Riyadh: In a thrilling showdown, Spanish tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz emerged victorious at the Riyadh Season Tennis Cup, held at the Kingdom Arena.
The event was graced by the presence of HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Sports and President of the Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee, as well as HE Advisor Turki bin Abdul Mohsen AlalShikh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), and HE Yasir O. Al-Rumayyan, Governor of the Public Investment Fund and Chairman of Aramco’s Board of Directors, who crowned the winner.
Carlos Alcaraz secured the championship title after defeating the renowned Novak Djokovic in a hard-fought match, with a final score of 6:4, 4:6, 4:6. The match captivated the audience with its fast-paced and exhilarating gameplay. Alcaraz, a rising star in the tennis world, expressed his joy at the opportunity to play against Djokovic, whom he admired and learned from. He also expressed his hopes for future encounters on the tennis court. The best players in the singles category were crowned for the Riyadh Season Men's Tennis Cup match in the Kingdom Arena.
The audience enjoyed a night full of excitement and enthusiasm, as the game was characterized by its fast pace, and player Carlos Alcaraz achieved great success. Alcaraz said that he grew up watching his counterpart, Novak Djokovic, and expressed how happy he was to play with him and learn from him closely, and said that he hopes that they will have more opportunities to play tennis in the future.
HE ِAdvisor Turki bin Abdul Mohsen Alalshikh concluded the last days of the Riyadh Season Tennis Cup by announcing the holding of another tennis tournament, the date of which will be announced later.
The 20-year-old Spanish player Carlos Alcaraz has achieved advanced positions in tennis tournaments. During his career, he was awarded the title of best player and the first title at the end of the season according to the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, as he was the youngest player to win the title since 1973. Alcaraz was distinguished by his impressive sporting record, rising from 32nd place in 2021 to first place by September 2022 and continuing to lead until the end of the season. Alcaraz won the 2023 Wimbledon title in a thrilling five-way clash with Novak Djokovic. Carlos Alcaraz remained number one and entered the US Championships with a total of 36 weeks in his young career, becoming the third Spanish player to win at Wimbledon after Nadal (2008, 2010) and Manuel Santana (1966).
He is the youngest player to beat Nadal and Djokovic in the same tournament. Regarding his experience in Riyadh, Alcaraz said: "I enjoyed my time in Riyadh, not only on the tennis court, and I look forward to coming again. I was honored to play with Djokovic, as I have been watching him play since I was young. Thank you and I wish you the best."
Novak Djokovic said: "I have been here in Riyadh for two days, and I thank you on behalf of me and my team. You have welcomed us wonderfully. Thank you for the excellent organization, and thank you, Your Excellency, for your support. It is a historic event for the first and second tennis players to play in Saudi Arabia."
Djokovic is one of the most prominent players in the history of the game. He achieved a record of topping the rankings for 404 weeks in 13 different years, and he also achieved first place at the end of the year seven times, which is another record. Djokovic has an impressive winning record, having won a record 24 Grand Slam men's singles titles, including ten at the Australian Open.
In its fourth edition, Riyadh Season has hosted many entertainment sporting events. The season began with The Battle of the Baddest, which was watched by millions from around the world. The Season also included the Day of Reckoning bouts that brought together the most prominent boxers from around the world. After that, the Season witnessed the Riyadh Season Women’s Tennis Cup, in which Belarusian player Aryna Sabalenka was crowned last night. Riyadh Season is looking forward to hosting the Riyadh Season Cup in early February, which will bring together the most prominent football stars in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.