Alcaraz, key in Botic's victory over Djokovic

Fernando Murciego | 9 Mar 2025 | 08.01

Zandschulp defeated Djokovic at Indian Wells. Source: Getty

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Botic Van de Zandschulp has become a player to keep a close eye on whenever a draw pushes him to face a top 10 player or a legend of the circuit. What would have been a huge surprise in the pastseeing him defeat Novak Djokovic in Indian Wells this early morning, today seems to be just another chapter in his list of preferred victims. He did it before in the Davis Cup against Rafa Nadal, in the match that marked his career, but we would have to go back to last summer to witness exactly where this transformation of Botic took place. It was at the US Open, against Carlos Alcaraz, on the day when his mindset 'clicked' forever. This is how the tennis player explained it in the press conference.

How does he manage to defeat the best?

“It's a good question, maybe you should ask those guys. I don't know, really, when I play against these guys I know I have to be there all the time, I have to be mentally stable, stay calm. I think today I played very well in each set, I can defend and attack, even go to the net. I think I have a great variety in my game, maybe that's what bothers them”.

Match development with Djokovic

“The conditions today were quite tough, the bounces were quite high, we were all struggling a bit with that. It makes it difficult to hit the ball well, Novak had a hard time with the backhand, but I also played very well with my second serve, for example. These conditions were very different from two years ago in Astana when we faced each other. The sun also didn't make it easy, many times we had sun and shade on the court, but maybe today I handled those conditions better”.

Against Alcaraz at the US Open, that's where it all began

“That match changed everything, although even before beating Carlos, I had played very good matches against the top 10. But yes, definitely, it was that match against Carlos that made me believe I could beat these players. Sinner kicked my ass twice last year and we haven't faced each other again, but with Novak that victory with Alcaraz has served me a lot. It's all about confidence in oneself before stepping onto the court, thinking that you really have the chance to win every day, although then it's important to go point by point”.

His most special victory

“They are all different, I think playing against Rafa in the last match of his career was mentally quite difficult, also playing in Spain, which is never easy. But yes, I think the one against Carlos at the US Open could have been the toughest of all since I wasn't entirely convinced yet that I could beat these guys who are currently leading the locker room. That was like a first step for everything that came after”.

Cerúndolo, next opponent

“To me, he is another amazing player, although I admit I haven't followed much of this last Latin American tour. I know he reached the final in Buenos Aires, but I didn't follow anything else. He is an amazing player, with a lot of power, can produce all kinds of winners with his backhand. He has also shown he can win on hard courts, I think he made the semifinals in Miami a couple of years ago. He is a dangerous player on every surface”.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Alcaraz, clave en la victoria de Botic sobre Djokovic