Alcaraz dominates Djokovic in the exhibition organized by Saudi Arabia

The last match of the 2023 tennis season concluded with the victory of the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz over Novak Djokovic, 4-6, 6-4 and 6-4. Despite his 36 years, the Serbian continues to put pressure on young players but yesterday, in Riyadh, he received his third defeat against the Murcian in six games. It will not be a victory or a defeat that counts in the history of the two best in the world. It was an exhibition match organized by the Sovereign Fund of the Government of Saudi Arabia, which is increasingly willing to invest in sport in its attempt to silence its violation of human rights.

In the front row of the presidential tribune of the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, were the main authorities of the Kingdom. The pavilion, with capacity for 40,000 spectators, was full. Lots of lights and noise in the presentation of the numbers one and two in world tennis. A spectacle never seen before in the country that seeks to exploit another political weapon in sport. Not in vain does it aspire to organize a Masters 1000 in 2025, after its attempts to strengthen its football league with Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Aymeric Laporte and Riyad Mahrez, to improve its basketball, table tennis, and volleyball championships and organize the Federations Cup. The day before the duel between Djokovic and Alcaraz, the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka and the Tunisian Ons Jabeur had also been part of the Saudi Arabian sports show.

The match itself did not have the heat or emotion that come with matches in which a title is at stake. Djokovic recognizes Alcaraz’s potential after each confrontation with the Murcian. Yesterday he did it again: «What Carlos has achieved at such a young age is spectacular. He is very humble and has great family values. It is great to have him in our sport and he will be one of the leaders of tennis. The Serbian, who had won the last match played last November in Turin, where he won his seventh title of the season in which he only lost in 63 games, did not refuse to comment on Rafa Nadal’s return: «It is great news for tennis that Nadal returns. He is one of the legends and will be good for the sport and for us. “In the last twenty years, he and Federer have made tennis grow.”

Alcaraz, champion of six titles, including the great victory at Wimbledon, recorded 12 defeats in 65 matches. During the trophy presentation, where he was accompanied by his father, he praised Djokovic: «It is incredible to share the court with him. I learn from him. He looks like he is 20 years old, so we will share many years on the slopes. He assured that what matters most to him is improving as a person, winning big tournaments and continuing to learn.

Great sponsors

Although tennis usually publishes the prize money for all its tournaments, the prize money received by the participants in this exhibition has barely been announced. The importance of the sponsors of the matches, both female and male, predicts that the amount distributed was succulent. On the runway you could see the company Altanfethi, the largest operator in the 27 terminals of all the airports in the Kingdom, a company considered the first choice for VIP travelers. Aramco, which is the company that exploits Saudi oil, as well as gas and other petrochemical products. SNB, which is the acronym for the Saudi National Bank. STC, the largest Telephone company. Saudi Airalaines, the most important national airline of Saudi Arabia. ROSHN, which is the largest real estate agency in Riyadh, and Lucid Motors, an electric vehicle agency in which the sovereign fund has a 60% stake.

2023-12-27 20:34:16
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