History is always hovering over me: Djokovic on reaching French Open final

Novak Djokovic, who moved within one win of a record 23rd major trophy by defeating World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz to reach the final at French Open, said that history is always something that's hovering over him and he is just thinking about winning the next match.

Djokovic on Friday pulled away from the physically ailing Spaniard after a pulsating opening two sets to clinch a four-set triumph and move to the brink of history.

The Serbian will face Casper Ruud in Sunday's final in order to move ahead of Rafael Nadal in the Grand Slam titles race.

"Pressure is always on my shoulders, so it's not going to be different. But it's part of my sport, part of my life, all that I do. I think that having pressure is a privilege. But it's a source of motivation, as well. Great motivation to play well and to reach Sunday," Djokovic was quoted as saying by ATP Tour.

"Before the tournament I was saying that of course for me Roland Garros is a Grand Slam, and it's the most important tournament on this surface. So I was well-prepared so that I would be in this position, so that I would be ready for this battle to win this other Grand Slam title.

I hope that I'll play my best tennis level on Sunday. The only thing I can say now is that I'm very focused. History is always something that's hovering over me, but I'm very happy to be in this position to write history of this sport, but I'm just thinking about winning the next match," he added.

Djokovic produced some of his best tennis of the fortnight in Paris early against Alcaraz, but the Spaniard had struck back to level the pair's semi-final at one-set-all when he began to suffer from a debilitating cramp that severely hindered his movement on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

In true champion style, Djokovic stayed focused on his own game to clinch a comfortable victory in a match that had seemed set to become a Roland Garros classic.

"I have experienced that several times," said Djokovic, when asked about Alcaraz's post-match self-assessment that the tension of the encounter had contributed to his physical issues.

"Early in my career I was struggling quite a bit physically. I can understand the emotions and circumstances that affect you mentally and emotionally. Being in one of the greatest tournaments of the world, [and] maybe for the first time in his career he was expected to win. He was maybe not an underdog, chasing the title and trying to win against a favourite. It was probably the other way around. So maybe that affected him. As he said, it probably did," he added.

The 36-year-old Djokovic was in no doubt that 2022 US Open champion Alcaraz would soon come again on the Grand Slam stage, and likened the Spaniard's tribulations on the Parisian clay to some that he went through earlier in his own career.

"It's a part of the learning curve. It's part of the experience. He's only 20. So, he's got plenty of time," said Djokovic, who had to wait three years between winning his first major title and his second.

"He's shown so much maturity in the last couple of years. He appeared on the scene, just a few years ago, winning his first title, and only a year later he wins his first Grand Slam, and he becomes No. 1.

"I have tremendous respect for that, and he's got a great coach, a great team of people around him. The career will be his. His career will be very successful if he manages obviously to keep healthy, because the game is there," he added.

--IANS

ak/cs