Alcaraz missed last year's tournament with a hamstring injury
Novak Djokovic celebrated his return to the summit of world tennis with a stroll into the quarter-finals at the Paris Masters as outclassed Damir Dzumhur had to retire with injury in the second set of their third round clash.
Nadal, bidding for a record-extending 14th French Open title, won the first five games of the match as he looked on course to repeat his drubbing of the Serb in last year's final.
Australian authorities scrambled on Sunday to file a legal defence of their decision to bar entry to tennis world number one Novak Djokovic over his COVID-19 vaccination status, as the Serbian superstar spent his fourth day in immigration detention.
While the announcement prompted outcry in Australia, pot-shots were taken at Djokovic on the internet as the saga fuelled a string of memes. Here are some that brought on more than a few chuckles...
Rafael Nadal said he feels sorry for Novak Djokovic after the world number one was denied entry into Australia but added that the Serb knew for months he could potentially face problems if he arrived without being vaccinated against COVID-19.
World number one Novak Djokovic polished off fellow Serb Dusan Lajovic 6-2, 6-1 in the first round of the Qatar Open on Tuesday.
Thiem blazed 50 winners, many of them jaw-dropping backhands, to beat Djokovic
Norway's Casper Ruud won his first Masters 1000 title on Sunday, as he stormed to a 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 victory over fifth seed Jack Draper in the Madrid Open final with a gutsy performance that showcased his clay-court mettle.
So Djokovic will certainly not be letting his guard slip when he plays American Denis Kudla on Friday.
Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer for a second year running to retain his Wimbledon title.
Novak Djokovic suffered his first defeat of the new season in the Qatar Open semi-finals on Friday, losing in three sets to Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut.
The world number one was virtually guaranteed a semi-final berth before walking on court at the O2 Arena, but made doubly sure by cruising past Tomas Berdych in little more than an hour.
Novak Djokovic could be on the verge of 'something special' after teaming up with Andre Agassi for the French Open, former Roland Garros runner-up Henri Leconte said on Tuesday.
Images from the first Wimbledon semi-final between Serbia's Novak Djokovic and Spain's Roberto Batista Agut at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on Friday
Portuguese and Juventus striker Cristiano Ronaldo taught his friend and tennis great Novak Djokovic 'how to jump'.
Images from Day 1 of the 2024 Australian Open in Melbourne on Sunday.
With no Nadal to defend his U.S. Open crown, on form, it's Djokovic's title for the taking, unless Federer shows glimpses of his past perfect self.
Novak Djokovic moved ahead for the first time in his long-running rivalry with Rafael Nadal when the World No 1 thrashed the Spaniard to win the Qatar Open in Doha on Saturday.
No sooner had Novak Djokovic claimed his 17th Grand Slam trophy by triumphing at the Australian Open for the eighth time on Sunday, the Serb was already setting himself a deadline to claim the record of major titles. Djokovic's 6-4, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory in a thriller over fifth seed Dominic Thiem drew him within three slams of Roger Federer's haul of 20 and two behind second-placed Rafa Nadal's 19.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will clash for the Italian Open title after the top two seeds advanced to the final of the Masters tournament on Saturday.
Thirteen-time champion Rafael Nadal, 20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer and world number one Novak Djokovic were placed in the same half of the French Open draw on Thursday.
Second seed Novak Djokovic outclassed Roger Federer in straight sets to enter the final of Australian Open in Melbourne on Thursday. Seven-time champion Djokovic started off slowly before he took complete control to register an emphatic 7-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory in the first semi-final.
Novak Djokovic joined the tennis greats on Sunday when he downed British second seed Andy Murray 3-6 6-1 6-2 6-4 to claim his maiden French Open title and hold all four grand slams at the same time. The world number one recovered from a nervous start to impose his pace on Court Philippe Chatrier and clinch his 12th grand slam crown after three previous failures in a Roland Garros final. Djokovic is only the third man after Don Budge and Rod Laver to hold the four majors at the same time, and the eighth man to triumph at Wimbledon and the French, U.S. and Australian Opens.
was on a 21-match unbeaten run before the season came to a halt in early March, winning the ATP Cup with Serbia, an eighth Australian Open title and a fifth Dubai Tennis Championships crown.
The 33-year-old, a record eight-time winner on the Melbourne Park Arena, slipped during the third set of Friday's third-round match against Taylor Fritz and disappeared off Rod Laver Arena for treatment.
World No 1 Novak Djokovic will miss Serbia's Davis Cup World Group playoff tie against India in Bangalore next weekend, the Balkan nation's coach Bogdan Obradovic said on Monday.
The German was visibly distraught ahead of the trophy ceremony, appearing emotional as he fought back tears.
World No 1 tennis player Novak Djokovic is set to reveal never before told stories about his life in a short documentary series in partnership with Australian winery Jacob's Creek.
Novak Djokovic looked to have regained his confidence and form just in time for a concerted Wimbledon assault as he carved out an emphatic win over Gael Monfils in the Aegon International grasscourt final at Eastbourne on Saturday.
Jim Courier said Novak Djokovic's decision to work with so-called 'guru' Pepe Imaz was partly to blame for his shock defeat at Roland Garros on Wednesday.
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz expect Rafael Nadal to be at his competitive best at the Australian Open next month despite a hip injury that wiped out the veteran Spaniard's 2023 season.
Novak Djokovic reasserted his rule over the hard-courts of Melbourne Park
Novak Djokovic clawed his way to a two sets to one lead over great rival Rafael Nadal before their scintillating Wimbledon semi-final was paused on a knife-edge on Friday.
Novak Djokovic was unexpectedly beaten by fifth-ranked Alexander Zverev, quashing his hopes of winning an Olympic singles gold medal, the only major honour missing from his long list of accolades.
Images from Day 3 of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, on Wednesday.
World No 1 Novak Djokovic continued his impressive run of form, winning the Miami Open over Andy Murray 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-0 at Key Biscayne on Sunday.
Defending champion Jannik Sinner swept past Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-0, 6-2 on Thursday to reach the Cincinnati Open semi-finals, the world number one extending his hardcourt winning streak to 25 matches.
It was unclear exactly what happened to world number 76 Musetti whose stylish game was threatening to send Djokovic to his earliest Roland Garros exit since 2009.
Novak Djokovic is finally set to return to action next week after six months out with an elbow injury and will then decide whether to take part in the Jan 15-28 Australian Open.
