novak being within the group is all the time powerful,” Alcaraz instructed the media in Turin after his 7-6(5), 6-2 opening win over Alex de Minaur. “The expertise he hasin this match, the extent he has on indoor courtroom, it’s fairly good. I misplaced to him in 2023, and I performed nice. He killed me.
“To be sincere, I favor Lorenzo. I’m not going to lie.”
Yesterday, Djokovic out-dueled Musetti in a pulsating Athens remaining to seize his a hundred and first profession championship. Djokovic later withdrew from Turin with a shoulder problem sending Musetti into the ATP Finals subject.
“If he’s there, he deserves it due to the extent he has placed on the matches, the tournaments he has carried out this yr, and the extent he confirmed this yr,” Alcaraz stated of Musetti. “It was actually, reallyhigh. Let’s see how he’s going to be, how he’s going to adapt. He’s coming from Athens, and he couldn’t really feel the courtroom in any respect.
“However I’m positive he’s going to do nice and let’s see how goes to be.”
