Carlos Alcaraz an ‘animal’ as Spaniard told when cramping will fade with Djokovic message
Feliciano Lopez addressed Carlos Alcaraz’s French Open semi-final match against Novak Djokovic. The 20-year-old started cramping in the third set and barely won a game afterwards.
Carlos Alcaraz has received some reassurance after a disappointing end to his French Open showdown with Novak Djokovic. The pair contested two tight sets before the 20-year-old started cramping and Alcaraz won just one more game after the physical issues set in. But Feliciano Lopez believes the world No 2 is an “animal” and will be able to overcome the issues with more experience.
Alcaraz admitted that his cramps were likely down to the pressure of playing such a big match – especially against a champion like Djokovic. The top seed at the French Open could be seen struggling physically at the end of the second set and at 1-1 in the third he forfeited a game to receive treatment.
He went on to lose 6-3 5-7 6-1 6-1 as he could barely move by the end of the match. And Alcaraz’s countryman has now admitted that he wasn’t surprised the 20-year-old struggled physically given his lack of experience in the latter stages of a Major.
