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Novak Djokovic has dismissed the idea that Carlos Alcaraz is similar to his long-time rival Rafael Nadal.

The Serb won the latest installation of their rivalry by downing Alcaraz in straight sets during the semi-finals, before discussing comparisons to Nadal.

« No, I don’t (see Nadal in Alcaraz), » Djokovic said. « They are different players. In terms of the great occasion and the feeling of the intensity on the court that he brings, yeah, there is some similarity.

« But he’s a completely different player from Rafa. He’s one of the most complete players that I ever faced in my career.

« It’s quite impressive for his age that he’s able to play consistently well for now several years already, and he’s the youngest-ever No. 1 in the world that we had.

« A brilliant career already, and I think it’s quite obvious that he’s going to have a brilliant career full of success in the years to come.

« He’s still very, very young. But, yeah, he does bring the best out of me. He makes me prepare for the match as best that I possibly can.

« That’s where I probably would compare it to the preparations that I had in the matches against Nadal or [Roger] Federer, where I had to come out every single time at the peak of my abilities in order to win against them. »